Reexamining Faith
In my recent Substack newsletter, I discussed how reevaluating my faith actually saved it. As a continuation of that discussion, this blog offers a few guiding questions and resources for reexamining faith with compassion and curiosity (and without fear).
Is this Christlike?
I’ve seen all manner of oppression, violence, racism, and sexism classified as “biblical” because they can be found in the narrative of the Bible. But while these things are seen in the story of scripture, they’re not the point of it. So, rather than asking Is this biblical? when it comes to matters of faith, I’ve begun asking Is this Christlike? Does this thought, belief, or action exemplify the humility, compassion, love, and justice Jesus embodies? If so, that thought, belief, or action aligns with my faith. If not, it’s worth reevaluating.
“When our focus becomes Christlikeness rather than conformity to some version of cultural Christianity, we begin to love God and our neighbors rather than trying to be God and control our neighbors.”
Does this cause harm to myself or others?
If a component of faith requires me to cause harm to myself (such as people pleasing) or harm to others (such as oppressing or marginalizing them), then that component is broken. I firmly believe God cares about the wellbeing and wholeness of each person—and if an aspect of my faith is not contributing to the good of God’s people, I no longer believe it honors a good God.
Am I clinging to this belief because I fear the repercussions of changing my mind?
For years, I held onto mindsets I knew deep down weren’t true but didn’t know how to untangle from everything else I believed. I knew abuse was not good, but I’d been convinced that honoring my parents meant staying in a relationship with my abusive parent. Reevaluating this belief—and leaving that relationship—cost me relationships with Christians who viewed my pursuit of health as selfish and ungodly. However, changing my mind and releasing that mindset was the healthiest thing I’ve ever done—both spiritually and emotionally.
I’m intimately aware of how intimidating reevaluating faith can feel. It can require letting go of things that feel familiar. It can spark difficult conversations with people who don’t understand (or who don’t want to understand) where you’ve landed. But it can also lead to a more vibrant, life-giving faith that actually looks like love. In releasing the fear of asking questions and honestly sharing our doubts, we encounter a God who is more good and loving than we could imagine.
In addition to the above questions, below are some books that were profoundly helpful in my own faith reexamination:
