Introduction A. Christian Conviction Truth (e.g. Eph 6; 1 Tim 2). - - PDF document

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Introduction A. Christian Conviction Truth (e.g. Eph 6; 1 Tim 2). - - PDF document

Feb 21, 2023 313 likes •444 views

1 Growing Faith by Giving Room For Doubt Dr. Rich Knopp Program Director, Room For Doubt Professor of Philosophy & Christian Apologetics Lincoln Christian University www.roomfordoubt.com Session Webpage:

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Growing Faith by Giving Room For Doubt

  • Dr. Rich Knopp

Program Director, Room For Doubt Professor of Philosophy & Christian Apologetics Lincoln Christian University

www.roomfordoubt.com Session Webpage:

www.worldvieweyes.org/summit2019.html

1

Introduction

  • A. Christian Conviction

Truth (e.g. Eph 6; 1 Tim 2). Certainty, Proof, Confidence, 
 Boldness (Acts 1:3; Acts 2:36). Reasonable (1 Pet 3; Acts 17, 18, 19). Don’t Doubt (Matt 14:30-32; 
 Matt 21:21; James 1:6).

  • B. Faith VS. Doubt: The prominent picture.

2 3 4

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SLIDE 2

Mark 9

But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” 
 24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, 
 “I do believe; help my unbelief.”


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Matthew 11:3 “Are you the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” John 1:29 
 “Behold, the Lamb of God ...”

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Another Look At

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Understandable Commendable

We must provide an atmosphere that INVITES questions & doubts
 in order to strengthen Christian faith.

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SLIDE 3
  • I. Developing Doubts

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0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 1990 2007 2012 2014

22.8% 19.3% 15.3% 8.1%

The “Nones”

(The Religiously Detached)

Pew Research Center, 2012 and 2014

All Americans

(56 Million) 19 Million INCREASE

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0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 1990 2007 2012 2014 (25-33) 2014 (18-24)

36% 34% 32% 22% 11%

Millennials

Pew Research Center, 2012 and 2014

The “Nones”

(The Religiously Detached)

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The Nones

For each 1 person becoming religious, 4 people become Nones.

1:4

Nones

R R

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SLIDE 4

The “Nones”

(The Religiously Detached)

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

From Religious Homes “De-Converted”

66% 73%

Drew Dyke, “The Leavers,” 
 Christianity T

  • day

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“... sharing their burgeoning doubts with a Christian friend

  • r family member only to receive trite, unhelpful answers.”

Most Frequently Mentioned Factor by “De-Converts”

Drew Dyck, “The Leavers: Young Doubters Exit the Church,” Christianity Today, posted 11/18/2010.

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Barna (2018) 13-18 yrs old

0% 5% 10% 15% 20%

All Adults Gen X Millennials Gen Z

13% 7% 6% 6%

“Atheist”

  • b. 1965-
  • b. 1984-
  • b. 1999-

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Can’t Ask Most
 Pressing Questions
 in Church

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Significantly
 Doubted 
 Their Faith

38% 36%

Churched Youth

32%

Felt Like 
 Rejecting Their
 Parents’ Faith

David Kinnaman, You Lost Me

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SLIDE 5

Churched Youth “Disengaged” in Their Twenties?

59%

David Kinnaman, You Lost Me

70%

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“High-Information” Seekers

  • Well-educated
  • High achieving
  • More time online
  • More religiously diverse friends

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Larry Barnett’s “Next Generation Project” “High information seekers with doubts are about two to four times more likely to disconnect from Christianity than other doubters who are not high information seekers…. [emphasis added]

See www.projectnextgen.org

“High-Information” Seekers

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Overprotective. Shallow faith in church. Too exclusive. Against science. Church is not relevant (personally & professionally). Unfriendly to those who doubt.

“Why are Teens Leaving Church?”

