#45: Dealing With Doubt

Between the recording of this episode and its posting, Randy Newman, my guest and dear friend, went to be with the Lord. Though Randy is certainly rejoicing to be in the presence of his King, I and so many others who knew him well are grieving deeply. But, as a way to honor his memory, and to continue encouraging others to learn from his great wisdom, I have decided to post this interview posthumously. We discuss a topic very dear to him–helping believers engage their doubts in healthy and redemptive ways. I believe he would have wanted you to hear what he had to say when we talked, to encourage you to continue “fighting the good fight” that he has now so well completed.

 In this episode Randy and I discuss his recently-released Questioning Faith: Indirect Journeys of Belief through Terrains of Doubt. It is a given that college students, including those heading off to college as believers, will have questions and doubts about the Christian faith. Randy’s wisdom and care for other’s spiritual journeys will be a great help to students (and all others) who navigate the journey through doubt.

In this podcast we discuss:

• How Randy first got interested in understanding the role doubt plays in the Christian faith
• Why he decided to write Questioning Faith
• The importance of pre-evangelism before we begin sharing the gospel
• Faith (in something) is inevitable, not optional
• The main point he wants readers to take away from this book: it’s OK to have questions, but find answers
• The value of doubt in the Christian life
• How he deals with doubts due to the reality of evil
• Why certainty is not necessary to know Christianity is true
• The problem with the “presumption of atheism”
• Why very good “second things” make very bad “first things” in our lives
• Beauty as one of God’s signposts
• Advice to Christian students who have doubts about the Christian faith
• Advice to Christian students as they talk to peers with doubts about the Christian faith
• Advice to parents, grandparents, and pastors as they nurture those with doubts

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

• S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
• David Foster Wallace, “This is Water,” Commencement Address at Kenyon College in 2005
• C.S. Lewis Institute
• Randy Newman’s Questions That Matter podcast
• The Washington Institute for Faith, Vocation, and Culture
• RandyDavidNewman.com