Not only belief was part of a religion, but also doubt. The Bavarian regional bishop of the Protestant Church represents this adventurous thesis.
Inhalt / Content
Religion must contain doubt
Belief is only one aspect of a religion. Another aspect is doubt and this is even necessary for a real religion. Without a doubt, a religion is not a religion. This is the view of the Protestant regional bishop of Bavaria, Christian Kopp. “A real relationship includes all feelings – including doubts,” said Bishop Kopp on Tuesday in an interview with the radio station Bayern 1, as “Sonntagsblatt” reported.
The bishop explained that the church today has the important task of caring for the spiritual well-being of people. People must be helped to come to themselves through prayer and meditation. Proper communication is particularly important here.
The Bible says the complete opposite
There is a whole book in the Bible that completely overturns the bishop’s thesis that doubt is necessary. The book of Job. In fact, many people have doubts about the truth of the gospel. One would even like to say that there has never been so much doubt and direct rejection as there is today. However, doubt has no place in true faith. Doubt is nothing other than the foot that is always kept in the area of complete apostasy.
Jesus Christ exhorts us to believe
When Jesus Christ suddenly appeared to the disciples, he asked why they suddenly no longer had faith, Luke 24:36-38:
“And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?“
As harsh as it may sound, a doubter is a person of little faith in the eyes of Jesus Christ. Peter sank into the water after doubts arose in his mind, Matthew 14:29-31:
“And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?“
The doubt needed to be dispelled
Doubt and faith are opposed to each other. Doubt excludes belief and vice versa. Man is not saved through doubt, but through faith. The Protestant regional bishop, whose roots are based on the findings of the reformers, including Martin Luther, should actually know this very well and, more importantly, convey it that way.
The most important task of the church is not to impart a “meditative prayer” and guide people to “self-discovery”, but to dispel any doubt about the truth of the Gospel.
The importance of unadulterated faith is clearly stated in John 1:12:
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:“
Faith can move mountains, not doubt, Matthew 17:20:
“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.“
Jesus Christ also emphasizes the difference between faith and doubt using the fig tree that he withered, Matthew 21:21:
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.“
The withered fig tree is a symbol of the lack of faith and Jesus Christ admonished His disciples, Mark 11:22:
“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.“
Especially in these increasingly uncertain times, true faith has a preventative effect against any fear and anxiety. The doubt seems more like tinder here, Mark 4:40:
“And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?“
Apparently the biggest doubters around Jesus Christ were the Pharisees, scribes and chief priests. They never missed a moment in expressing their doubt by setting traps and by scorn and ridicule, Mark 15:32:
“Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.“
The “unbelieving”, i.e. doubting, disciple Thomas received a brief explanation from Jesus Christ, John 20:29:
“Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.“
The list of examples of exclusive belief without any doubt could be many times longer. Chapter 6 of the Letter to the Hebrews is recommended to every doubter. In Hebrews 10:38 the difference between faith and receding doubt is brought to the point:
“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.“
Jesus Christ is the truth (John 14:6), the Word is the truth (John 17:17) and the law is the truth (Psalm 119:142) (Info). Anyone who has any doubts about this is not in the truth. Undoubted belief in the truth is an absolute prerequisite for man to find favor with God, 1 Samuel 12:24:
“Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.“
Psalm 145:18:
“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.“
Yin-Yang philosophy?
The statement of the Bavarian regional bishop is completely contrary to the gospel. Doubt is as superfluous as a goiter in the belief in the gospel, in the assumption that the bishop of the Protestant church refers to his own guild. The “chief shepherd” of his church describes doubt as a fundamental element of religion. It is permissible to ask which religion the bishop actually represents. His view would at best be compatible with ancient paganism, which also appears in the form of the New Age and the Yin-Yang philosophy represented.
Proverbs 11:20:
“They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.“
Bible verses from King James Version
