Book Description-127: DOUBTING: Growing Through the Uncertainties of Faith (Rev. Prof. Alister E. McGrath, D.Phil., D.D.)

In our daily life, we face many things which are certain and uncertain. We always doubt when we have uncertainties. What is doubt? What causes doubt? As Christians, how can we solve doubt in our daily life?

Book
DOUBTING:
Growing Through the Uncertainties of Faith

by: Rev. Prof. Alister E. McGrath, D.Phil., D.D., FRSA

Foreword: Ravi Zacharias, D.D., LL.D.

Publisher: InterVarsity Press, 2006




In his book Doubting: Growing Through the Uncertainties of Faith, Rev. Prof. Alister McGrath, Ph.D., D.D. explains all things about doubt and solution to doubt based on the Bible. In the first chapter, he explains what doubt is. Doubt is not skepticism or unbelief, but doubt is an invitation to grow in faith and understanding. It means that we have believed in Christ, but in our Christian journey of faith, we find doubt in what we believe. Also, he explains that doubt is a reminder of human sinfulness and frailty. In the next chapter, he moves to the paradigm of uncertainties. We always think that we should prove what we believe in order to prove that our belief is true. Dr. McGrath examines that this concept is wrong, because it is a vain search for certainties. To believe in God is a matter of faith and to disbelieve in God is also a matter of faith. Then, he explains three main elements of faith: trust, understanding, and obedience. Furthermore, in Chapter 3, he explores the relationship between doubt and other worldviews, especially atheism. In this chapter, he explains what atheists’ concept of God and how Christians challenge them.

Doubt is not about external things, but also internal (inward). So, in Chapter 4, he explains The Personal Aspect of Doubt: some one have bad experiences about their past tense, so they don’t want to trust in any people, especially God. How can we solve this problem? Dr. Grath leads us to the Gospel. After that, in next chapter, Dr. Grath explains the cases of doubt in the Bible and how to solve it. In the next four chapter, he explains kinds of doubt: Gospel, yourself, Christ, and God, and how to deal with them. In Chapter 10, he gives the solution to solve doubt. In this chapter, he warns the readers not to be preoccupied with doubt, because, “Doubt focuses attention on ourselves and our anxieties and stops us from trusting in God.” (p. 120). Therefore, we should develop our faith to conquer doubt by developing spiritual discipline.

In the last chapter, Dr. Grath gives the final solution to solve doubt by leading our doubt to the better perspective (God’s perspective) looking doubt in our life. He gives two examples: the Exodus from Egypt and Good Friday. From two examples, he teaches us that it’s better for us to trust in God and His promises rather than doubt. In the final explanation, he relates it with the idea of apologetics in order to teach and strengthen our faith. Let the great book inspires us to see doubt is a matter of developing our faith in Christ by reading the Bible, having fellowship with Christian friends, and reading Christian books.





Biography of the author:
Rev. Prof. Alister Edgar McGrath, D.Phil., D.D., FRSA, who was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, 23 January 1953, is Professor of Theology, Ministry and Education; and Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture, King's College, London. He is also Founder member of International Society for the Study of Science and Religion; Member of American Academy of Religion; and Fellow of Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce (FRSA) in 2005. He received Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) First Class Honours, Final Honour School of Natural Philosophy (Chemistry) from Oxford University in 1975; Master of Arts (M.A.) from Oxford University in 1978; Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil.) from Oxford University in 1978, for research in molecular biophysics, under the supervision of Professor Sir George Radda, FRS; B.A. First Class Honours, Final Honour School of Theology from Oxford University in 1978; Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) from Oxford University in 1983 for research in historical theology; and Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) from Oxford University in 2001 for research in historical and systematic theology. He also received 3 honorary Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) degrees from: Virginia Theological Seminary in 1996, Union Theological Seminary in 2005, and Wycliffe College, University of Toronto in 2007.

Bagian 4: "JADILAH KEHENDAK-MU DI BUMI SEPERTI DI SORGA"

TUHAN, AJARLAH KAMI BERDOA
(Seri Pengajaran Doa Bapa Kami):
“jadilah kehendak-Mu di bumi seperti di Sorga”
(Mat. 6:10b)

oleh: Denny Teguh Sutandio

Setelah mengharapkan kerajaan-Nya datang, maka Kristus mengajar kita agar di dalam doa, kita mengharapkan kehendak Allah itu terjadi di Sorga dan di bumi.

Kehendak Allah tentu pertama-tama ada di Sorga, kemudian baru di bumi. Hal ini penting. Mengapa? Karena:
1. Allah bertakhta di Sorga dan kehendak-Nya adalah kehendak yang kekal yang tidak terikat oleh waktu dan tempat. Kehendak-Nya inilah menjadi dasar bagi kehendak-Nya di bumi ini (bdk. Rm. 12:2)
2. Ketika kita membalikkan urutan ini, lalu menekankan kehendak Allah di bumi, kita merendahkan Allah dan kehendak-Nya yang seolah-olahnya hanya berlaku di bumi dan tidak di Sorga.

Dengan mendoakan “Jadilah kehendak-Mu di Sorga dan di bumi”, maka kita diajar Kristus untuk mengaitkan kekekalan dengan kesementaraan. Dunia ini adalah dunia yang sementara yang dibatasi oleh ruang dan waktu. Kita yang hidup di dunia yang sementara harus memandang hidup ini bukan dari perspektif kesementaraan, tetapi dari perspektif kekekalan. Mengapa? Karena:
1. Ketika kita memandang hidup kita dari perspektif kekekalan, kita memiliki visi dan panggilan Allah yang jelas.
Ketika kita memandang dan mengaitkan hidup kita yang sementara ini dengan Allah yang kekal, maka kita sedang berpaut pada Allah yang kekal dan saat itu, kita dimampukannya untuk menangkap visi dan panggilan Allah yang jelas dan khusus bagi kita di mana dunia tidak dapat melihat apa yang kita lihat. Bagi saya, visi adalah cara penglihatan dari perspektif Allah.
Orang dunia tidak mampu melihat dunia dengan baik, karena mereka tidak memiliki penglihatan yang jauh ke depan (mereka hanya melihat apa yang di depan mata/fenomena), tetapi umat pilihan-Nya diberikan suatu visi dari Allah untuk melihat dunia yang berdosa ini dengan kacamata Allah (melihat esensi) dan menanggapi visi itu dengan panggilan-Nya di dalam diri umat-Nya yang menggarami dan menerangi dunia ini.

2. Ketika kita memandang hidup kita dari perspektif kesementaraan, orientasi hidup kita bersifat kedagingan dan temporer.
Sebaliknya, ketika kita memandang hidup kita dari perspektif kesementaraan, maka kita memfokuskan hidup kita hanya pada kedagingan dan hal-hal kesementaraan, sehingga pandangan kita tidak bisa jauh ke depan. Jangan heran, banyak orang dunia dan orang Kristen yang tidak memusatkan iman dan hidupnya pada Allah tidak mampu melihat penyakit dunia ini dengan tepat dan mengobatinya, karena mereka sendiri yang perlu diobati TIDAK mungkin dapat mengobati penyakit dunia yang rusak.



Biarlah kehendak Allah menjadi fokus utama hidup kita sebagai umat-Nya, sehingga melaluinya, nama Allah dipermuliakan. Amin.