--- Are There Reasons to Doubt God? ---
Over the years, several people have shared what they feel are valid reasons to doubt the Bible. That does mean, of course, they surely must doubt all the promises of God the Bible holds out. What about you, do you believe?
"This is not milk!" (Heb 5:11-14)
Written: October 2023

The first of the two most common reasons I have heard people use to doubt is the fact the Bible is sometimes repetitive; a common example being the Creation account in the first 3 chapters of Genesis (or, "repeated creation accounts" I guess some would assert). Skeptics point out the Bible's parallel accounts are not always identical. And, they question, "Why would God need to repeat himself?" The second fairly common reason used for doubting the Bible's authenticity as "God's inspired Word" is, some feel, the Bible defines God as bad; because they assert the Jewish people He chose and protected as "his Nation" were bad. The Jews must have been bad, they feel free to judge, because they sometimes killed cities and even whole nations of people; and on occasion, exterminated entire races, including women and children... (1 Sam 15:2-3) For those reasons, some question the validity of the Bible as God's inspired Word; or even the whole concept of a "Good" Creator. Are those really, however, valid reasons to question the Bible, and even the existence of a God who is Good? (Heb 11:6)

What about the Bible being repetitive, then, with different accounts of the same event that are not always identical. While the Bible uses simple terms and principles to convey God's thoughts, it does cover a bit over 6000 years of human history, from the Creation of Adam through our day; and, it explains everything inside it's pages: Why we are here, where we came from, why wickedness exists, as well as telling us a great deal about our future. It teaches us to know personally both our Creator and his Son. (Pro 30:4) It enlightens each of us who will listen, on how to acquire eternal life based on our personal faith in God's provision of life through knowledge of, and faith in, the words of his son. (John 6:68-69) The Bible thus amounts to a 6000 year long revelation to give us the gift of eternal life and restore peace to the universe. Sound a bit too Star-Wars-ish? Where do you imagine every thought mankind has comes from? (Ecc 1:9-10) So, some repetition is occasionally necessary to explain different principles and/or results that are based on the same set of facts. One principle is based on the facts that our first parents sinned and thereby separated themselves from God, thus bringing the result of their sin, which is death to all of us. Principle, then: Sin is bad and brings only pain and death. Second principle based on Adam's sin is that God lovingly promised a Savior to give us the life Adam and Eve threw away, for us. The understanding of the principles that sin is bad and brings death, but that we all have hope of life through God's love in Christ. They are both understandings centered around the same underlying facts of our first parents sin. Sometimes, I believe, God uses repetition just to help us learn new things. And, as mentioned, it's sometimes necessary to repeat some same set of facts to teach something new based on those facts. One large example is the four parallel accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, as they are recorded by four different men. (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) Why would God to that? Sometimes, two or three or even four of the Gospels give accounts of the same event in Jesus life, but those accounts are not always identical. One recorded a rooster would crow twice in connection with Peter denying Christ. (Mark 14:30) The others just recorded that a rooster would crow. (Mat 26:34) These men were friends of Christ, and some reported what they had seen with their own eyes, while others were not present but reported what they learned from those who did see. Some felt certain facts were important, while others held a different view of what it was most important to convey. So, of course their accounts are not identical! Where, really, would be the value in that. God allowed each Gospel writer to expressed their own great faith in Christ, a faith built on what they learned from their own personal exposure to Christ and his teachings. The Gospels thus record their individual expressions as they each one tried to make a defense of their faith. (1 Pet 3:15) Their attempts to convey their own faith, based on what each one individually experienced, would of course not be exactly the same. God inspired them to recount what they each one learned, but each used his own words and thought processes as he did his best to express his personal faith in Jesus Christ and in Jesus's Father. What a wonder! What a gift!

