The real travesty of doubt

Doubting Thomas

A few weeks ago, my congregation’s associate pastor preached her farewell sermon. During it, she confessed a few doubts about her faith to us.

Afterward, one of my students – who’s been in the midst of her own spiritual crisis – talked about how much she related to and appreciated our pastor’s message. As a result of hearing our pastor’s doubts, this student left church feeling as though she belonged there. After all, if our pastor could wrestle with doubt and continue being a pastor, then surely she could wrestle with doubt and continue being part of our community of faith.

Unfortunately, this was a new realization for this student. Prior to that morning, she believed doubt and faith were mutually exclusive.

I wonder, how many of us have contributed to such beliefs?

Read the rest of this article here.

Image Credit: Doubting Thomas found at The Crossroads Initiative via concordpastor.blogspot.com

Jen Bradbury on Youth Ministry

Jen serves as the Minister of Youth and Family at Atonement Lutheran Church in Barrington, Illinois. A veteran youth worker, Jen holds an MA in Youth Ministry Leadership from Huntington University. Jen is the author of The Jesus Gap: What Teens Actually Believe about Jesus (The Youth Cartel), The Real Jesus (The Youth Cartel), Unleashing the Hidden Potential of Your Student Leaders (Abingdon), and A Mission That Matters (Abingdon). Her writing has also appeared in YouthWorker Journal, Immerse, and The Christian Century. Jen is also the Assistant Director of Arbor Research Group where she has led many national studies. When not doing ministry or research, she and her husband, Doug, and daughter, Hope, can be found traveling and enjoying life together.

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A Mission That Matters: How To Do Short-Term Missions Without Long-Term Harm

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Unleashing the Hidden Potential of your Student Leaders

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The Real Jesus

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The Jesus Gap

What Teens Actually Believe About Jesus

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