Benefit of the Doubt: Breaking the Idol of Certainty
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
In Benefit of the Doubt, Gregory Boyd speaks especially to those who have struggled with doubts about their faith. He encourages readers to let their questions lead them to a stronger faith. Boyd writes of how for him, faith has been anything but certain, inviting readers to embrace a faith that doesn’t strive for certainty but rather for commitment to Christ in the midst of uncertainty. Join him as he shares with poignant honesty his own inspirational journey, offering reassurance that you can experience a life-transforming relationship with Christ, even with unresolved questions about the Bible, theology, and ethics.
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- Focuses on readers who have struggled with doubts about their faith
- Encourages readers to let their questions lead them to a stronger faith
- Invites readers to embrace a faith that doesn’t strive for certainty
- Embracing the Pain
- Hooked on a Feeling
- The Idol of Certainty
- Wrestling with God
- Screaming at the Sky
- From Legal Deals to Binding Love
- Embodied Faith
- A Solid Center
- The Center of Scripture
- Substantial Hope
- Stumbling on the Promises of God
- The Promise of the Cross
Top Highlights
“My core commitment to Christ has been mostly unwavering” (Page 12)
“Is this the ‘good news’ Jesus and his earliest followers were so excited about proclaiming?” (Page 120)
“I’ve come to the conclusion that the most important aspect of our inner longing is a need to experience God’s perfect, unconditional love. A central aspect of what this means is that we long to know, in an experiential way, that we have unlimited or unsurpassable worth to God and that we are absolutely secure in this love and worth.” (Page 57)
“Faith is not just something located in our heads. It is an active and vital thing that can be identified by the way we live our lives.” (Page 128)
“But we must remember that studying Scripture and holding true, Bible-based beliefs are not ends in and of themselves. The ultimate purpose of studying Scripture and of holding true beliefs is to lead us to, and to help us sustain, a relationship with God through Jesus, our one true source of life.” (Page 67)
Even when certainty is inaccessible, commitment remains an option. Greg Boyd is incapable of uninteresting thoughts. And this book is not merely thoughtful; it will be a tremendous help to doubters—and non-doubters—everywhere.
—John Ortberg, author, Who Is This Man?
Boyd has gotten used to exploring new territory, and in this book he dives into the issue of doubt and certainty—and recovers the lost treasure of Christlike humility and childlike wonder. Enjoy.
—Shane Claiborne, author, The Irresistible Revolution
Benefit of the Doubt is a deeply personal yet profoundly theological look at the important role of doubt in the Christian faith. Prepare to feel a little less crazy, a little less alone, and a lot more challenged to take the risk of following Jesus with your head and heart engaged. Boyd is the best sort of company for the journey.
—Rachel Held Evans, author, A Year of Biblical Womanhood
If you’re a Christian who wrestles with doubt or you know someone who does, Benefit of the Doubt is one of the best books ever written on the subject.
—Frank Viola, author, God’s Favorite Place on Earth
Gregory A. Boyd graduated with honors from Yale Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary, and he was a professor of theology at Bethel University for 16 years. He is the founder and senior pastor of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Boyd has also authored or coauthored numerous books and academic articles.