Doubt and Deconstruction
Building on the last session, we continue to open our ears to the lessons that artists would look to share with our churches. They would encourage us to be humble about what we don’t know and to make space for questions.
Questions for Reflection
1) What part does mystery play in your discipleship?
Artworks to consider: artworks about mystery? Matrix kind of films that cause us to doubt reality?
2) Which of the following statements would you agree with? Which would you disagree with? Why?
- I can only get to know what God is like through the Bible
- I can get to know God through my reason
- I can get to know God through my imagination
- I can get to know God through my experience of the natural world
- I can get to know God through spiritual experiences
- I cannot really claim to know what God is really like
- I can reliably know enough about God for my salvation
- I can thoroughly know what God is like
Scriptures to consider: John 1:17, 2 Timothy 3:16, Roman 11:33-36, Colossians 1:25-2:3
3) How has your faith changed since you became a Christian? Are there things you used to believe (as a newer Christian) that you no longer believe? Are there things that you struggled to believe (as a newer Christian) that you now believe?
4) In Colossians 1:23, Paul warns the Colossians not to shift ‘from the hope of the gospel that you heard’ (ESV). Which beliefs do you think he has in mind that no Christian should ever shift from? Which beliefs do you think may well change over time?
5) How do you respond to people who seem to want to question everything? How can we make space for people to ask deep questions about their faith in our church communities? Are there questions in the church community that you don’t feel should be asked publicly?
Scriptures to consider: Colossians 1:23, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Artworks to consider:
