Finding Support While Questioning Your Religious Beliefs

Most people have a crisis of faith at some time in their lives. For some, the crisis happens when they are betrayed by a spiritual mentor or when a prayer goes unanswered. Others may be challenged when a new friend or social circle starts questioning their faith or when they are confronted with scientific theories that seem to contradict the Bible.

Whatever the reason for your conflicting emotions and doubts regarding your faith, the fact that you’re reading this means you’re seeking, and that’s a good thing. God’s Word will stand up to your scrutiny and will remain steadfast through your meticulous probes.

Some Christians become offended or even worried when the Bible is put under the microscope, but there is no reason to be offended or concerned. If God’s Word is the truth, the scrutiny will unwrap even more evidence of God’s existence and omnipotent love.

God welcomes truth seekers and is not intimidated by your questions. Don’t be hesitant to pull out your magnifying glass and put the Bible under a microscope. In the end, an in-depth analysis of the Bible and of the character of God Himself will deepen your faith and solidify your relationship with your Heavenly Father.

There is an overwhelming mountain of evidence across all scientific disciplines that repeatedly confirms that the Bible is an authentic historical document and can be a trusted manual even in our modern world. While this conversation could go on indefinitely, the true root of faith doesn’t come from the historical accuracy or the scientific confirmations.

True faith comes from hearing and believing in the Word of God. But for those who like to investigate and probe into the academic aspects of faith, here are a few pieces of information to get you started. They will give you a jumping off point as you seek the truth about God and the Bible in your independent study and journey. References for the following information are provided at the end, allowing you to conduct further research and study.

Historical Evidence

While naysayers would like to claim that the Bible is a fictional document, many historians have devoted their lives to examining historical documents and modern historical findings to uncover connections between the Bible and secular evidence. Artifacts like the Merneptah Ele and the Moabite Stone all validate the existence of biblical figures and events such as King David and the Israelites’ interactions with other civilizations.

Non-biblical stone inscriptions and writings, including those of Assyrian and Babylonian kings, all corroborate biblical accounts and offer additional historical perspective. The Bible has been proven to be geographically accurate by external evidence time and time again.

Archaeological Evidence

If historical evidence will not convince you of the reliability of the Bible, maybe archeological evidence will. The Bible’s historical accuracy has been confirmed through numerous archeological findings, such as the Tel Dan Stele referencing King David, the Mesha Stele mentioning Yahweh and possibly also the “House of David,” and the Pilate stone validating Pontius Pilate’s existence.

Renowned archaeologists like Dr. Nelson Glueck and Dr. William F. Albright, who have devoted their lives to unearthing truths, affirm the Bible’s reliability.

Fulfilled Prophesy

The Bible contains hundreds of prophecies, including specific details about the Messiah written centuries before their fulfillment, as evidenced by texts like the Dead Sea Scrolls. For example, approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Micah named the small village of Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah. These fulfilled prophecies and archaeological discoveries support the divine inspiration of Scripture.

Logic and Philosophy

Nothing cannot create something. Or as Latin philosopher Parmenides concluded, “Ex nihilo nihil fit,” or “Nothing comes from nothing.” This concept points to creation through intelligent design. Creation cannot originate from nothingness. Matter is not eternal; therefore, it had to be created through a divinely creative act.

The evidence presented here is but a fraction of the proof that is available to those who seek the truth. Multivolume tomes could be filled with the scientific and historical findings that support the validity of the Bible and the existence of God. But your crisis of faith may not be cured solely based on evidence and compelling philosophical reasoning. Faith, at its core and definition, is believing in something that you cannot see or touch.

Now what?

You could intellectually know that the Bible is true and God is real, but faith is more than just what we know in our minds to be true. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God. Romans 10:17 makes that clear: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.”

How does that apply to you, today, reading this little piece about faith and the crisis you are facing? Faith comes from filling yourself with the Word of God. That means deep diving into Scripture, filling your ears with songs and podcasts that reinforce your faith, plus surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals in a church community.

Here are some practical ways to increase your faith to get you started.

Pray In Mark 9:24, we read about a father who pleads with Jesus for the healing of his son: “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!” It’s okay to tell God you’re struggling in your faith. The good news is, He wants to help you in your unbelief, so just turn to Him with a simple prayer to help you in your faith crisis. Even if you feel silly. Even if you wonder if you’re talking to a non-existent being, keep praying.

Connect to a Christian community You’re not alone in your doubt, even though it may feel isolating. Everyone experiences moments of doubt in their faith at some point. Lean into others who have gone through what you’re going through and have thought what you are thinking now.

Join a Bible study and a local church, or find an online Bible study where you can meet with others who may be able to mentor you in your faith journey. Sometimes those who have the most solid faith are the ones who have struggled through their own set of doubts.

Read Read the Bible. Don’t rely solely on what others tell you about the Bible; dig into Scripture yourself. Find a translation of the Bible that is easy for you to understand (verifying its authenticity first, of course) and take notes. Do research. Dig deeper into the intricacies and details of the Word. Use commentaries or verified online resources to help grasp historical and cultural contexts.

Stay curious God’s Word is truth, so no amount of digging, prodding, and dissecting will undermine it. Keep asking the hard questions, even if you don’t seem to be getting the answers. Clarity might not come immediately, but it will come. God will not shun you for honesty and authentic curiosity.

Be willing to accept partial answers You may never be able to fully prove the existence or the non-existence of God. His being is not something that we may ever be able to fully prove in a scientifically satisfying way. But that’s okay because that is where faith takes over. And when you start to see the hand of God working in your life, fulfilling promises and answering prayers, then you will no longer need a laboratory experiment to confirm your belief.

Listen to faith stories While you may feel that your own faith is on rocky ground, you can still listen to other people’s faith stories. Seek out podcasts and books written by people who want to share their stories of doubt, renewed faith, and the unwavering love of God. Hearing about real-life accounts of unexplained miracles and documented healings will give you reason to trust God in your situations.

Questioning your faith can be terrifying, but you’re not alone. If you’re still struggling in your faith, you should consider seeking professional help from a Christian-based counselor. Not only can a faith-based therapist help you sort through your complicated thoughts and feelings regarding your religious beliefs, but they can also help you heal from religious trauma and experiences that may be contributing to your doubts and any disillusionment.