Doubting Faith and Spiritual Crisis in Christianity

Doubting faith and spiritual crisis are experiences that can challenge individuals within Christianity, often prompting self-examination and a deeper engagement with their beliefs. The Apostle Paul, in his Second Letter to the Corinthians, urges believers to "Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified" ^{[1, 4]}. This biblical injunction highlights a call for introspection regarding one's spiritual state.

Spiritual crises can manifest in various forms, including periods of despair. While despair is often associated with the wicked in scripture, leading to continued sin or blasphemy, even saints are sometimes tempted by it ^[6]. However, saints are also depicted as being enabled to overcome despair, with trust in God serving as a preservative against it ^[6]. Biblical figures like Cain, Ahithophel, and Judas are presented as examples of those who succumbed to despair ^[6].

The concept of "faith" itself is understood not as a passive assent but as an active, working reality that produces fruits ^[8]. This "work of faith" involves alacrity in receiving truth and demonstrating belief through actions ^[8]. The development of faith is seen as a continuous process, leading to its "perfect development" ^[8].

One common area where faith can be tested is through "speculative difficulties" ^[11]. These are moments when an individual's spiritual perception might waver, and the certainty of truth seems to diminish ^[11]. During such times, a clear and firm conviction in Christ is presented as a means of fortification against these challenges ^[11]. The Apostle Peter, for instance, affirmed his belief in Christ during a moment of potential recoil from difficult teachings, not only to assure his Lord but also to strengthen himself and his fellow believers ^[11].

The Bible also speaks of "mysteries" within the Christian faith, which are truths that are undiscoverable apart from revelation and cannot be fully grasped by finite human intelligence ^[3]. These mysteries, such as the calling of the Gentiles into the Church or the resurrection of the dead, require explanation but may still exceed complete understanding ^[3]. The existence of such profound truths can contribute to periods of doubt or crisis as individuals grapple with concepts beyond their full comprehension.

The compassion and sympathy of Christ are presented as a source of encouragement for those who are weak in faith, tempted, or afflicted ^[5]. Christ's priestly office necessitates his compassion, which he demonstrated for the weary, heavy-laden, and those struggling with belief ^[5]. This divine empathy is an encouragement to prayer, suggesting that in moments of spiritual struggle, believers can turn to Christ for support ^[5].

Confessing Christ is identified as a crucial aspect of Christian life, necessary for salvation and serving as a test and evidence of being a saint and of union with God ^[7]. The Holy Spirit's influence is considered necessary for such confession ^[7]. The fear of man can prevent open confession, and persecution should not deter it ^[7]. This act of confession must be connected with faith ^[7].

The Second Epistle of Peter outlines grounds for assurance for believers, including the apostle's personal testimony as an eyewitness of the transfiguration and the "sure word of prophecy," which refers to the testimony of the Holy Spirit ^[2]. This epistle also warns against the danger of being misled by false prophets, which could certainly contribute to spiritual uncertainty and crisis ^[2].

The concept of hope is also intertwined with faith, particularly for Jewish Christians who "before hoped in the Christ," looking forward to his coming ^[9]. This hope is described as "the hope of Israel" ^[9]. The "work of faith" is seen as producing peace, both internal and external ^[10].