As to God being bad because the Jews were wicked people... First of all, were they wicked? Well, just like individuals in all large groups of people, some of them were. Some of the Jews were killed by God for their wickedness. (Num 15:27-16:50) Many of them, however, were righteous. But you do need to understand, God didn't use the Jews because they were "good" people. He used them to accomplish "HIS" will. He chose them because of the promises He made to their forefathers, primarily Abraham. (Deu 9:4-6) After Adam and Eve sinned, God gave us the "Edenic promise" while they were still in Garden of Eden, saying He would raise up a descendent of Eve's who would destroy Satan. (Gen 3:15; 1 John 3:8) About 2000 years later, God expanded that hope gained in our knowledge of the Edenic promise, when He gave us the Abrahamic Covenant by telling his friend Abraham (Isa 41:8; James 2:23) that by means of Abraham's seed all nations of the earth would bless themselves [as it has turns out, by our putting faith in the then future Christ or Messiah, Jesus being Abraham's seed (Mat 1:1) and, of course, the seed of the woman (Luke 3:23 & 34 & 38)]. (Gen 22:15-18; Gal 3:26-29) As to the Jews being bad because they sometimes executed children along with their wicked parents, you "need" to ask yourself: Do you believe God is wicked? When he rained fire from heaven to destroy everyone in Sodom, including women and children and animals, was He wicked? You really do need to decide for yourself what you believe about that! Your life depends on what you believe, and on that faith being in what is truth... (John 17:3) Similar to Lot, you are caught in a modern day "worldwide" destruction of the wicked. (Luke 17:28-30) We all are... Do you comprehend the danger you face? Can't you see there is so much hate and division in the world it is no longer functioning. It is in its death throes. This world conjures an image in my mind of a giant beautiful and even majestic jellyfish swimming, as it drifts along with the currents, some giving off flashes of light as they move; or if they are touched? (Have you seen the light of earths cities from space?) Jellyfishes have no brain but function somehow on the activity of it's parts. The kingdom of humanity then reminds me of a giant monolithic land based jellyfish, with a plethora of sets of legs under its umbrella to move it about. Like the real jellyfish, my imagined land based entity, representing the overall "kingdom of all mankind," has no brain in its dome. The sets of legs that support and move the giant monolith forward represent the hundreds of nations that comprise "the single kingdom" of mankind. Each set of legs having some input in where the kingdom moves, as they individually try to push the world wide kingdom (the dome) in the way each one thinks it should move. My imagined image of our world system, comprised of all of mankind together, might be referred to as a wild beast. According to the Bible, the "kingdom of mankind" (and the false religions they have followed) might conjure other beast images as well. (Rev 13:1-8; Rev 17:15; Rev 19:2) The horrors we have just seen the wild beast inflict on the set of its own legs we know as Ukraine, and more recently on Israel and Gaza, should make clear to all, this world is a beast. The beast feeding on itself by devouring it's own sets of legs shows it is dying. (Mark 3:23-26) The kingdom of humankind has pierced and broken it's own source of life, its heart as it were; by the individual rebellion against the true God by each set of its legs (by each nation). The beast is rapidly bleeding out its life force internally, leaking out its spirit of life, as it lumbers and stumbles in the direction the majority of the legs continue to push. It still ties to carry on the motions of life and go forward, but it staggers aimlessly as it rapidly dies. Ukraine, as what was recently a free and rich nation, is one of the first parts of the Beast to die. The US is paralyzed by government members who demand their way on unrelated matters, before they will do anything. So, the beast lumbers and staggers without direction. Humas and possibly Israel seem next to be consumed by the beast. The wise among the citizens of those nations now being consumed must by now realize they have no hope apart from the protection of Christ's Kingdom. If personal faith in the kingdom of Christ isn't protecting an individual in Ukraine or Gaza or Israel, they have no real protection or hope. (That would seem to require they all read the Gospels and put faith in the words of Christ. - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) Most of this world will, of course, laugh at the simple suggestion to listen to Christ. Rejecting God and his Christ is why this world is where we are! What about you? It seems foolish not to realize our own nation will likely follow Ukraine and Gaza and Israel soon. Religious and political factions have infected all nations. Political hatred and infighting has divided nations to near destruction. Israel seems from history to have been more united than most, but even they have succumbed to internal political division and hate; which has likely proved an aid to their enemies. Many politicians act like they want to destroy their own nation, always for the sake of what they are adamant is a good cause. "Tear down and start over" always brings only anarchy. Totalitarian nations are failing under the hate and insanity and lack of honesty on the part of their own rulers. The rule of a nation by force and fear can never unite or sustain it. Hatred between the individual nations keeps us under constant threat of nuclear war. The escalating hordes of illegal aliens flocking to some countries present an impossible burden. We see supposed border patrol agents cutting the wire to let the invaders in. Many such illegal aliens are fleeing nations that have been taken over and destroyed by gang violence and corruption. How many gang members are among the huge numbers of refugees, communicating as an army unit on their cell phones, waiting to regroup in the land they are "escaping" to? The escalation of social hatred, along with the disappearance of integrity and morality and even basic human compassion, keeps us all in constant danger of being killed by some of our own neighbors. You are in danger of being killed for wearing a mask, or, for not wearing a mask, or for just anything someone decides to get upset about... One man was run down by a car and stabbed to death for riding his bicycle. Some people have become so vile they laugh as they indiscriminately run people down with the car they have stolen. The problems are without number and completely unmanageable by humans. No human or group can fix these problems... God can! God is! What, then, is that solution? It is the same simple solution for everyone, from Ukrainians to Jews to Palestinians (Mat 23:37-39; Gal 3:23-29; Gal 6:15-16) and to all the rest of us: Our solution and hope is personal faith in the words of Christ... You should not be upset that this old world system is dying and/or being destroyed. It is being destroyed by God! Jesus said you should actually be happy; because its destruction is bringing a better world, a world of true peace... (Luke 21:25-28) Those refusing to accept God's gift of life by putting faith in Christ, are being destroyed and are without protection. (Mat 13:36-43 ; John 12:46-50) [Everyone who will live must have faith, or be living under the protection of a parent or some responsible person who does have faith - which "individuals" are being protected to receive life is judged and known only by God and his Christ of course - 1 Cor 4:5] Not only the world as a whole, but every single person without the protection of faith in Christ is staggering ahead; already dead in their sins. (John 8:23-24)

As you consider and "judge" for yourself whether it is "right" and acceptable for God to first judge, and then kill, "all" who are wicked, please remember: The whole ancient city of Sodom, from least to greatest, came out to be involved in the community rape of the two strangers who had come into their city [they thought the angels extracting Lot were humans]. (Gen 19:4-5) None of the Sodomites would step away from the group's badness. (Gen 19:14) [It seemed none of the Palestinians would step away from Humas, from those amongst them who murder without reservation or compassion.] How vile could the inhabitants of Sodom really have been? Not just some of them, mind you, but "all" of them. Doesn't that sound just like the individuals and even mobs we see attack people and businesses in today's world? Were the Sodomites worse than a gang joy riding in a stolen car to run down innocent pedestrians. Do you want people like that, people who are willing to do harm to you and your family, do you want them to continue alive? Don't you want God to kill unrepentant wicked people, every single person who is wicked. He is! All the while, we can know we are completely free of trying to judge who needs to die? (John 5:22; 2 Chron 20:17) I saw an Israeli woman speaking about her kidnapped teenage daughter. "I taught my children not to hate anybody," she lamented. Hate breeds hate. Do you think she is still teaching her other children not to hate? How can those dedicated to following Christ not hate those who appear obviously and completely wicked? Because we can know this is God's war and there is no reason for "us" to hate. (2 Chron 20:17) God hates the wicked so they as good as non-existent even now. (Psa 11:3 & 5-6 of Psa 11; Jer 16:17-18; Psa 37:10-11) One of the terrorists, while kidnapping a young woman, covered her head with a scarf! How ignorant or stupid can he really be? How could he imagine himself righteous enough to try and teach the woman "he was in the process of kidnapping" what she should wear to be pleasing to God; while he believes the God he serves approves of his kidnapping and murder of children? (Mat 7:1-5) Only faith in the Son of the God of the Bible can help you understand and pray for those who are just ignorant in among such animalistic people; while also praying for the destruction of all who are wicked; all the while understanding you can't judge or even know who is who... (2 Chron 20:17) Be careful to realize: God isn't protecting any faction of this old world system. Whether it be a political or racial or religious sectarian faction, He is destroying it. Don't fear, what He "is" also doing, is protecting the righteous while the world is destroyed. (Psa 91:1-10) Faith in Christ is what defines (judges) us righteous for life. (John 5:24; John 3:19 of 16-21)

