DOUBT AND THE BELIVING CHRISTIAN



John 20:19-31

 This is my favorite quotes from the 2012 film, "Life of Pi." screen play by David Magee and based on the novel of the same name by Yann Martel:

 Adult Pi Patel:  "Faith is a house with many rooms."
Writer: "But no room for doubt?"
Adult Pi Patel:  Oh, plenty, on every floor.  Doubt is useful, it keeps faith a living thing.  After all, you cannot know the strength of your faith until it is tested."
Does a "good" Christan ever doubt?  I know an honest one does.  Like Thomas, we've all experienced things that have left us questioning our faith.

Having experienced the trauma of Christ's death, Thomas has trouble believing in Jesus' resurrection.  After all, in his experience, once a person is dead, that person stays dead.  Like all of us facing terrible times of loss that shake us to the foundation of our faith, Thomas probably found himself on his knees asking God, "Why?"  "Where are You in all of this?"  "Where are the miracles, the signs of Your love and compassion?"  "Why did this have to happen to ...."  "What possible good can come of it?"

Those are honest questions that come from the depth of our hearts as we confront the human condition of suffering -- death and disasters, untreatable pain and illnesses, unbearable heart break that knots our stomachs and leaves us breathless (not in a good way).

If we are honest with ourselves, we all had our doubts about God and our faith.  Life has a way of testing us and pushing us away from the comfort of our warm, fuzzy theology.  Thomas, who had joined the processional into Jerusalem, who had witnessed the miracles, the healings and the loving acceptance of all people now doubted that even Jesus could be raised from the dead.

Does a "good" Christan ever doubt?  I know a strong one does.

In response to his doubt, Thomas does something that requires strength and courage.  He could have given into doubt and walked away from the disciples and everything he had come to believe about Jesus.  But he doesn't.  He is willing to accept proof that is contrary to his rational thinking.

"Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger in the wounds left by the nails, and put my hand into his side, I won't believe."  (John 20:25, CEB)

Rational thinking is a strong force in any person's life.  Aren't we raised to look for and to accept what we can see, hear, touch and taste?  It's not easy for anyone of us to believe in something we haven't seen for ourselves.  Thomas is saying to his fellow disciples, "Let me see and touch, and I will change my mind."   In doing so, Thomas invites an experience with the risen Christ.

Jesus responds to Thomas' renewed faith with "Happy are those who don't see and yet believe."

When we are struggling with our doubts, we can't look at the nail marks in his hands or put our fingers in the wounds left by the nails, and put our hand into his side."  What then is our response to our doubt?  Where do we seek proof that brings us to an experience with the living Christ?

Our faith is strengthened when we make the choice to not give into our doubt but to stand on the proof of who we know who God is through the revelation of Jesus in our lives and in the lives of our fellow Christians.  This proof will not always answer all our questions, but it will provide the comfort of the evidence of God's abiding presence and love that has sustained us and brought good out every place of darkness and despair, every situation where we feel helpless and hopeless.

Because the result of honestly dealing with our doubts is a strong and living faith which will sustain us for whatever the future has for us.









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