It's en vogue to question faith in God (across credal lines) and it has been for centuries. I can't speak to the past few centuries but I can speak to the age in which we live. In the West, Christianity has declined exponentially. Many question their faith and, as I've experienced it, it's only the most enlightened minds that reject faith in at least some portion.
Rather than turn the questioning of faith inward on ourselves, I think we'd have more to gain if we reflected on the questions of Jesus. All of these are taken from the Gospel of Matthew, and from the RSV-CE.
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (7:3)
Either beginning the journey of faith or even walking the path requires humility. It's a constant theme throughout the Gospels--the Beatitudes (Matt 5) extol the meek, the lowly, those that are suffering & persecuted. At the Last Supper, Jesus washes the disciples' feet (John 13:3-17), taking a position of social inferiority (not to mention, those feet must've been nasty if they walked on dirt roads all day). Recognizing our own sinfulness must precede any preaching to others. Otherwise, it very well could come across as self-righteous.
Why are you afraid, O men of little faith? (8:26)
In this scene, the disciples are with Jesus in a boat--and the sea turns stormy. Everyone but Jesus was panicking. Our Lord was asleep! The disciples woke Him up, He asks them the above question; He then rebukes the storm and leaves the disciples stunned. From fearing for their lives one moment to hearing chirping birds and Bobby McFerrin after! (slight poetic license on my part)
Isn't that how we behave when the storms of life rock us to the core? We panic, we scream to Jesus for help. Don't misinterpret here, He wants us to turn to Him and is always glad when we do. Is Jesus falling asleep in our "boat" because we don't ever talk to Him? Or involve Him in our lives? Had the disciples had greater faith in the story, the storm would've been just as terrifying. Their reaction, however, would've been much different.
Do you believe that I am able to do this? (9:28)
It's a funny thing with humans, sometimes we hold on to pain and resist healing. It's much easier to wallow in our self-pity than to properly deal with something. I know that from experience! It's difficult for those of us with confidence issues, no matter how big or small. For me in the past, I held on to x, y, or z that gave me cause to hate myself. Not to make myself feel guilty, not to chide myself--to hate myself. At the time, I wasn't always willing to accept Christ's healing power. For whatever messed up reason, that self-hatred was attractive to hold onto.
If any soul answers "no" to this, they are in grave danger. As I was. If a soul thinks that Jesus cannot heal them, they admit that sin is stronger than grace. That evil is stronger than good. They are SO terrible that not even God can help them! They are out of reach! C.S. Lewis said that despair is the devil's greatest weapon...
Who do you say that I am? (16:15)
How a soul answers this is how they practice their faith. It's a very simple question.
For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? (16:26)
See Rich, Richard ("A Man For All Seasons"). It's the timeless lesson of what's really important. Fr. Barron had a good point on this, he spoke about cultural names being indicative of where one spends one's time. A company man, family man, sports guy. How we spend our time reveals our actual priorities--which are different from the priorities we aspire to. There will be a point in our lives when it's too late to focus on what's truly important. We must remember that!
What do you want? (20:21)
Do you want a faith that is conformed to you? Or are you willing to conform yourself to a faith?
Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink? (20:22)
Along with the promise of eternal life, Jesus promised suffering to His followers. He doesn't sugar coat it--no servant is greater than his master.
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