Sources

2 Corinthians “Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. -- 2 Corinthians 13:5”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Peter, Second Epistle Of — The following is a brief outline of the contents of this epistle: The customary opening salutation is followed by an enumeration of Christian blessings and exhortation to Christian duties. (2 Peter 1:1-13) Referring then to his approaching death, the apostle assigns as grounds of assurance for believers his own personal testimony as eye-witness of the transfiguration and the sure word of prophecy--that is the testimony of the Holy Ghost. vs. (2 Peter 1:14-21) The danger of being misled by false prophets is dwelt upon with great earnestness t”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Mystery — The calling of the Gentiles into the Christian Church, so designated (Eph. 1:9, 10; 3:8-11; Col. 1:25-27); a truth undiscoverable except by revelation, long hid, now made manifest. The resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:51), and other doctrines which need to be explained but which cannot be fully understood by finite intelligence (Matt. 13:11; Rom. 11:25; 1 Cor. 13:2); the union between Christ and his people symbolized by the marriage union (Eph. 5:31, 32; comp. 6:19); the seven stars and the seven candlesticks (Rev. 1:20); and the woman clothed in scarlet”
II Corinthians “II Corinthians 13:5 (ASV) — Try your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye be reprobate.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Compassion and Sympathy of Christ, The — Necessary to his priestly office -- Heb 5:2,7. Manifested for the Weary and heavy-laden. -- Mt 11:28-30. Weak in faith. -- Isa 40:11; 42:3; Mt 12:20. Tempted. -- Heb 2:18. Afflicted. -- Lu 7:13; Joh 11:33,35. Diseased. -- Mt 14:14; Mr 1:41. Poor. -- Mr 8:2. Perishing sinners. -- Mt 9:36; Lu 19:41; Joh 3:16. An encouragement to prayer -- Heb 4:15.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Despair — Produced in the wicked by divine judgments -- De 28:34,67; Re 9:6; 16:10. Leads to Continuing in sin. -- Jer 2:25; 18:12. Blasphemy. -- Isa 8:21; Re 16:10,11. Shall seize upon the wicked at the appearing of Christ -- Re 6:16. Saints sometimes tempted to -- Job 7:6; La 3:18. Saints enabled to overcome -- 2Co 4:8,9. Trust in God, a preservative against -- Ps 42:5,11. Exemplified Cain. -- Ge 4:13,14. Ahithophel. -- 2Sa 17:23. Judas. -- Mt 27:5.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Confessing Christ — Influences of the Holy Spirit necessary to -- 1Co 12:3; 1Jo 4:2. A test of being saints -- 1Jo 2:23; 4:2,3. An evidence of union with God -- 1Jo 4:15. Necessary to salvation -- Ro 10:9,10. Ensures his confessing us -- Mt 10:32. The fear of man prevents -- Joh 7:13; 12:42,43. Persecution should not prevent us from -- Mr 8:35; 2Ti 2:12. Must be connected with faith -- Ro 10:9. Consequences of not -- Mt 10:33. Exemplified Nathanael. -- Joh 1:49. Peter. -- Joh 6:68,69; Ac 2:22-36. Man born blind. -- Joh 9:25,33. Martha. -- Joh 11:27. Peter and John. -”
1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 1:3: work of faith--the working reality of your faith; its alacrity in receiving the truth, and in evincing itself by its fruits. Not an otiose assent; but a realizing, working faith; not "in word only," but in one continuous chain of "work" (singular, not plural, works), Th1 1:5-10; Jam 2:22. So "the work of faith" in Th2 1:11 implies its perfect development (compare Jam 1:4). The other governing substantives similarly mark respectively the characteristic manifestation of the grace which follows each in the genitive. Faith, love, and hope, are the ”
Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 1:12: (Eph 1:6, Eph 1:14). who first trusted in Christ--rather (we Jewish Christians), "who have before hoped in the Christ": who before the Christ came, looked forward to His coming, waiting for the consolation of Israel. Compare Act 26:6-7, "I am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come." Act 28:20, "the hope of Israel" [ALFORD]. Compare Eph 1:18; Eph 2:12; Eph 4:4.”
Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 32:17: work--the effect (Pro 14:34; Jam 3:18). peace--internal and external.”
John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 6:69: And we believe,--(See on Mat 16:16). Peter seems to have added this not merely--probably not so much--as an assurance to his Lord of his heart's belief in Him, as for the purpose of fortifying himself and his faithful brethren against that recoil from his Lord's harsh statements which he was probably struggling against with difficulty at that moment. Note.--There are seasons when one's faith is tried to the utmost, particularly by speculative difficulties; the spiritual eye then swims, and all truth seems ready to depart from us. At such seasons, a clear”

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