What’s the opposite of white? Black, of course. What’s the opposite of faith? Most people say ‘doubt’. Assuming that doubt is the antonym of faith can have some serious consequences. By reading the Bible we clearly see God loves faith. ‘Without faith it is impossible to please God’ (Hebrews 11:6). So it stands to reason, God must be displeased if we ever doubt. When we think God is disappointed with us because of our doubts (which are inevitable) our Christian walk will turn into a struggle that some people can’t handle. Maybe we should look a little closer at this comparison.
I have had a long standing relationship with doubt. It’s always present in some area of my Christian life. But the strange thing is that doubt has produced some valuable rewards, not the least being faith! My doubts have driven me to ask questions and actively seek answers. I have a greater faith in Christianity because through my persistent questioning (inspired by my doubts) Christianity has proved itself over and over again to be the truth. Truth frees me to believe (John 8:32). The discovery that Jesus is ‘The Truth’ is the basis for my faith in Him.
Is doubt really the opposite of faith? The Scriptures show that God doesn’t have a problem with doubt and He isn’t disappointed with people who experience it. Indeed, all His star players doubted. John the Baptist was described by Jesus as one of the ‘greatest’. Yet after baptising Jesus and declaring Him to be ‘the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world’ he sent a message to Jesus asking Him if He was really ‘the One’. Instead of rebuking him, Jesus simply answered by sending word of the miraculous signs He was performing (Matthew 11:4). Jesus knew the truth about what He was doing would strengthen John’s faith.
So what does God have a problem with? The Bible clearly tells us the opposite of faith is most definitely ‘unbelief’. Doubt and unbelief are worlds apart. Firstly, doubt has more to do with comprehension than attitude. In the New Testament ‘doubt’ is commonly translated from the Greek word ‘aporeo’ which means ‘to have no way out, i.e. be at a loss (mentally)’. It has also been translated as ‘perplexed’. Our lack of understanding is what causes doubt. As human beings we can’t comprehend or know everything. So God is not disappointed in us for doubting. He expects it. It is part of our mortality, the way we were created. If we could understand everything we would not be human.
Unbelief is vastly different from doubt. It is translated from the Greek words ‘apaistia’ and ‘apeitheta’ which mean ‘faithlessness’, ‘unfaithfulness (disobedience)’, ‘(actively) disbelieving’, ‘untrustworthy’. Unbelief is more of an attitude, an active decision connected to mistrust, which in turn degrades someone’s character. For example, to say we have ‘no faith’ in someone means we don’t trust them, they are incapable, their character is flawed.
Jesus did not have a problem with doubt but He sure had a problem with unbelief as we see in Mark 16:14 ‘…and He rebuked their unbelief (apaistia) and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen’ (NKJV). The NIV says it this way, ‘He rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe’. Unbelief is clearly the opposite of faith and this is what displeases God. Unbelief, unlike doubt, refuses to even ask questions. Its mind is made up. Doubt is a by-product of not being able to understand; unbelief is an attitude, an active refusal to trust and believe.
Abraham is described as ‘the father of faith’. He is held in high esteem for his faith and trust in God. ‘He did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised’ (Romans 4:20-21 NIV). The Bible is clear that Abraham trusted God regarding the promise but he certainly doubted how it was going to happen. He was ‘at a loss mentally’ as to how Sarah would conceive. So in his doubt, his lack of understanding, he fathered Ishmael (through their handmaid Hagar) before Sarah miraculously fell pregnant with Isaac (the promise).
Faith and doubt actually enjoy a unique relationship. Faith needs doubt to prove itself. A true test of faith is being able to trust someone while not understanding what they are doing. Again, Abraham gives us the perfect example. When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac he had no idea that God had planned a substitute. Can you imagine the doubts going through Abraham’s mind on that journey to Moriah (the place of the sacrifice)? God had told him he was going to be the ‘father of many nations’ and the only chance of that happening was about to be sacrificed! To say he was ‘perplexed’ would be an understatement. God kept Abraham in that state of mind until the moment he raised the knife. It was only then that God informed him of the predestined substitute. Abraham’s ability to trust while experiencing doubt is what proved his great faith. Faith is not real faith without the element of doubt.
Doubt works with faith and God does not have a problem with it. What He has a problem with is unbelief. Not only is unbelief the opposite of faith, it is also the basis of mistrust, and mistrust is an assault on God’s character. God has demonstrated His faithfulness through The Cross and we have every reason to trust Him.