As to God's willingness to kill "everyone" wicked, you must trust him: When children are raised by this wicked system of things, they may have no chance to be anything but wicked. They don't and can't know anything else if they have never seen anything but wicked. But then again, some don't want to know better... (Eze 3:17-19) The fact God had some complete races exterminated, seems to indicate wickedness may sometimes be genetic. (1 Sam 15:2-3) So then, whether by their own choice or for some other reason, even young children may sometimes be wicked. (2 Kings 2:23-25) Remember the little boy who tried to kill his first grade teacher. He willfully shot her in the chest through her outstretched hand while she begged for mercy? Contrast that boy with young Samuel, who was born to God fearing people, and then chosen, and then "willingly" served as prophet in God's temple, at about the same age as that first grade shooter. (1 Sam 2:18-21) You must understand, each and every one of us must individually build personal faith in the words of Jesus Christ in order to be able to leave wickedness behind. Samuel apparently took that responsibility to know God to himself at an early age. It is logical young people could also decide to be bad, and thus become responsible before God at an early age. (John 15:22; 2 Kings 2:23-25) For any person to have any hope of changing from remaining wicked, which we are all born as, (Psa 51:5; John 5:24) they must first have heard about Christ in order to be able to listen and put faith in what Jesus was sent to teach. (Rom 10:11-15) God was certainly justified in putting the whole demon worshipping city of Sodom to death. That they are gone, along with their vile influence, is a good thing! If you don't understand and truly believe that, you probably have a serious problem in your heart and/or faith. (Acts 17:29-31) This is the simple truth: God is first warning, and then killing, everyone refusing to stop practicing wickedness. Don't worry about what some church or man judges you to be, or says about you; for good or for bad. Worry only about what God judges. (1 Cor 6:9-11; 1 Tim 1:8-11) If then, you understand God was righteous to put an end of all the wicked Sodomites, killing all those trying to harm others, what about the Jews killing the wicked. Remember, the ancient Jewish nation, while acting in God's service, didn't choose who they were going to kill. God directed them to exterminate "HIS" enemies, and He only did that because those enemies were wicked. (Deu 9:4-6) The ancient Jewish Nation was used to exterminate God's enemies, in the same sense He used fire from heaven on Sodom. He was protecting the ancient Jewish nation to produce the Messiah, "our" Messiah. (Gal 3:28 of 26-29) Using the Jews provided an easy way for him to extend mercy to individuals, when He chose to do so; as in the example of Rahab the harlot. When God destroyed her ancient wicked city of Jericho; He used the Jews to preserve alive all her father's household. (Joshua 2:1-6:25) Consider too: We were all dead in our sins. We were born from our first parents under their condemnation of death. (Rom 5:12) Real and eternal life is a "gift" from God that we were not born with; or, with any "right" to. (John 4:10; Rom 3:23-26) We were actually born dead (John 5:24-25) and were just a husk of a possible living person, until such day as we made the choice to put faith in Christ. (Eph 2:1-22) There was no good spirit in us until we made the choice to take in God's Spirit through Christ's words. (John 6:63) We were already dead. (John 5:24) Little children are born under our first parent's curse of death as well. [And no, everyone who is being killed didn't necessarily do anything wrong. It's not about that. If a person shows no interest in God and Christ, they are simply not worthy of life... Our first parents did something terribly wrong, causing all of us to be born under their sentence of death. They caused the terrible world conditions we  live  "exist" in. They alienated themselves from Almighty God , but He opened a way for him to remain righteous even while forgiving our sins and granting Adam and Eve's repentant children eternal life. (Rom 3:12-26) You must simply understand and have faith: God is examining every single person, and making a way to draw each one of them to Christ if he finds anything of value. (2 Chron 16:9; John 6:43-47; Mat 13:36-44) Every single person "He" kills (or refuses to help), young or old, will be dead because they "should" be dead...]

