I was chatting with a new friend, I was not really sure of his position with God. I could tell that he had a Christian background or experience but there also seemed like something was missing. Soon enough, I asked him straight, was he a Christian? To which he responded, 'I am a skeptical Christian'.
I was actually relieved, doubting and feeling a bit skeptical is part of the journey.
In actual fact, one of my favourite verses is that before the great commission. Just before Jesus gives the command to go to the whole world, it says...
"When they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some doubted" (Matt 28:17)
Jesus did not react with shock, he merely called them to live in the journey of making disciples.
It is in the journey that those things that bother us can drop away or become less restrictive, if we trust Jesus enough to take the next steps with him.
Doubt and Worship can live together.
Too often, churches have unintentionally created environments where questions feel unwelcome—where doubts are seen as spiritual weakness rather than natural parts of a genuine faith journey.
The Bible itself is filled with questioners: Abraham asking "How can I know?" (Genesis 15:8), David crying "How long, O Lord?" (Psalm 13:1), John the Baptist wondering from prison "Are you the one?" (Matthew 11:3), and Thomas declaring "Unless I see... I will not believe" (John 20:25).
Doubt Has a Purpose
Contrary to popular belief, doubt isn't the opposite of faith—it's often part of faith's development. When Jesus encountered Thomas's doubt, He didn't rebuke him. Instead, He invited Thomas to "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe" (John 20:27). Jesus met Thomas exactly where he was, with evidence that addressed his specific doubts.
C.S. Lewis, whose work has helped countless believers navigate questions, once wrote, "I'm not asking anyone to accept Christianity if his best reasoning tells him that the weight of evidence is against it." This sentiment echoes the biblical invitation to "taste and see that the LORD is good" (Psalm 34:8)—an invitation that assumes personal investigation and experience.
Creating a Culture of Curiosity
We want to create a culture of curiosity, because it is the curious that grow.
No question too basic or too complex. Whether you're wondering about the logistics of Noah's ark or wrestling with why God allows suffering, your questions matter. As Proverbs 18:15 says, "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out."
Community designed for discussion, not just agreement. Our community groups are encouraged to use the Berean approach described in Acts 17:11, where believers "examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." We want to foster respectful dialogue where multiple perspectives can be considered.
Sermons that acknowledge tensions.
Our teaching team doesn't shy away from difficult passages or theological tensions. Scripture contains mysteries and apparent contradictions that have challenged believers for centuries. Acknowledging these honestly helps build trust.
Resources for deeper exploration. We are happy to give you recommended reading lists include works from diverse Christian traditions and thinkers who have wrestled faithfully with difficult questions.
Leaders who say "I don't know." Perhaps most importantly, our leadership team practices intellectual humility. As Paul acknowledged in 1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."
Questions as Worship
Sometimes questions act as the mechanism for deeper relationship with God, the pondering and the wondering.
This resonates deeply with the Psalms, where writers frequently question God while simultaneously affirming their trust in Him. Consider Psalm 73:13-17, where Asaph candidly admits his doubts ("Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure...") before finding renewed perspective in God's presence ("till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood...").
Your Questions Are Welcome Here
Whether you're exploring faith for the first time or have been following Jesus for decades, we want you to know that your questions are welcome here. As Jesus himself taught in Matthew 7:7, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
If you've been keeping your questions silent, I want to personally invite you to ask them. I am not saying you will always like the answer the scriptures or the Church historic anchors in but I am encouraging you to take the journey with Jesus in all matters. They might just be the beginning of a deeper, more authentic faith journey.
As the father in Mark 9:24 honestly prayed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" we invite you to bring your mixture of faith and questions. In that vulnerable space, we often encounter God most profoundly. Touch base with the crew at Divergent Church
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