“When they saw Jesus, they worshiped him; but some doubted” (Matthew 28:17, NRSV).

This verse from the Gospel of Matthew comes at the end of Jesus’ time with his disciples. By this time Jesus’ disciples had seen him do many incredible things. The sick had been healed. The hungry had been fed. A couple of disciples watched Jesus glow on a mountaintop. He even had been resurrected from death, yet some of Jesus’ disciples still had doubts.

I find the disciples’ doubt extremely comforting. It’s probably because I have doubts of my own. Yes, I admit it. I am a Christian, an ordained minister, and I have doubts about this thing called the Christian faith. I have faith that there is an all-powerful, all-loving God, but I have no way of knowing with certainty. I have faith that Jesus of Nazareth is both Savior and Lord, but I wonder how it was possible for Jesus to be both fully human and fully God. Sometimes my doubts creep into my role as a pastor, and I ask myself, “Is what I’m doing a legitimate way to earn a living, or am I just some ignorant snake-oil salesman peddling false hope to anyone who will listen?”

I have a feeling I’m not alone in my doubt. I’m sure some of you reading this column could join me in a support group for doubters. You say you have faith. You believe in the existence of God and regularly offer up prayers, but some days that faith weakens under the weight of doubts and unanswered questions. Maybe you are a member of a religious community and attend a worship service on a regular basis. While you’re in worship you wonder how those around you sound so confident in the words they sing about God. You close your eyes to pray but doubt anybody is listening. You begin to say aloud The Apostles’ Creed and want to shout, “Does anybody here really believe all of this?”

We seem to view doubt and faith as enemies. Faith is praised; doubt is discouraged. We teach our children to celebrate the faith of Abraham while cautioning against becoming a “Doubting Thomas.” But why? What is so wrong about doubting something we are told we have to take on faith?

There is room for doubt in the Christian faith. Paul Tillich, a Lutheran minister and theologian, said, “Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith.” In other words doubt and faith aren’t enemies; they go hand-in-hand with each other. If I may use the metaphor, doubt is the grindstone upon which our faith is shaped, refined, and worked into something valuable.

Looking back at the followers of Jesus who had their doubts, it is important to note that even though some of the disciples doubted, all of them worshiped Jesus. Maybe that’s what is expected of us: to bring our whole selves, doubts and all, to worship. We read the Scriptures, hopefully hear a worthwhile sermon, sing the ancient hymns of the faith, occasionally receive the sacramental bread and wine, and hopefully from time to time we are given hope. And hope gives way to just enough faith to keep us going, just as it did in the past.

As we press ahead, let us take comfort in the knowledge that God is never impressed by our faith.

Having more faith than the next person doesn’t grant you more favor with God. Conversely God is not troubled by our doubts. God’s big enough to handle a few difficult questions.

What seems to matter the most to God is our ability to love. That’s probably why Jesus said the two most important things we can do during our time on earth are to love God and love our neighbors.

May all of you who live with doubts and questions find comfort in knowing there is room for you in the Christian faith. May you seek and find a religious community where doubts are welcomed. May you be encouraged to let go of your doubts as you continue to pray, serve the weak, attend worship, and do your best to love.

The Rev. Adam J. Rodgers is pastor of Stoneboro Presbyterian Church.