But Some Doubted

But Some Doubted 

Thank God for “Doubting Thomas!”  At least once a year it is important for me, and perhaps others, to be honest about, in fact, to celebrate doubting.  Thomas, I believe, gets a bad rap.  The other disciples had experienced the presence of the risen Christ while Thomas was away and were understandably excited to tell Thomas that “they had seen the Lord.”  Just as understandably, Thomas had his doubts, and expressed them.  A week later, Thomas was present when Jesus appeared again to the disciples and despite his bold proclamation that he would not believe until he had touched the wounds, he believed the minute Jesus called him by name. 

The key to this story, however, is the last statement Jesus makes: “Have you believed because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who haven’t seen and yet have come to believe” (John 20:28-29).  The question for us today in this statement of Jesus is, “how can I believe in the risen Lord without the benefit of a resurrection appearance?  For Thomas, faith came by hearing the word of the risen one address him personally.  For those who come afterward, faith comes through hearing the Risen One speak through his followers, including us, even if we at times have our own doubts. 

At times I sense that the theme of our faith journey is “seeing and not seeing, believing and doubting.   Some saw Jesus after the resurrection and believed; some did not see Jesus in the tomb and believed; and some saw Jesus and did not recognize him. Thomas did not see Jesus and doubted.   

Certainly some of Jesus’ disciples doubted: Judas betrayed him, and Peter, who swore he would never leave him, denied him three times; the eleven disciples went to Galilee with him, to the mountain to which Jesus directed them for the Ascension and “Matthew tells us that they worshiped Him, but some doubted.”  Some doubted?  Some?  There were only eleven of them.   So doubt began at the latest 40 days after the resurrection.  We are certainly in good company when we have doubts. 

What do seeing and not seeing, belief and doubt look like in the Christian community today?  Several experiences come to mind which I want to share with you and I hope you will share yours in responses and comments to this post.   

First, I know several pastors in different denominations who have doubts about some of the story of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection, but cannot share these doubts with each other for fear of job loss or condemnation. 

 

As we get closer to home, closer to our own lives, I believe that if we are honest that most of us have had doubts:  doubts about God, Jesus, salvation, resurrection and many other matters of faith.  Some Christian’s even those who have doubts have been taught that doubt is a sin.  Others are ashamed that they have doubts and may even fear that they are losing their faith.  Personally, I believe that doubts actually strengthen our faith, that questions are very often more important than answers.  I also believe that there are Christians who discourage our doubts, either because they fear for our souls, or perhaps for their souls.  Again, doubting is good, questions lead to answers, which, of course lead to other questions.  But that is how we grow and change. 

At a conference years ago, a participant asked Roman Catholic Priest and writer, Andrew Greeley, why people could have doubts since there was so much proof of God in life, scripture and creation.  Fr. Greeley replied that the reason was that there is also so much proof in life, creation and even scripture that the opposite just might be true. 

I will share two other examples of the importance of doubt and questioning in my life and invite you to add yours in reply. 

Seven years ago we started a Bible Study at the church where I was Pastor.  The only ground rule was that everyone could ask or say anything they wanted without fear of being scorned, condemned or ignored.  The majority of people in the group had never before been given permission to ask questions or express doubts about their faith.  This fellowship has been a breath of fresh air ever sense and leads to the following story which changed my faith and my life forever.  

One of the most life changing experiences for me as a Pastor was a relationship with a young man who came to me to tell me he had lost his faith.  He said he did not believe everything that everyone else seemed to believe.  That he was not sure about the resurrection, the virgin birth and many of Jesus’ Miracles, but he loved God, he loved his church and his friends.  Through conversation and reading and honesty the young man came to realize that he did in fact have a true, living, growing and changing faith and that he was not alone in this congregation; that others, as well, had doubts and questions that had made them stronger, not weaker.  If we, the church are more willing to accept people where they are, to invite them into the fellowship of God’s Kingdom, without requiring them to be where we are on their faith journey, then perhaps we will all experience God’s presence and fullness of joy in ways we could never ask or imagine.