Comments on: Doubt and Trust http://www.jonathanlipps.com/blog/2005/08/doubt-and-trust/ Creativity && Integration Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:06:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: TJ Friesen http://www.jonathanlipps.com/blog/2005/08/doubt-and-trust/comment-page-1/#comment-99 TJ Friesen Wed, 31 Aug 2005 18:58:31 +0000 http://www.jonathanlipps.com/blog/?p=281#comment-99 I am definitely tracking with your thoughts here, Jonathan. In particular, I connect with your reasoning for this theory..."I like this theory because it seems to explain well the way people actually interact with issues of faith." This type of "rubber meets the road" philosophy is helpful. If I look back on my life, even over the past few years, I can see where I have doubted God's goodness, not because I disbelieve he exists; rather, because as you say, at some point something has happened to make me distrust God. Thanks for your thoughts. I am definitely tracking with your thoughts here, Jonathan. In particular, I connect with your reasoning for this theory…"I like this theory because it seems to explain well the way people actually interact with issues of faith." This type of "rubber meets the road" philosophy is helpful. If I look back on my life, even over the past few years, I can see where I have doubted God’s goodness, not because I disbelieve he exists; rather, because as you say, at some point something has happened to make me distrust God.

Thanks for your thoughts.

]]> By: nt bott http://www.jonathanlipps.com/blog/2005/08/doubt-and-trust/comment-page-1/#comment-100 nt bott Wed, 31 Aug 2005 18:58:31 +0000 http://www.jonathanlipps.com/blog/?p=281#comment-100 Jonathan, this continues to dig into the faith/belief question I raised earlier with you. This assessment of what people mean when they use words like faith, belief, etc. is fascinating. For instance, in Mark 9:22-24: "'It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.' 'If you can?' said Jesus. 'Everything is possible for him who believes.' Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'" If one were to substitute trust for belief, it may render a more "meaningful" reading given the connotation that the word belief is associated with today. A larger philosphical question on the relative meaningful/meaninglessness of a word would be the spirit/force/power behind a word that is used. In this sense, the word of God is powerful because the spirit behind his words has power -the power is in the personality. He always says exactly what he means. Conversely, words have little power in our world precisely because hardly anyone says what they mean. (read: presidential debates.) In the case of belief, then, the word diminishes in power as it is used apart from a personality that can sustain it. I will have to continue this in my own blog...too many thoughts Jonathan, this continues to dig into the faith/belief question I raised earlier with you. This assessment of what people mean when they use words like faith, belief, etc. is fascinating. For instance, in Mark 9:22-24: "’It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.’ ‘If you can?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for him who believes.’ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’" If one were to substitute trust for belief, it may render a more "meaningful" reading given the connotation that the word belief is associated with today. A larger philosphical question on the relative meaningful/meaninglessness of a word would be the spirit/force/power behind a word that is used. In this sense, the word of God is powerful because the spirit behind his words has power -the power is in the personality. He always says exactly what he means. Conversely, words have little power in our world precisely because hardly anyone says what they mean. (read: presidential debates.) In the case of belief, then, the word diminishes in power as it is used apart from a personality that can sustain it.

I will have to continue this in my own blog…too many thoughts

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