Doubt is a natural
and healthy element of the spiritual journey. Doubt is not the opposite
of faith, as so many argue. Rather, the opposite of faith is certain
knowledge, and no human can have certain knowledge of all the mysteries
of God. Consequently, it is often said that “A question is
a prayer from the mind.” Questions are welcome and expected,
and many questions do not have concrete answers. Because it is impossible
for mortal minds to grasp the fullness of God, we encounter many
mysteries in the faith journey.
In the Anglican
Catholic tradition, of which the Episcopal Church of the United
States is part, faith is said to rest on a “three-legged stool.”
Those three legs are Scripture, Tradition and Reason, each of equal
importance. Each one is a guide, but none is infallible. All three
must work together to keep us moving in the rights path.
Another important
concept in our church is the “Via Media,” meaning “Middle
Way.” This term describes a primary value of the Episcopal
Church to provide a space in which people of widely differing opinions,
histories and practices may find a home. The Episcopal Church strives
to create a community in which differences enrich one another.
Writing of his
own doubts, Bishop Leo Frade said recently, “So far I have
not seen the wind, just the effects of the wind. So far I have not
seen God, just the effects of the resurrected Jesus in his church
through the life of his followers…the Spirit of the Almighty
is like the rush of a mighty wind that no one can control or resist
when it blows hard upon us.”
Church membership
is not a reward for people who have all the answers; it is a tool
for people who have questions. Please feel free to bring your questioning
mind to St. Christopher’s by-the-Sea.
ALL
ARE WELCOME IN THIS HOUSE OF GOD!
updated
05/01/08
Baptism