Faith Under Fire
Helping Students Own Their Faith in an Age of Doubt
In a world where social media feeds are filled with ex-Christians deconstructing their faith, scholars pointing out “contradictions” in Scripture, and influencers boldly claiming, “Jesus never even said He was God,” our students are facing constant challenges to their beliefs.
These voices can spark serious questions and doubts. But instead of ignoring or shaming those doubts, we need to lean into them.
The Church must be a space where students can bring their hardest questions—about Christianity, the Bible, Jesus, and even the Church itself. God isn’t afraid of our doubts, so we shouldn’t be either. When we bring our questions to Him and His people, they become an invitation to experience Jesus in deeper and more personal ways.
Red Pen Theology
That’s what we tackled during our Red Pen Theology series in Youth. Together, we engaged with tough questions, cultural critiques, and spiritual skepticism that aim to poke holes in Christianity. Rather than fear these challenges, we grabbed our own red pens and leaned in.
Our goal? To help students:
Learn how to respond to doubts and criticism with grace and truth
Defend their beliefs with grace and confidence
Gain confidence to talk about Jesus with others
With our metaphorical red pens in hand, we didn’t just cross things out—we underlined truth, circled hope, and highlighted what really matters. Instead of treating doubt like a threat, we treated it like a tool—something God can use to build deeper understanding and stronger faith.
Through teaching and discussion, we helped students:
Think critically and biblically about big questions
Explore how to find trustworthy answers
Practice responding to real-life faith challenges with grace and confidence
It wasn’t just about giving students the “right answers.” It was about helping them develop a faith that can hold up under pressure—a faith they’re learning to own for themselves. Wrestling with doubt is one of the key ways students begin to move from borrowed beliefs to personal conviction.
Next Steps
We don’t want our students to just inherit our faith—we want them to own it. If we want to raise a generation that follows Jesus faithfully, they need more than Sunday morning answers—they need truth that stands up to scrutiny. We need to help them answer not just what they believe—but why they believe it, so when their faith is challenged, it won’t collapse—it will deepen.
So here’s what you can do:
Give students space to ask the questions they have about faith, Jesus, the Bible, the Church, and Christianity.
Respond to doubts with compassion and curiosity.
Be willing to share your own stories of doubt and faith.
Walk and wrestle with them in their doubts.
Point them to Jesus, not just information or church activities.
Pray with them and for them.
Author and researcher David Kinnaman put it perfectly:
“Unexpressed doubt is one of the most powerful destroyers of faith.”
But doubt that is expressed, explored, and answered?
That’s where real, resilient, personal faith begins.
