“I believe; help my unbelief” is my favorite phrase in scripture. It captures so much of what it means and takes to be a follower of Christ, encapsulating struggle, faith, doubt, obedience, wandering, and repentance. It is deeply theological and personal. For these reasons and more I wrote a book called Help My Unbelief: Why Doubt Is Not The Enemy of Faith (releases July 1 – Available at BarnesandNoble.com & Amazon.com) which explores what real belief is and its relationship with doubt in the life of a believer. The challenges of that tension are not unique to me; They’re nearly universal among Christians no matter position, maturity, or church tradition. In the weeks leading up to the release I will share the the thoughts and experiences of several friends of mine – authors, church leaders, writers, thinkers – who honestly answered five questions about faith and doubt.
Jon Nielson served as the pastor for college students at College Church in Wheaton, IL until recently when accepted a position as Ministry Director at Princeton University for Christian Union. In this role Jon leads a team of full-time ministry fellows, who help teach, lead, and disciple students in a ministry that now includes well over three-hundred undergraduate Princeton students. He is the author of Bible Study: A Student’s Guide and The Story: The Bible’s Grand Narrative of Redemption, One Year Daily Devotional for Students. Jon and his wife, Jeannie, have three daughters.
1) What does “I believe; help my unbelief” mean to you?
In the context, I think the man who makes that statement to Jesus is genuinely affirming his belief in the power and person of Christ. But, he’s asking for help; he wants Jesus to enable him to believe even more whole-heartedly in him…without any doubts. As I apply that to my life as one who does believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, I think it becomes a worthy prayer. For those of us who have thrown ourselves at the mercy of Christ for salvation, and who still struggle with sin and doubt in this fallen world, we ask our Savior for more faith, love, and belief toward him every day.
2) Do you have a favorite Bible passage about belief and doubt? What is it and how has it impacted you?
I love Jesus’ words to Thomas, who has just declared his belief in him as “Lord” and “God,” after touching the wounds of the risen Lord. Jesus tells him, in John 20, that he has believed because he has seen, but those who believe without seeing are greatly blessed. That includes us today! I take these as Jesus’ words of hope and blessing to those who will place their faith and trust in him – today – without yet seeing him face to face. We’re called to believe the witness of the Word, and be sure that our Savior lived, died for sin, rose, and now lives…to one day return and rule.
3) What is belief in God?
Belief in God is, quite simply, taking him at his Word. It’s placing our complete trust in everything he tells us in his Word, and “leaning” on him completely for our hope, happiness, significance, security, and, of course, our salvation. This is going to involve a mental assent – accepting as full truth everything that we read in the Bible as God’s very words. But, it’s also going to be a heartfelt commitment – a giving of ourselves over to God completely through repentance of sin and trust in him as our Savior and our greatest eternal good.
4) What do you see as the relationship between belief and doubt?
I think that any Christian who hasn’t struggled with doubts – at least at some level – is probably guilty of not thinking deeply enough about his or her faith (or just not telling the truth). But, for those who are truly in Christ, I think that the object of our belief – Jesus Christ himself – is the sure foundation that keeps countering and defeating every doubt that arises (and doubts will arise from time to time). In times of doubt, we go back to the sure witness of God’s Word, the Bible. We remember his promises. We see his faithfulness to his people throughout the generations. We encounter again our Savior – promised in the pages of the OT, and presented to us and proclaimed in the pages of the NT. Our doubts can be dealt with, as we keep returning to our Savior, who is revealed to us in the pages of Scripture.
5) How can a person strengthen their belief in God?
If you want to get a tan, you’re going to put yourself regularly – and probably for extended periods of time – in the path of the sun. I think that, generally, if you want to grow in belief in God, you’re going to put yourself regularly – and for extended periods of time – in the places where God normally chooses to do his work. In the local church. Under the preaching of the Word. In personal study of Scripture. In prayer – privately, and with other Christians. In evangelism, service, and witness, alongside brothers and sisters in Christ. The old Westminster divines would call these things the “ordinary means of grace,” by which Christians most often grow up to maturity, faithfulness, and strong belief in their Savior.
Previous Interviews in the Series
5 Questions with Lore Ferguson
5 Questions with Emily Wierenga
5 Questions with Ron Edmondson
5 Questions with Thomas McKenzie
5 Questions with Christine Hoover
5 Questions with Justin Holcomb
5 Questions with Hannah Anderson
5 Questions with Scott McClellan
5 Questions with Trillia Newbell