John the Baptist was in prison when he heard about the things that Jesus had been doing in Galilee; so he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3) Does this sound like John had doubts that Jesus was the promised Messiah? If so, does that mean that John committed the sin of doubt?
John expected a Messiah who would bring immediate and fiery judgment on the enemies of Israel according to the prophecies in the Old Testament: “For the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts.” (Mal 3:19). That was John’s expectations when he went through the desert of Judea, preaching: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Mt 3:2); and “His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Mt 3:12)
While John heard about the works of Jesus, he heard nothing to confirm his preconceived notions of a powerful warrior who will bring about political upheaval – the kind of Messiah whom he expected. Rather, what John heard was Jesus’ gentle and peaceful approach – a ministry focused on spiritual salvation, healing and moral teaching.
In response to the question of the messengers of John the Baptist, Jesus quoted from Isaiah 35:5-6, telling them: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” (Mt 11:5; cf. Is 26:19, 29:18–19, 35:5–6, 61:1)
Jesus indeed confirmed that He was the Messiah, but He also clarified that His mission was to offer salvation according to God’s plan. So, did John commit the sin of doubt when he sent messengers to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah? The Catechism tells us that there are two kinds of doubt: (1) Voluntary doubt, which is a sin, and (2) involuntary doubt, which is not a sin. Voluntary doubt disregards or refuses to hold as true what God has revealed and what the Church proposes for belief. Involuntary doubt refers to hesitation in believing, difficulty in overcoming objections connected with the faith, or also anxiety aroused by its obscurity. (CCC2088)
In other words, voluntary doubt means deliberately refusing to believe revealed truths and it is a grave sin against faith. Voluntary doubt is a conscious choice to turn away from God’s truth, often driven by pride or a desire to live contrary to faith, or using doubt as an excuse for unbelief. On the other hand, involuntary doubt involves hesitation, confusion, or anxiety about faith, often arising from life’s challenges or intellectual hurdles. Involuntary doubt is a struggle within faith, not against it; it prompts deeper searching and reliance on God. Involuntary doubt is not inherently sinful and can strengthen faith when approached with a sincere desire for truth.
Well-known examples of involuntary doubt among the Saints would be St. Thomas the Apostle, who needed to see Christ’s wounds before believing (cf. John 20:25), and Mother Teresa’s 50-year long “dark night of the soul,” in which she experienced a period of intense spiritual dryness, doubt, and feeling abandoned by God. We can probably add John the Baptist to the list, that while he was languishing in prison, he became confused on whether the One he saw the Spirit descend upon like a dove (Mt 3:16, Mk 1:10, Lk 3:22, Jn 1:32), was really the Messiah. John needed to hear from Jesus Himself if He was the Messiah, knowing that without hesitation, he would believe the words of the Eternal Word. John’s doubt wasn’t a rejection but a search for understanding, which is a normal part of faith when circumstances don’t match expectations.
How should we handle doubt as Catholics? (1) Bring your doubts and questions to God in prayer, (2) Seek understanding by studying Scripture, or consulting the Catechism or your spiritual director. (3) Persevere and trust in God’s timing, and (4) Learn from the Saints, especially those who have dealt with doubt in their lives. They struggled with doubt but chose to remain faithful, eventually triumphing over doubt and finding the truth.