Is Doubt A Sign Of Little Faith?

A friend of mine attended a service at the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG) recently and was disturbed by something she heard. The person delivering the message claimed that “those that have doubt and ask questions are of little faith and those of strong faith just follow”. Wow.  It seems doubt is something that is discouraged at this WMSCOG location. In a sermon titled “A Precious Cornerstone In Zion”, the WMSCOG claims that God adds to any existing doubt that we may have so that we will not be able to believe in Him.

God reveals His awesome power and shows more convincing evidence to those who realize His divine nature and believe in Him. However, to those who doubt and insult Him, He only shows things that make them more doubtful, so that they cannot believe in Him.

english.watv.org

That’s interesting. The WMSCOG suggests that those that experience doubt are not those of strong faith in a sermon titled “Are You The One That Was To Come?

Let us have firm faith in God, saying, ‘You are the One who was to come!’ rather than doubt, asking, ‘Are you the One who was to come?’ When we have such a confident faith, we can follow the Lamb wherever He goes, as the faithful 144,000.

english.watv.org

What Does the Bible Say?

The Bible does not teach us that questioning is a sign of little faith. The Apostle Paul writes that the people he preached to in Berea were more “noble character” than those of Thessalonica.  The people of Berea did not blindly accept Paul’s teaching.  They looked to the Scriptures (Acts 17:11-12) in order to determine if what Paul said was true. As a result of questioning, many had a stronger faith, not more doubt.

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

Acts 7:11-12

Because they searched, as a result they believed.

In his first epistle, John warns us about false prophets (1 John 4:1).

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1

Here we see that the Bible tells us to test the spirits, and that people came to greater faith because of their questioning. From these sermons, and from what my friend heard, it doesn’t seem to me that the WMSCOG encourages questioning. The truth, however, can stand up to any questioning, precisely because it is fact. The truth has nothing to fear from being questioned, for it cannot be proven wrong.

Destructive mind control groups often equate questions and doubt with little faith and weakness. Members of these groups that demonstrate blind acceptance or “strong faith” are rewarded with additional “love bombing” and other social signs of approval in order to discourage and even stop the members’ critical thought process. 

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2 Comments
  1. cassandra says

    Hey.

    First and foremost, i apologize if i sound rude. There is one thing i must assure you here, the WMSCOG does not stop people from questioning, in fact, they have bible studies where people start to bombard them questions. I am quite certain you have heard about the media interview towards the WMSCOG. There, the reporters were stumped at their answers because there is evidently no other truth other than what they talk about. You are not the first to have posted things about the WMSCOG and will not be the last, but should you slander them without seeking the truth, i think it’s not being fair to them. You might not have tried, maybe you could have bombarded them the questions you have posted here. i am very sure, every single details, would all be answered.
    thank you.

  2. admin says

    Hi Cassandra,

    Thanks for your post. I do not mean to sound rude either, but neither I, nor anyone I know, have ever heard about this media interview with the WMSCOG. When did it happen? Could you please tell me the date it was aired, the station, and what program it was on? Is there a record of it somewhere?

    Secondly, I take exception to your accusation of “slandering”. I’m sorry if I sound rude, but this is not a term you should toss around lightly, and so I think perhaps I should explain why you should be careful using it. Slandering is the same as defamation, or making “false statements”. This is a very serious charge, and one that has legal implications. That being said, the above article is not defamation for the following three reasons: 1.) the quotes from their web site are truthful and actual quotes as cited. 2.) my opinion of those quotes is covered under the “fair comments and criticism clause” of free speech law. 3.) the event described above actually happened.

    Now, you can see why your charge of slandering is actually without basis. One should be able to voice their opinion about an actual personal experience, without being falsely accused of malicious behavior. All I have done in this article is say what my experience was, quote from their official sermon, and stated how I can not reconcile it with Scripture. That is hardly “slander”.

    In regard to your latter point, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but my questions have not been answered, and they indeed have been asked of members. Again, here on this site, they are asked and are available for anyone to freely refute. I, myself, can not reconcile the Scripture verses above with the WMSCOG preaching I heard both in person and on their web site. Can you?

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