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How do we wrestle with doubt in challenging times? 

That was the question discussed during the first in a four-part Bible study led by Bishop William J. Barber, II, president and senior lecturer of Repairers of the Breach, and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Christian writer and preacher. 

The series, called “Advent In The Midst of Adversity,” is held during the first four Mondays of December from 8-9pm. Bishop Barber and conversation partners will discuss Christian holy text within the context of the current political moment in the United States during the Advent season that precedes Christmas.

The first discussion, which took place on December 2nd and can be viewed in full here, centered on the story of the priest Zechariah, as told in Luke Chapter 1.

The Bible tells us that Zechariah lived in the Time of Herod, the corrupt and ruthless king of Judea. 

Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were devout, observing the commandments of God. But as they grew older, they remained childless. Elizabeth was unable to conceive.

The Angel known as Gabriel, one of God’s most important angels, came to Zechariah and told him that his prayers had finally been heard: they will soon give birth to a child they will call John.

But Zechariah felt doubt in his heart about the message Gabriel conveyed to him. His wife was older. How could she bear a child?

Bishop Barber related the doubt that Zechariah felt to the doubts felt by those throughout history who live in challenging times. 

He pointed to the example of Frederick Douglass, the former slave who won his freedom and then worked towards the abolishment of slavery in the entire country. 

“[Douglass] had his moment of doubting, like Zechariah,” Bishop Barber explained.

That moment came when the Supreme Court made the Dred Scott decision, which ruled that even if a slave escapes to a free territory, that slave could still be legally captured and taken back to their cruel masters.

But then, as Bishop Barber noted, a friend came to Douglass and asked him a simple question.

“Is God dead? Didn’t ask him whether or not God was going to change things, just that question: is God dead?” Bishop Barber recalled.

This reminded Douglass that the Supreme Court was not actually the highest authority.

“The Supreme Court of the Almighty is greater,” Bishop Barber recalled Douglass arguing.

The story the Bible tells us about Zecheriah and Elizabeth, who went on to be the parents of John the Baptist, is significant because it gives us lessons for how we should think about the adversaries we live under today. 

Just as Zecheriah and his family lived in the time of Herrod, we live in a time of corrupt and self-interested rulers – like politicians who refuse to address the crisis of poverty in this country or captains of industry who deny workers the wages they need to meet their basic needs.

But when we feel doubts about the possibility of justice, we should not feel ashamed. We should remember that even Zecheriah and Douglass felt doubt in their lifetimes. 

We just have to remember that in their moments of doubt they turned to their faith.

“In the days of Herod you learned why you really served God….the source of their motivation was not success, it was faithfulness.” Bishop Barber explained during the Bible study.

Just as John the Baptist was born in the time of Herod, we don’t know who will be born in our current season of adversity who can lead a season of hope, justice, and love, Bishop Barber shared.

“But I do believe this text, that in the days of Herod, God always has a faithful remnant. In the days of Herod, in the days of adversity, in the days of strife, there was a priest named Zechariah from the tribe of Abujar and his wife was descended of the priesthood of Aaron,” Bishop Barber said. “That one text has grabbed me these last few days and said don’t you dare join the fray of acting like these days that we’re in belong to any one politician or any one elected.”

In today’s America, he shared, we should draw inspiration from Zechariah and Elizabeth. 

“Your role as ministers and students is we must be Zechariah, you must be an Elizabeth, of this moment of adversity. You must be adverse to the adversity,” he said.

Bishop Barber recalled hearing from some of his friends that they didn’t want to hear what President-elect Donald Trump will say on inauguration day. 

He shared that sometimes we have to listen first before speaking or acting ourselves, relating our time to Biblical times.

“I don’t care how vicious, vile, or vitriolic it is. You oughta gather folk and listen. Because it’s still God’s day. So hear what Herod is saying. The wise men did. That don’t mean you following it. That means if you listen enough, you’ll know what not to follow,” he instructed.

Watch the full Bible study here. There will be three additional Bible studies during the first several Mondays of December that lead up to Christmas Day.