So, this all leads me to do something I have prayed about at length before finally choosing to tell you: If you want something to question the Bible about, I'm about to expose a personal weakness to you... It's something that bothers me and has for many years. It is something Christ Jesus himself said when he was about to die. As he died, Jesus cried out in anguish: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" I am convinced I know both Jesus Christ and his Father . (Pro 30:4) I know Jesus to be God's only begotten son, (John 1:4) the firstborn of all creation, (Col 1:19-20) and the master worker used by to create all other things. (Pro 8:22-31) Jesus volunteered to become a man to help stricken mankind, by becoming the ransom sacrifice for our sins. (Isa 6:8; 1 John 3:16 of 9-24; John 15:13 of 11-16; Heb 2:1-18) He spent much of his adult life telling his disciples he was the Messiah having come to die for the sins of the world. (Mat 16:21) So then, on the night of his death, I don't understand why Jesus asked that question of his Father: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Was that doubt or a lack of faith on the part of my Savior? Truth is, I just don't know... I have heard some say (speculate) it was because God removed his Spirit from his son to allow Jesus to die. Maybe! Wouldn't Jesus have reasoned that would have to happen? He surely would!

So... If I were going to doubt the Bible, that might seem the second greatest reason I am aware of. And, I don't know what to tell you about why it happened. When I allow my faith to get weak, it still bothers me. I pray I am not undermining your faith by sharing my weakness... I guess I deal with it by saying in my heart; "I do know this: The Bible provides a perfect explanation of everything we see. It explains how we wound up where we are, separated from God and dying in our sins, (John 8:24) without hope in the world except for our faith and hope in Christ." There is no other even slightly plausible explanation. Are we a string of happy accidents evolving us from tiny beginning life creatures into the men and women we are today. Really? How silly! (Rom 1:20 of 18-23; Heb 3:4) Are we the works of a plethora of Gods who war and fight amongst themselves, with no one in charge? There is no sensible explanation of why we are; except for the Bible. And, the Bible explanation is perfect! Still, why did the sinless and perfect son of God, who had explained many times about his approaching sacrificial death, (Mark 8:31; Mat 26:2) have doubts in his final seconds of life? (Mat 27:45-46) There is proof Jesus was resurrected (1 Cor 15:3-8) so we can all know there was no obvious reason for him to have doubted. [It was, of course, the first time in all his eons of time in the presence of his Father, that it ever cost him something to remain faithful. But again, he knew that was coming.] His question, whether it be a lack of faith or what ever it was, doesn't change the perfection of the Bible's explanation of "everything." The Bible simply must be true because there can be no other explanation, except what is unthinkable; that God is not good. (Heb 11:6) Creation and common sense cries out that is not possible. It is like Sherlock Holmes is given credit for having said: "When you eliminate the impossible, what ever remains, no matter how improbable, is the truth." Amen to fictional Sherlock's words! Apart from the Bible's explanation, nothing is possible.

I could postulate some possible reasons why Christ doubted, the most likely being it was not doubt on his part at all and I just misunderstand completely. But, this issue seems my cross to bear so I won't share my speculations. They don't matter anyway. This is my faith based on my continuing best effort to understand my Father's instructions from the Bible. [If you have  an  "the" answer, enlighten me! (Email me at: support@justbibletruth.com)] So, I am either surviving this tribulation based upon my hope and faith in the promises of Christ; or, I am not... Just the same as you! In either case, what is truth remains truth; forever. So... Jew or Gentile or what ever your are, you must find a way to put your faith in just what ever truth is. Our Father expects that of you. (Acts 17:27 of 22-31) Becoming a friend of God is the purpose of life... (John 17:3; James 2:21-23) Amen, come quickly Lord Jesus! (Rev 22:16-21)

In closing, I must suggest the probable greatest reason people doubt the Bible: They just don't "really" believe in God. If you suffer that plight, I can't imagine what I might say to help. It would seem you have missed the basic very personal starting point for faith in God, a belief a Creator exists and is good. (Heb 11:6) As for me, I am in nearly constant communication with him in my mind. Then, I look for his response in the Bible. I hope that makes me a person with true faith, but I do some who say that makes me insane. [They say a person who keeps doing the same thing expecting different results is insane. I keep looking "to " for my deliverance.] As for you, if you do believe in God, the Bible provides the only reasonable explanation of Everything... The Bible says, and I must agree, people who fail to recognize  a  "the" Creator, just from waking up in his creation, are inexcusable. (Rom 1:19-20 of 18-2:2) Such judgments are his, of course! (1 Cor 4:1-5)

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