A Curious Faith: Theology for the Doubters

How to Think Theologically, Part 4

Now, listen. Before I say what I am about to say, please hear my heart. Don’t think that I am judging sermons left and right. I actually enjoy witnessing the “tapestry” of biblical interpretation, especially in the application phase.

That said, I can’t help but throw tomatoes every once in a while.

Many years ago, someone sent me a sermon on YouTube and asked for my thoughts on it. Long story short, the preacher’s main intention was to convey that asking too many questions reveals a heart in doubt, and therefore, sin. Quite literally, he said, “asking questions is a form of sin. Just believe and stop asking.”

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely believe that there is a heart behind certain questions that absolutely convey a sense of an unhealthy approach to understanding the complexities of God, but to demonize questions altogether is… well, I have no nice word to use. So I won’t. But you get my point.

Ultimately, asking really good questions is a part of faith, not its enemy. This is a crucial aspect of theological thinking. If we don’t, we’ll either shove it under the rug (until it explodes) or let it unravel our entire faith.

So, let’s, maybe—I don’t know—NOT let that happen.

You’re Not Alone

All that to say, let’s start here… you’re not the first person to question God. You’re not the only one who has wrestled with the silence. In fact, you’re in good company!

Job screamed at God. David wept and said, “How long, O Lord?” Jeremiah accused God of deception. John the Baptist asked Jesus, “Are you the one… or should we look for another?” (See Matthew 11:3, ESV). Even Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (See Matthew 27:46, ESV).

Scripture doesn’t hide the questions—it holds space for them. If the Bible can do that, the church should too.

[[ For what it’s worth, if you’ve never asked questions, it might be because your faith hasn’t been tested yet. “Doubt” may not be a sign you’re failing—it might be a sign you’re growing. ]]

What Asking Questions Isn’t

Okay, so let’s clear up a few misconceptions.

First of all, asking questions is not the same as unbelief. Asking questions reveals a desire to understand more deeply. On the other hand, unbelief is more indicative of a mind made up against theology. One is a question, the other is a decision.

Secondly, asking questions is not a weakness. In fact, asking honest questions takes courage. It’s easy to fake it. It’s harder to face it. Faith isn’t the absence of doubt. Faith is trusting God in the presence of it.

A Theological Framework for Asking Good Questions

So, how do we think theologically about asking good questions? Glad you asked!

1. God is Not Insecure

Your questions don’t threaten the God of the universe. He invites them. In Isaiah 1:18 (ESV), the scriptures say, “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord…”

Thus, he is looking for a conversation with us! He doesn’t cancel people who are confused. He’s not fragile. He welcomes the wrestlers. (see my dude Jacob, ya know?!)

2. The Psalms are a Crash Course in “Doubt”

Roughly 1/3 of the Psalms are laments, which is a fancy word for people yelling at God. They say things like… “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away?” (Psalm 10:1), “How long will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1), and “Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?” (Psalm 44:23).

You know what’s wild? These weren’t private journal entries. They were public worship songs. Like, people sang these things! Imagine singing “Wake up, God!” on Sunday morning. Weird song! Haha!

Scripture assumes there will be seasons of silence, tension, and ache. Theologically speaking, wrestling is part of worship.

3. The Church Needs Good Questions

Let’s be honest, a lot of churches don’t know what to do with doubt. They either avoid it or shame it. If we take Scripture seriously, we can’t ignore the fact that Jesus made space for the questions. Case-and-point, the disciple Thomas isn’t rebuked—he’s invited to touch the wounds (see John 20:24–29).

Jesus meets people in their questions. He speaks peace, not shame.

And if we want to be like Jesus, we’ve got to do the same.

[[ For what it’s worth, just to make sure you don’t overcorrect here, keep in mind that asking questions in isolation can become dangerous. Asking questions in [the right] community can be healing. ]]

4. There Are Seasons to Everything

This is important. You may not feel God's presence right now. You may not feel like praying, reading, or worshiping. That’s okay! As Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV) says, “To everything there is a season…”

Theology helps us normalize the wilderness. It doesn’t mean you’re broken. It might mean God is doing something deeper than you can see. Remember, resurrection doesn’t come until after the silence of Saturday.

What Do I Do With These Questions?

Thinking theologically means we don’t just feel—we form. Here are some practices to hold onto in a season of deep questions…

1. Keep Talking to God (Even If You’re Mad)

Silence is a killer. Even if your prayers are angry or confused—keep talking. Yell, whisper, question, weep. God can take it.

2. Stay in Community

You don’t just need answers—you also need presence. Stay around people who love you, who will sit with you in the questions without rushing to fix you. Faith grows in the soil of relationship, not isolation.

3. Read Scripture Slowly

You don’t need to read ten chapters a day. Actually, please don’t! You need to read until something speaks. Start with the Psalms. Or Job. Or Lamentations. Or the Gospels. Let Scripture remind you that you’re not the first to wonder.

4. Don’t Rush the Process

There’s no fast-forward button for spiritual formation. Sometimes God grows us not by answering our questions, but by being present in them. Faith is often formed “in the dark,” so to speak.

Hopefully, That Made Sense

Asking questions is part of the beauty of being human. The goal of theology isn’t to eliminate this—it’s to help you wrestle well with your belief.

So bring your questions. Bring your ache. Bring your confusion. Just don’t bring it in silence.

Jesus still meets doubters in upper rooms. He still invites them to touch the wounds. He still speaks peace. And guess what?! He’s not done with you!

Until next time,
Petey