Faith Questions

For those with faith questions and don’t we all have them honestly. There are two websites that I have been reading regularly (since my blog reading holiday, ha) that deal with some of the questions that people of faith struggle with about theology, doctrine, and practicing the life of faith. I would recommend them. They do not necessarily answer the questions but they acknowledge them and have conversations about them. Unlike many websites where the comments turn ugly and nasty when people disagree, the commenters at these sites tend to be thoughtful and honest with each other.

The first website is http://www.internetmonk.com/  From the site.

The Internet Monk was first begun by Michael Spencer in 2000.Since that time, it has consistently been rated as one of the top Christian blogs on the internet.
Michael wrote passionately about developing a Jesus-shaped spirituality and the stewards of this site aim to continue that legacy.

 Michael Spencer died at age 53 after a battle with cancer in 2010 but others have continued the site in his honor and they still re-post many of his best writings. The top banner of the site says “Dispatches from the Post. Evangelical Wilderness” and has a an artist rendering of a homeless type man pushing a shopping cart of belongings in an urban setting with a church in the background.

There are several writers there including Chaplain Mike (a hospice chaplain,) Jeff Dunn who comes from a Christian publishing background and now works at a Target store (a sure sign of our economic times) and others who I do not know the backgrounds of.

I find myself becoming less of a black and white thinker as I age. For a time I probably was a fundamentalist evangelical but now would only accept the evangelical part of that description and feel like I am now somewhat of a reformer within that tradition.

The other site that I like is written by a young woman who just turned 30 and the website has her name Rachel Held Evans and is her personal blog. http://rachelheldevans.com/blog From the site.

I'm a writer, skeptic, and Christ-follower from Dayton, Tennessee—home of the famous Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925.
My first book, a spiritual memoir entitled Evolving in Monkey Town, released with Zondervan in July of 2010. My second book, an experimental memoir (tentatively) titled A Year of Biblical Womanhood will be released by Thomas Nelson in 2012 (at the earliest).
I enjoy speaking, blogging, traveling, playing poker, and talking theology over coffee.

Rachel is not afraid of taking on bad theology especially when Christians show an appalling lack of grace for others. She is also funny and humble and has a disarming way of cutting right to the meat of an issue. She admits that she has doubts and has discarded much of her former fundamentalist thinking and is still looking to find a place for herself within the Christian faith community. I think a lot of young adult believers might identify with her.

I invite people to take a look at these sites. A life of faith is more than following doctrines and rules. Following Jesus, utilizing the ageless wisdom of the Bible and with the Spirit guiding at all times, is not a walk in the park!
Lou
P.S. scroll your mouse over the links and click to go directly to the sites mentioned.