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

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: www.worldvieweyes.org/summit2019.html 2 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. 3 4

5 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.” 
 6 John 1:29 
 “Behold, the Lamb of God ...” Matthew 11:3 “Are you the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” 7 Another Look At 8 Understandable Commendable We must provide an atmosphere that INVITES questions & doubts 
 in order to strengthen Christian faith.

9 I. Developing Doubts 10 The “Nones” (The Religiously Detached) 50% Pew Research Center, 2012 and 2014 All Americans 40% 19 Million INCREASE (56 Million) 30% 22.8% 19.3% 20% 15.3% 8.1% 10% 0% 1990 2007 2012 2014 11 The “Nones” (The Religiously Detached) 50% Pew Research Center, 2012 and 2014 Millennials 36% 40% 34% 32% 30% 22% 20% 11% 10% 0% 1990 2007 2012 2014 (25-33) 2014 (18-24) 12 The Nones For each 1 person becoming religious, 4 people become Nones. R R 1:4 Nones

13 The “Nones” (The Religiously Detached) 100% Drew Dyke, “The Leavers,” 
 Christianity T oday 73% 80% 66% 60% 40% 20% 0% From Religious Homes “De-Converted” 14 Most Frequently Mentioned Factor by “De-Converts” “... sharing their burgeoning doubts with a Christian friend or family member only to receive trite, unhelpful answers.” Drew Dyck, “The Leavers: Young Doubters Exit the Church,” Christianity Today , posted 11/18/2010. 15 Barna (2018) 20% “Atheist” 13-18 yrs old 15% 13% 10% 7% 6% 6% 5% 0% All Adults Gen X Millennials Gen Z b. 1965- b. 1984- b. 1999- 16 Churched Youth Significantly 
 Can’t Ask Most 
 Felt Like 
 Doubted 
 Pressing Questions 
 Rejecting Their 
 Their Faith in Church Parents’ Faith 50 % 38% 36% 32% 40 % 30 % 20 % 10 % 0 % David Kinnaman, You Lost Me

17 Churched Youth “Disengaged” in Their Twenties? 59% 70% David Kinnaman, You Lost Me 18 “High-Information” Seekers • Well-educated • High achieving • More time online • More religiously diverse friends 19 “High-Information” Seekers 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 20 “Why are Teens Leaving Church?” Overprotective. Shallow faith in church. Too exclusive. Against science. Church is not relevant (personally & professionally). Unfriendly to those who doubt.

21 Sample Statements 22 “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 23 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 24 “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

25 II. Create a Better MOOD 26 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). 27 Better MOOD B. Pursue a better OBJECTIVE . 1. Belief. 2. Trust. 3. Love (Mk 12:30; Cf. Matt 16 and John 21). “WHO Am I?” “Do you LOVE Me?” 28 Better MOOD 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”

29 III. Employ Better METHODS 30 Better METHODS A. Be APPRECIATIVE of tough questions & doubts. Over 33% of young adults: 
 “Christians are too confident they know all the answers.” 31 Better METHODS B. Be INTERROGATIVE. Gospels record 173 questions by Jesus. e.g. Matt. 21:23-27 “By what authority?” Jesus: What about the baptism of John? 32 Better METHODS 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.

33 Better METHODS C. Be COMPREHENSIVE in applying the Christian faith. Christian “Worldview” 18% of Millennials: Church is “anti- intellectual.” 25% of Millennials: Church is “anti- science.” 24% of Millennials: Church not relevant to career. 34 Better METHODS D. Be COMPARATIVE. 35 IV. Open the Door for Doubts 36 Dallas Willard Philosopher; Christian “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.”

37 38 Doubt: A Doorway Deeper BELIEF Greater DISBELIEF 39 Diagnose the Doubts Moral Doubts The “WORST” Doubt? Self Doubts Spiritual Doubts UNEXPRESSED Doubt Intellectual Doubts V olitional Doubts “The prognosis for faith is greatly dependent on the diagnosis of doubt.” – Rich Knopp 40 Dialogue with the Doubters

41 Some Don’ts with Doubters Don’t be so DOGMATIC. 
 Don’t be so SIMPLISTIC. 42 www. ROOM FORDOUBT.com Space to encourage questions, address doubts, and strengthen faith. 43 Overview of New Website and Mobile App www.ROOMFORDOUBT.com 44

45 46 47 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