As a Christian, we will face criticism over our faith.

• If God exists and is good then why does he let evil exist?
• If God exists then why doesn’t he heal/help/give to us so we can live more fully?
• Where is God when a child dies of Cancer?
• Why does sickness exist if God does?
• If God knows everything why does he even require us to prove ourselves to him?

The bottom line

The questions never end when it comes to doubt about Christianity and God. I want to raise that not only are these questions okay to ask but they are even foundational to the journey through Christianity for a non-believer and believer alike.

When somebody faithful answers these questions with love and not with anger they open up a door to understanding that answering with anger would have otherwise shut.

Let’s look at some verses to support this argument about the harm of anger:

“For the anger of man[humans] does not produce the righteousness of God.”

James 1:20

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Esphesians 4:31

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 5:44

What is the significance of This?

These verses give a clear message – don’t be angry but instead be loving even to the very people who question your faith, your life, or your foundational beliefs.

It’s important to remember that all people are loved by God and that includes sinners and those of doubt. We do not have the context behind their lives or what led them to have their doubts.

So why not answer with anger if their questions/ignorance upsets you?

Imagine you are confused in a class about mathematics. Everybody around you understands but you don’t so you ask the teacher for guidance – and they respond with anger, “Just listen to me and don’t doubt what I say,” they yell at you harshly.

Would that give you a reason to listen to them and understand?

Or even to see them as a person worth listening too – as a teacher of the subject?

Even children respond with angry outbursts – a person with anger as their primary response shows the world that they emotionally and spiritually have not grown.

Respond with love

When in doubt about whether or not you are responding with love, fall back to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us as clear as day what biblical love is. If we are going to progress in our task to live more like Christ then us practicing this biblical love is an absolute in significance to that goal.

Anybody who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 4:8

Why is it okay to ask questions of doubt about God/Christianity? That’s simple. If we are going to grow as Christians then we have to ask the hard questions and figure out the hard answers. Why does evil exist? Why does God allow suffering to happen? Why don’t we all just start in heaven? There is an answer to each one of these but if we treat the questions as detestable then we are closing off an important chapter of our growth.

Beyond our own growth as Christians we have a rare chance to show a nonbeliever that Christianity does make sense and does have answers. Nobody will listen to an angry and spiteful response – but they will listen to a loving one.

Did Jesus practice this?

Jesus did not sit with the rich and wealthy but with the sick and poor because they are the ones who needed healing. Just like Jesus Christ, we should not just sit with the righteous and sound of spirit to preach the Word in an echo chamber but also with those who have no belief and those that are lost in spirit in hope that they receive the Holy Spirit.

So the next time you are faced with criticism over your belief in Jesus Christ – meet it with loving explanation and throw anger out of your heart in the name of Jesus Christ our savior.