Thoughts On Unbelief
August 18th, 2009 § Leave a Comment
I find the passage here in Mark 9:14-29 to be interesting. While Jesus and three of the disciples are up on a “high mountain” where Jesus will meet with Moses and Elijah and become transfigured before Peter, James and John, the rest of the disciples are left to contend with a crowd of people. I am sure that the crowd was quite an assortment of people, those who came to see Jesus, those who came to scoff, those who wanted to see a miracle or two and some who did not even know why they were there.
Jesus, Peter, James and John return to find the rest of the disciples arguing with the scribes while the crowd watched. When Jesus asked what was happening, a man approached Jesus and told him a sad story about his son.
“Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” – Mark 9:17-18 ESV
Some commentators mentioned that the symptoms he described resembled epilepsy. But whatever the cause, this man’s son didn’t have much of a chance for a normal life in the condition he was in. The man then asks Christ to heal his son saying “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. Jesus responds by telling the man that “All things are possible for one who believes.” The man then answers with an answer that I so connect with. He says:
“I believe; help my unbelief!” – Mark 9:24 ESV
What really struck me is the seeming incongruity of this answer. Eugene Peterson translates that passage in his Bible translation The Message: “Then I believe. Help me with my doubt.” It’s not this man’s faith I so understand but his doubt.
When I became a Christian, I saw those around me who seemed so confident in their faith. I bet they never had doubts. I thought something must be wrong with me because I have had my doubts over the years. My doubts have caused me to question everything about faith in general, and my faith in particular. This doubt is maddening. Given the consequences of getting this right, isn’t it crucial to get it right? How can I be assured I have it right when I struggle with doubt? Is it possible to have complete and total faith without a smidgen of doubt? Am I doing something wrong?
What I find interesting in this passage is not what happened, but what didn’t; Jesus didn’t rebuke this man for his doubt, he just healed the man’s son. Apparently we can come to Jesus doubts and all and He will still hear our plea. I find that so hopeful. Just like I don’t have to be perfect and sinless to be accepted by God, I don’t have to have perfect faith either. It’s not what I do that makes me acceptable to God, but what He did for me. God chose to give me the gift of salvation not because of anything I did, but because He chose to. That’s what makes it a gift. I just need to accept this free gift in spite of my doubt and like this desperate father did, ask Jesus to “Help me with my doubt.”
Shalom,
Scott D
