Thomas was absent when Jesus first appeared to the disciples in the upper room. Whereas the other disciples exclaimed that Jesus was risen from the dead, Thomas is not so sure. Instead Thomas says, ““Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week passes by where Thomas remains skeptical about the resurrection. And who could blame Thomas? Nobody thought the Messiah would die, let alone be risen from the dead. In a secular age we’ve all encountered the same roadblock to belief as Thomas. As sons of the Enlightenment and daughters of Modernity, we’re all Thomas now. But Jesus is not discouraged or upset by Thomas. Jesus appears to Thomas and allows him to touch the wounds of crucifixion. “Place your finger here” Thomas then exclaims, “My Lord, and My God.” Jesus does not scold Thomas for doubting. If Thomas goes from belief, doubt, and re-belief-- perhaps we are allowed to as well? What if doubt is not the enemy of faith but the evidence that we have a faith that is seeking understanding? (Fides quaerens intellectum) What if doubt is a companion on the journey of understanding as we pursue Endless Mystery? What if doubt is the doorway to each new way of knowing, each new perspective?
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Here are some questions to help you think more about todays teaching:
1) What has been your personal experience with doubt? What are some of the messages that you’ve received about doubt?
2) Greg Boyd writes, "“Faith and doubt are not antithetical, a perfect faith need not be one that is free of doubt. What a perfect faith needs is to be first and foremost authentic, which is precisely what Jesus demonstrated to us.” What are your thoughts on this quote? How might understanding faith as being free of doubt cause damage? What might be a more helpful way to understand faith?
3) How do you think Thomas was thinking and feeling when the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord”?
4) Pastor Paul suggested the following things to do with our doubt:
1. Be Honest
2. Be Kind
3. Be with others
4. Bring them to Jesus
Is there anything you would add to this list? Which of these practices has been most helpful for you or others in your life?
5) What might it mean for your home church to “be merciful to those who doubt” (Jude 22) How we can be for the world what Jesus was for Thomas? How can we show the world the signs of love? How can we invite those whose hearts are heavy with disbelief to come and see what love has done -and what love is doing?