A Degree of Skepticism

A reminder of my intention here…as I go out and about in my community on Sundays attending different churches (along with my own) – I am ‘listening for what God is saying’. What I mean by that is –what scriptures were read/cited, what words were said, what songs sung, what thoughts inspired or questions prompted. Here below is what I ‘heard’ this past Sunday.

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Sunday I heard a sermon taken from John 20:24-29 concerning the disciple Thomas, the apostle who missed seeing Jesus resurrected with the other apostles.  “Doubting Thomas” as he is commonly known was notably skeptical and said that unless he could “see and touch” the nail marks and where Jesus was pierced he would not believe that he had risen from the dead (verses 24&25). It would be a week after the other apostle saw Jesus that he encountered the risen Christ. As they were gathered together Jesus suddenly appeared and instructed Thomas to look and touch and then told him to “Stop doubting and believe” (verses 26 & 27).  

Even though I’d like to think I would not have, I can imagine I might have reacted the same way that Thomas did initially. I am guessing I am not alone in this among those who call themselves believers and followers of Jesus. It is said that ‘seeing is believing,’ but that does not mean that not seeing isn't believing. Those of us who place our faith in Jesus have not necessarily left behind all our doubts, questions and desire for tangible proof to provide our unbelieving family and friends. These things do not make us any less a true follower than the person who seems to have been a believer since birth and doesn’t wrestle with questions that challenge their faith.

A simple definition of skepticism is to have “an attitude of doubting the truth of something“(skepticism defined). Even the most enduring of saints and committed followers will likely have to wrestle with doubts and questions at some point during their lives. Obviously one cannot be a person of faith if one does not believe in the basic tenets of the Christian faith, the Trinity (Jesus the Son of God, God the Father and the Holy Spirit), the Holy Scriptures as the word of God, etc.) as summarized in the Apostles Creed (The Apostles Creed).

Faith is what we hope for and are certain of what we have yet to see (Hebrews 11:1 paraphrased). To some, this description of faith may sound over simplified and childlike and reek of naïveté and ripe with opportunity for being accused of being weak from the world’s point of view. However, let’s not forget that Jesus said in our faith we needed to “become like little children” (Matthew 18:3) and children tend to take things at face value.  It seems to get a whole lot more complex as we get older. God has room for questions and I would contend, even for a degree of skepticism-especially if it prompts one to seek for answers, insights and understanding. Jesus said “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7 & 8). There is also the verse that tells us to “continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12) suggesting it is our responsibility to work through the questions and the doubts that we have. But we are not without help – much like the man who said to Jesus “I believe; help me with my unbelief” (Mark 9:24)- God is ever-ready to respond to the sincere heart that seeks him-no matter the questions and doubts one has.