By Brett Hetherington*

Doubt is an unwelcome, troubling feeling that Christians often are told is counter-productive to building a faith that lasts. The Rev. Adam Hamilton, who stopped at Strongsville United Methodist Church (Northern Waters District) on January 18 as part of a book tour, thinks about doubt differently.

Hamilton is the founding pastor of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in the Kansas City area. He earned a B.A. degree in Pastoral Ministry from Oral Roberts and a Master of Divinity degree from Southern Methodist University. Today Church of the Resurrection is the largest United Methodist Church in the United States. 

“We wrestle with doubt. We recognize if you have children or grandchildren that don’t go to church, we recognize the next generation struggles with faith.” Hamilton shared from the stage. “They have questions and sometimes those questions they don’t wrestle very long with them. Jacob in the Bible wrestled all night long and got a blessing. But sometimes we wrestle just a little while and we give up. When you wrestle with doubt for just a little while and give up, sometimes you have no faith at all. Sometimes when you wrestle with doubt all night long you find out there are answers to the questions you have.”

Hamilton spent much of his time speaking on the idea that doubt is not something to be avoided, but instead is something to engage. He shared many examples from Scripture, ranging from Abraham and Moses through Joseph and the disciples who all wrestled with doubt.

“I always learn something new and am challenged when I hear Rev. Hamilton speak,” shared Rev. Kelly Brown, South Forest District superintendent. “This event was no different. He shares topics in a relatable and inspiring way. I especially liked the discussion of how doubt is part of the Christian journey and is reflected in the roots of Methodism. Doubt drives us deeper into our relationship with God and does not drive us away from God.”

The book tour stop was a collaboration between the East Ohio Conference and the West Ohio Conference. Both conferences have been working together intentionally for years and this event was another opportunity that has emerged from that partnership.

“This opportunity arose when Rev. Hamilton agreed to come to Ohio for West Ohio’s Bishop’s Clinic. He requested that if he was coming that he was able to speak to more than one group. Brad Aycock and I had been in ongoing conversations of how our two conferences could work together. He reached out and asked if we would be interested in hosting one of the stops in East Ohio as well as jointly advertising all the stops. Based on location needs, Strongsville UMC became my first choice of where to host this final stop,” shared Rev. Beth Ortiz, Connectional Ministries office Strategic Ministries director.

Through this joint effort, Rev. Hamilton made a total of five stops in Ohio. In Strongsville he examined the role of the church in creating doubt in those who are not a part of the church.

“One of the main reasons that people have doubts is their experience with Christianity and the church. They experience churches that are judgmental and hypocritical and sometimes mean-spirited. And so, I think, part of the task is for us to be Jesus kind of Christians and for people to see something different in us, the doubters for them to see,” he said. “I’m certain that most people don’t become Christians because of our superior theological arguments, they become Christians because we love them, and have shown them something different.”

Rev. Abby Auman, pastor of Strongsville UMC, shared her thoughts on Hamilton’s insights on the church being a source of doubt for those who are not a part of the Christian faith.

“As Christians, our central story is that the God we can’t empirically verify not only became a human being, but nonviolently accepted state execution and then rose from the dead.  If we can’t have compassionate and thoughtful conversations with people who have doubts about that, we shouldn’t be surprised if they aren’t interested in our church. If God truly knows and sees all, yet can’t stand up to critical thinking, what kind of a God is that? I especially appreciated Adam telling a roomful of pastors and very devoted laypeople that one of the biggest sources of doubt when it comes to Christianity is not actually the fabulous resurrection story, but the behavior of Christians who are every bit – and sometimes more so – as mean, judgmental, and selfish as nonbelievers. A major reason so many people do listen to Adam is not because he neatly resolves all the paradoxes and doubts, but because he gives us ways to think about them that inspire us to not only think differently but to live lives that reflect the love, generosity, and forgiveness that Jesus taught and lived,” she said.

Hamilton made a point to remind those in attendance that United Methodists are called to engage critical thinking in their faith. “God is not offended by your questions. Doubt is a normal part of life,” he challenged the audience.

Auman added to that point and shared what it meant to be able to host Hamilton.

“When I was at Church of the Resurrection years ago, I learned that their vision includes resourcing the renewal of the broader Church. The book studies Rev. Hamilton and his team have produced have served as a springboard to deeper faith for many individuals across East Ohio. The thoughtfulness with which they apply the Wesleyan Quadrilateral of Scripture, reason, experience, and tradition; combined with careful explanations of complex issues and common language faith insights mean that Adam Hamilton is the only UMC pastor many people can name besides their own. The staff and volunteers at Strongsville UMC were excited to get to host one of their heroes, but their focus was showing love to each person they got to welcome to God’s house. While it was thrilling to meet Adam, love is our mission.”

The Conference Communications team would like to share other stories that highlight ways that each of us is answering the call of Bishop Tracy S. Malone to reach out to our communities in creative ways. Please e-mail your ministry story to EOC Executive Director of Communications Rick Wolcott at wolcott@eocumc.com.

* Brett Hetherington is the Communications specialist for the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.