Jon Bloom has been putting out some great blog posts about belief over at the DG blog. Here, in this post, he writes of the inherent dangers of the mantra “Follow your heart.” Here’s an excerpt from it:
Christians have the strange experience of living with two hearts. And both speak to us. One we must reject and the other we must trust. We must be discerning. We know the corrupt heart is speaking when it says, “Believe what I promise you and you will be happy.” We know the new heart is speaking when it says, “Believe what Jesus promises and he will make you happy forever. Therefore, only do what your heart tells you if it is telling you to believe in Jesus.
It would seem that in some mysterious work of God’s providence, spiritual doubt is plaguing many brothers and sisters in Christ. Lest we fall into the temptation to think that spiritual doubt is somehow a temptation that “real Christians” never experience (and therefore don’t feel the need to show grace to those who doubt), hear the words of Jude: “Be merciful to those who doubt” (Jude 22).
I recently listened to this sermon by C.J. Mahaney entitled, “When Someone Doubts.” I would suggest that anybody who is doubting or knows anybody who is doubting listen to this sermon. In it, Mahaney referenced the following quote from Charles Spurgeon on the issue of doubt. I pray that this will provide some comfort to those who may be struggling with this particular temptation.
It seems as if doubt were doomed to be the perpetual companion of faith. As dust attends the chariotwheels so do doubts naturally becloud faith. Some men of little faith are perpetually enshrouded with fears; their faith seems only strong enough to enable them to doubt. If they had no faith at all, then they would not doubt, but having that little, and but so little, they are perpetually involved in distressing surmises, suspicions, and fears. Others, who have attained to great strength and stability of faith, are nevertheless, at times, subjects of doubt. He who has a colossal faith will sometimes find that the clouds of fear float over the brow of his confidence. It is not possible, I suppose, so long as man is in this world, that he should be perfect in anything; and surely it seems to be quite impossible that he should be perfect in faith. Sometimes, indeed, the Lord purposely leaves his children, withdraws the divine inflowings of his grace, and permits them to begin to sink, in order that they may understand that faith is not their own work, but is at first the gift of God, and must always be maintained and kept alive in the heart by the fresh influence of the Holy Spirit.
The folks at Relcaiming the Mind have put out this very helpful blogpost detailing the internal and external evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ, along with his crucifixion, together make up the most important event in human history. And it is one that must be carefully considered and the implications thought through.
C. Michael Patton organizes the blogpost by first explaining the internal evidence:
Internal Evidence:
Honesty
Irrelevant Details
Harmony
Public Extraordinary Claims
Lack of Motivation for Fabrication
And then secondly, the external evidence…
External Evidence:
Preservation of the Documents
Archeology
Extra-biblical Attestation
Survival in a Hostile Environment
Click here to read a thorough, yet concise description of each point.
This man asks Jesus, “Would you heal my son?” And Jesus say, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” That is, “I can do it if you can believe.” The father responds, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” – that is, “I’m trying but I’m full of doubts.”
Then Jesus heals the mans’s son. This is very good news. Through Jesus we don’t need perfect righteousness, just repentant helplessness, to access the presence of God.
Jesus could have told the man, “I am the glory of God in human form. Purify your heart, confess all your sins, get rid of all your doubts and your double-mindedness. Once you have surrendered to me totally and can come before me with a pure heart, then you can ask for the healing you need.”
But Jesus doesn’t say that – not at all.
The boy’s father says, “I’m not faithful, I am riddled with doubts, and I cannot muster the strength necessary to meet my moral and spiritual challenges. But help me.” That’s saving faith – faith in Jesus instead of in oneself. Perfect righteousness is impossible for us, and if you wait for that, you will never come into the presence of God. You must admit that you are not righteous, and that you need help. When you can say that, you are approaching God to worship.”
