Lisa Fields is an insightful author dedicated to exploring faith and tough questions. In this conversation, she emphasizes that wrestling with God is essential for spiritual growth. They discuss how doubts often stem from personal pain and the need for empathy in faith communities. Lisa shares her journey from resentment to redemption through reflection and community support. She highlights the Jude 3 Project, aimed at empowering Black Christians to understand their beliefs. It's a profound dialogue about navigating faith in a complex world.
Wrestling with God is essential for spiritual growth, allowing believers to address disappointment and deepen their faith through questioning.
Understanding the emotional pain behind doubts is crucial, as it can guide individuals to healing and strengthen their relationship with God.
Deep dives
The Gap Between Belief and Experience
The podcast discusses the theme of disappointment in faith, particularly highlighting the gap between what believers expect from their faith and what they actually experience. Lisa Fields, who is promoting her book 'When Faith Disappoints,' shares insights from people who express disappointment, often feeling angry with God for unmet expectations. Such feelings frequently lead individuals to exit the faith altogether, making it crucial to acknowledge and address these emotions instead of suppressing them. By understanding that wrestling with God is a normal part of the Christian journey, believers can potentially strengthen their faith rather than abandon it.
Wrestling with Doubts
Lisa reflects on her personal struggles with faith and doubt, particularly during her seminary studies when grappling with complex theological issues like the problem of evil. She recounts a poignant moment when discussing deep emotional conflicts with her professor, who recognized her struggles and simply affirmed that he too wrestled with such doubts. This realization that even knowledgeable figures in religious spaces experience doubt helped her to navigate her own feelings of uncertainty and find reassurance in shared humanity. The conversation emphasizes that questioning God can lead to greater intimacy and a deeper understanding of faith.
The Role of Personal Experience in Faith
The podcast delves into the importance of personal experiences in shaping one's relationship with God and faith. Lisa discusses how growing up in a sheltered Christian environment shielded her from questioning God until she faced the harsh realities of life in a college setting. It illustrates that many people fear questioning God due to cultural teachings, especially within Black churches where doubt is often stigmatized. Recognizing this fear is essential for encouraging open dialogue about faith, allowing individuals to grow through their questions rather than avoiding them.
Understanding Pain Points in Faith
The concept of pain points is introduced as a significant theme in the discussion on faith and doubt. Lisa explains that beneath many doubts lies emotional pain, often related to personal experiences, such as loss or feeling unprotected. By addressing the root of these doubts rather than the surface-level questions, believers can better understand their struggles and find healing. This perspective highlights that many are seeking peace and identity and are often led astray by alternative spiritual practices when their faith feels inadequate to meet their emotional needs.
Wrestling with God is a normal part of the Christian faith. We can’t grow in our relationship with God without questioning Him. But many of us run from hard questions or feel discouraged and angry when the answers we find are not emotionally satisfying to us. This week’s guest, Lisa Fields, has a conversation with the Perrys about learning how to wrestle well with God instead of leaving the faith.
Visit Jude3Project.org to learn more about the Christian apologetics organization Lisa founded to help Black Christians specifically know what they believe and why they believe it.