Doubt

In our day and age, philosophically speaking, doubt is synonymous with temperance and/or moderation, and can therefore be viewed as a virtue. But for those who experience doubt in a personal way, it can be painful. Is there a time when rashness in decision making is advised? Ironically, God has left the decision of our salvation, in some sense, up to us. In other words, we can hear the offer of salvation through Jesus and reject it. The time we have in which to make the decision is indeterminate. "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment" says the writer of Hebrews". None of us knows the appointed day of our death, and subsequently judgment. So at what point does the questioning become the rejection? Certainly one cannot question and accept at the same time? Still, the decision to accept Christ is not a true decision to accept Christ if it is on the basis of merely escaping the judgment. The decision must be genuine. A person must actually believe that Christ's death and resurrection is his only hope of escaping judgment. No one wants to be judged, but faith (accepting Christ in this case)doesn't just hope that a few words will count. You can't say, "I'll say this prayer and hope it works". No. True faith truly believes. Hence what makes doubt painful. You cannot believe without truly believing, and you cannot know that you believe without believing.
But is there good reason to doubt the Bible's account of things, how one knows God, receives salvation, finds meaning and purpose in life? I think there's good reason to believe. You ought to ask me (Pastor Matt) if you're curious. I am trying to shorten these posts.