"Both the believer and the unbeliever share, each in his own way, doubt and belief, if they do not hide away from themselves and from the truth of their being. The believer does not live immune to doubt but is always threatened by the plunge into the void. The non-believer may assert that he is a pure positivist, who has long left behind him supernatural temptations and weaknesses, and now accepts only what is immediately certain, he will never be free of the secret uncertainty whether positivism really has the last word. Just as the believer is choked by the salt water of doubt constantly washed into his mouth by the ocean of uncertainty, so the non-believer is troubled by doubts about his unbelief, about the real totality of the world which he has made up his mind to explain as a self-contained whole. "
Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in his book "[i]Introduction to Christianity[/i]" (1968).
@helenS John won't be impressed with this quote because he believes only born again Christians are real Christians so a quote from a Catholic wouldn't really move him.
@helenS [quote]The believer....[b]but is always threatened by the plunge into the void[/b].[/quote]
What???? That's the funniest accusation I have ever heard in my life, and so inaccurate. The believer is afraid of nothing. He has accepted God's Plan of Salvation and could not be more secure as to his destination. There is no fear in perfect love, and God's love and preparation for us in the afterlife with eternal life in heaven with the angels and all, is absolutely perfect.
It's just the opposite. It's the ones who have not prepared themselves for eternity and have left their souls to chance, that are terrified.
@helenS What he actually said, was just as you stated from the first:
"....But is always threatened by the plunge into the void." Which is completely different than saying one can never escape doubt.
Even Popes can make blunders, but being he is loved by so many and has a huge following, I would think that he would choose his words very carefully as he is responsible for what he teaches people.
For example, he states that believers are always threatened by the plunge into the void. The Pope does not know each and every person's heart, so to assume he does, then add that "believers are [b]always[/b] threatened by the plunge into the void.", would be inaccurate. It also doesn't speak well for his "faith". Further, his words invoke doubt that although one may be a Christian, they will actually never be completely sure of their security in Christ, for salvation. Even Christ did not teach that. I find that to be a terrible testimony, given it comes from a pope. The Bible teaches us that the security of the believers faith in Christ and salvation, rests not in our ability to keep [u]ourselves[/u] saved, but in [b]God's[/b] ability to keep us saved, and secure in His promises.
I think that's one reason Jesus used the phrase, "Oh ye of little faith."
There's nothing wrong with doubt. Doubt only becomes a sin, when we are excessively consumed with fear or worry. So much so, that it overrides our faith and then we begin to disbelieve God can or will, answer our prayers. It actually hurts God's heart that we won't believe him, as he wants to do so much for us and help us, out of the love in his heart for his creation. [i]Excessive[/i] worry, eventually cancels out the faith you were exercising at the time you prayed for help, then halts the permission you had given God, to start working on your behalf to solve the problem. God's ability to help us is based on, and activated by our faith, through His grace, just as a car can go nowhere, without gas.
It is not a sin to doubt. It only becomes a sin when that doubt crosses over into fear and unbelief. God cannot work, absent our faith.
On the other hand, fear and doubt can also work on our behalf. When we become fearful and doubt that help is on its way from the Lord, that gets us searching for answers and in doing so, return to God's Word for the solution/remedy. Once the answer is found, that not only builds our faith, but restores it. As a result, doubt is tossed out the door and replaced with the assurance that God keeps his promises, hears and answers our prayers, and shall never abandon us. As believers, we can either believe and receive, or doubt and do without.
"Thou will keep him in [b]perfect peace[/b], whose mind is [b]stayed/focused[/b] on Him, because he trusts in Him." [Isaiah 26:3].
Trust means, we are placing all our faith and trust in the Lord, believing He will keep His Word and promises to us, without fail.
If what the Pope claimed was true, there would be no hope or security in Christ. Combine God's grace with our faith, and miracles are possible. Jesus didn't say we [b]might[/b] have eternal life. He said if we believe, we [b]shall[/b] inherit eternal life in heaven, with our Heavenly Father.
There is no fear in perfect love, and God's love is perfect. That's why Christians [b]never[/b] have to feel insecure or threatened by death or the afterlife. They shall [u]never[/u] be plunged into the void, upon death. For [u]nothing[/u] can separate us from the love of God or his promise of Heaven. Romans 8:31-39 Instead, the second they step into eternity, they'll be greeted and accompanied by Angels, till they reach Heaven's door.
@helenS For the record, I don't have a pinch of doubt that I shall be going to heaven when I die. Never. God is no liar and he always keeps his promises.
I have security in Christ, not because I'm better, smarter, or more special than anyone else. The Bible teaches us that the security of the believers faith in Christ and salvation, rests not in our ability to keep [u]ourselves[/u] saved, but in [b]God's[/b] ability to [b]keep[/b] us saved, safe, and secure in His promises.
