In Michael’s sermon “The Importance of Uncertainty,” on Sunday, April 3, he invited the congregation to “make an offering of their doubts” as part of the morning collection. His hope was that in acknowledging our questions and trusting that in grace there’s space enough for them, we might actually be making room for taking our own lives and God more seriously — ironically, doubts might give God just the opportunity God needs.
Here are the doubts that people shared, in alphabetical order by the first letter of the first word:
- Are we alone in the universe?
- Can our church community be more loving, less judgmental than any other human community?
- Can we overcome death?
- Do animals, birds, fish and insects have eternal life? Where do their souls fit?
- Do Jesus and God forgive me for all my sins, past and present?
- Do religious beliefs do more harm than good?
- How can God’s love be unconditional for me when I’ve messed up so much?
- How can I fully believe in you, God?
- How can we reconcile science and evolution? How could this miracle be an accident?
- I doubt my capacity to do real ministry even if I think it’s my calling and I’m pursuing a degree in it.
- I doubt myself.
- I doubt that God watches/knows all.
- I doubt that I will find love or have anyone to love me besides God and Jesus.
- I doubt that the basic human instinct is love and kindness toward all of God’s children.
- I doubt that we can harness the good in people that we want to.
- I doubt the mystery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- I wonder if I will stay alive long enough to see the will of God in my life and that of my daughter.
- I’m beginning to doubt that God answers prayers. I have been praying for a certain thing for a long time to no avail.
- Is God real? Is God alive? Is God listening?
- Is there an afterlife?
- What does it mean on this journey that I can’t believe in myself?
- When will I be able to let God?
- Will our money be enough?
- Why? Just why?
- Why am I the one who has to do all the work in my marriage? Why do I have to do all the accommodating, all the psychological work?
- Why are men so dominant in our world?
- Why are relationships and family so hard?
- Why isn’t it obvious to atheists that God really exists? We must be more thankful!
- Why can’t we focus on God’s love for us instead of being so mean-spirited?
- Why did Jesus come when he did? Why then, why that time? Why those people and that place?
- Why do people hate other people so deeply without knowing them but misjudge them by their skin color?
- Why do people think killing could possibly be the right answer for any religion?
- Why do so many people have to endure so much pain and suffering in contrast to others? It makes me feel powerless, which tests my faith in an all –powerful God.
- Why do some people have much more trouble in their lives than others? Does God chastise those whom he loves?
- Why does God not come down from heaven and be seen to fix all that is wrong in the world?
- Why does my beloved one suffer with so many fears?
- Why does religion/Christianity tend to exclude rather than include?
- Why Earth?
- Why have I had to go through life without a partner, even though I have prayed fervently that you would bring someone into my life? You have said it is not good for a person to be alone….
- Why is Christianity so full of judgement?
- Why is Christianity the way, more so than any other religions or is it just one way, one path?
- Why is there so much suffering?
- Why would God allow us to use him/her/it to justify the very worst things we do? Why would God not find some way to say, “This is bullshit. Stop.”