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SLIDE 6

Sample Statements

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“I'm young, and I shouldn't be worrying about this, but I really want someone to help me know God is truly real. I have believed in God all my life, and I hope to never lose him, but I just have so many doubts. Please help me.”

www.roomfordoubt.com

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Hello! I’m Deborah, 19 years old and currently going through emotional doubts about God. It scares me so much that I have sleepless nights and panic attacks because I’ve been a christian since childhood… I need my faith back and I need to believe again.

www.roomfordoubt.com

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“I have been a Christian since I was 8, went to Bible College, and am now in ministry. An intellectual switch was flipped in my mind somewhere around 22 and I can’t shut it off. I’m really struggling to find answers and to know which way to go.”

www.roomfordoubt.com

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  • II. Create a Better MOOD

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Better MOOD

  • A. Highlight the MOTIVE for Christian faith.
  • 1. More than the WHAT of faith (Believe THAT …) - Matt. 16:16
  • 2. The WHY of faith (1 Pet 3:15).

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Better MOOD

  • B. Pursue a better OBJECTIVE.
  • 1. Belief.
  • 2. Trust.
  • 3. Love (Mk 12:30; Cf. Matt 16 and John 21).

“Do you LOVE Me?” “WHO Am I?” 27

  • C. Show that you are SENSITIVE.
  • 1. 1 Peter 3:15 “with gentleness

and reverence”

  • 2. 2 Tim. 2:24-25 “not

quarrelsome but kind … with gentleness”

  • 3. Jude 22 “Have mercy on some,

who are doubting”

Better MOOD

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SLIDE 8
  • III. Employ Better METHODS

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  • A. Be APPRECIATIVE of tough questions & doubts.

Over 33% of young adults: 
 “Christians are too confident they know all the answers.”

Better METHODS

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  • B. Be INTERROGATIVE.

Gospels record 173 questions by Jesus. e.g. Matt. 21:23-27 “By what authority?” Jesus: What about the baptism

  • f John?

Better METHODS

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  • C. Be COMPREHENSIVE in

applying the Christian faith.

18% of Millennials: 
 Church is “anti-intellectual.” 25% of Millennials: 
 Church is “anti-science.” 24% of Millennials: 
 Church not relevant to career.

Better METHODS

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SLIDE 9
  • C. Be COMPREHENSIVE in

applying the Christian faith.

18% of Millennials: Church is “anti- intellectual.” 25% of Millennials: Church is “anti- science.” 24% of Millennials: Church not relevant to career.

Better METHODS

Christian “Worldview” 33

  • D. Be COMPARATIVE.

Better METHODS

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  • IV. Open the Door for Doubts

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“The great problem facing the gospel of Jesus Christ is not the doubt that is outside the church; it is the doubt that is inside the church. We need to be able to deal with doubt lovingly, helpfully, and especially without ever scolding or shaming anyone for doubting.”

Dallas Willard

Philosopher; Christian

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SLIDE 10

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Doubt: A Doorway

Greater DISBELIEF Deeper BELIEF

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Diagnose the Doubts

Moral Doubts Self Doubts Spiritual Doubts Intellectual Doubts V

  • litional Doubts

“The prognosis for faith is greatly dependent

  • n the diagnosis of doubt.” – Rich Knopp

The “WORST” Doubt?

UNEXPRESSED Doubt 39

Dialogue with the Doubters

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SLIDE 11

Don’t be so DOGMATIC.
 Don’t be so SIMPLISTIC.

Some Don’ts with Doubters

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www.ROOMFORDOUBT.com

Space to encourage questions, address doubts, and strengthen faith.

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www.ROOMFORDOUBT.com

Overview of New Website and Mobile App

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SLIDE 12

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Growing Faith by Giving Room For Doubt

  • Dr. Rich Knopp

Program Director, Room For Doubt Professor of Philosophy & Christian Apologetics Lincoln Christian University

www.roomfordoubt.com Session Webpage:

www.worldvieweyes.org/summit2019.html

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