In Celebration of Doubt
SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus
Introduction: In Christian circles doubt tends to have a bad reputation. Belief and faith are the hallmarks of a Christian, not doubt and skepticism. But I want to suggest this morning that an honest doubter and a truth-seeking skeptic are far more honorable than those who profess to believe everything the Christian faith teaches but never take the time or effort to examine their personal views. Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” It’s also true that the unexamined viewpoint is not worth holding.
I have always been the kind of person who wanted to know “why?” I got into a lot of trouble in school for questioning things that weren’t supposed to be questioned. I nearly got kicked out of Seminary because I wouldn’t buy the party line. But just before they could kick me out, I quit and enrolled in the philosophy department of a university graduate school. I wanted to know what the world was saying about the critical issues of life and eternity, and I wanted to know how to analyze their arguments. That’s why I majored in logic. My studies in philosophy ruined a lot of the Christian books in my library, for I discovered the authors were often intellectually lazy. But it didn’t destroy my faith–on the contrary, it actually strengthened it. I eventually went back to seminary and graduated.
The term “skepticism” implies looking at a matter closely, scrutinizing, and studying with great care and in minute detail. On this definition, what the church needs is not less skepticism, but more. Mark Buchanan writes,
“I met a man who told me didn’t believe the Bible because he was a skeptic. I asked him if he had read the Bible. “No, not really,” he said. “I told you, I’m a skeptic. I don’t believe it.” This is not skepticism. This is its opposite: a refusal to investigate, to scrutinize, to ponder deeply.
Skepticism is not an excuse for evasion, an alibi for laziness. Any skeptic worthy of the name is both hunter and detective, stalking the evidence, laying ambush, rummaging for clues, dredging the river bottom, wiretapping phone lines, setting traps. Skeptics are passionate about finding truth. True skeptics want to believe, but safeguard against the hypnotic power of that wanting.” [i]
The term “doubt” can be traced to an Aryan root, meaning “two.” To doubt is to be in two minds, that is to waver between belief and disbelief. Carl Laney writes,
“Often we think of doubt as the antithesis of faith, as if the two were the opposite sides of a coin. But the antithesis of faith is unbelief. The person experiencing doubt is somewhere between belief and unbelief. The doubter wants to believe but is struggling with the rational basis for this belief.” [ii]
My thesis this morning is that doubt is not evil; in fact, it is inevitable for a thinking person to doubt. And it can produce good results so long as doubt does not itself become our creed or we become proud of our doubt. I have been a Christian for almost 55 years. I spent seven years in seminary, I taught Bible and theology on the college level for five years, I have been a pastor for 30 years, and I have preached probably 2000 sermons, including every book of the Bible. Yet I admit to you there have been a few times when I have wondered if I have not been caught up in one big mistake. These thoughts have usually crept into my mind when I am burned out in ministry, or I am trying to help someone through an unexplainable tragedy, or I am undergoing a severe trial of my own.[iii]
But rather than be embarrassed by our doubts, we can be encouraged to know that we stand in good company. When the eleven disciples met with Jesus in Galilee after His resurrection, some among that famous group weren’t sure it was for real. The Apostle Matthew, an eyewitness of the encounter, later wrote, “When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted” (Matthew 28:17). I want to speak to you on this Easter Sunday about the resurrection of Jesus, the very centerpiece of our faith, but I want to share the story through the eyes of one of those doubters, the most famous skeptic in the NT, a man whose doubt has even become part of his name–Doubting Thomas. I think he’s gotten a bad rap.
But first let me set the stage. It is difficult, perhaps impossible, for us to appreciate the trauma Jesus’ disciples went through the day He died on the Cross. Almost 3 ½ years earlier, they had been rudely jolted out of their complacency by this strange itinerant preacher from Galilee. At first quite skeptical of His methods and motives, this motley crew of fishermen, tax collectors, and other ne’er-do-wells had finally, with some reluctance, cast their lots with Jesus.
Times were rough from the start, for there was much opposition, few resources, and many disappointments. Whenever success would begin to raise its hopeful head, something would happen to dash it again. Never having a permanent place to stay or any extra money, and never attracting a very large following, they wandered from Galilee to Judea to Samaria to Perea, preaching at times, but mostly just being taught and mentored by Jesus.
They followed Him because there was something terribly unusual about this Man. He had tremendous charisma yet never seemed to use it for His own benefit. He performed astounding feats in their presence but never to show off. His sermons and discourses were lofty and profound, and yet at the same time they dealt with the nitty-gritty of everyday life in a way that simple fishermen could readily understand.
The most recent ray of hope had appeared just the previous Sunday, as Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey and was hailed as king by thousands of onlookers. That is when their hopes were highest. They could see for the first time the definite possibility of Jesus inaugurating a new kingdom, leading a rebellion against wicked Rome, and establishing righteous rule here on earth.
They, of course, being His right-hand men, would receive important assignments in the coming kingdom. Probably Peter would be the prime minister and under him would be the other apostles, each assigned to an important area of duty. Matthew, being a former tax collector, would undoubtedly be the Director of Internal Revenue, Judas would be the Secretary of the Treasury, since he had handled their meager financial resources so capably, and James and John, the sons of thunder, would probably become Army and Navy Secretaries.
But then everything began to go south. Jesus began to hint more broadly that their expectation of the Kingdom might not be quite correct. At the Last Supper He even went so far as to say that one of them would betray Him. And then, as if that weren’t enough, while out on the Mount of Olives He even predicted that Peter would deny Him. Peter, their leader! Can you imagine it?
Within hours Judas did betray Jesus, and as a result Christ was seized in the Garden of Gethsemane. A mockery of a trial resulted in an absolute miscarriage of justice. And in the middle of it all their chief spokesman, Peter, actually did cave, denying that he even knew who Jesus was. Jesus was handed over to the mobs, some of whom had welcomed Him to the city just the previous Sunday but were now yelling for His execution.
All the disciples were scattered and their hopes were shattered. Imagine how they felt as all their fond memories and all their grand dreams went down the drain. As they watched from a distance, they saw the Roman guards lead Jesus off to Golgotha to be scourged and then crucified. Even at this late point a faint glitter of hope remained in their hearts. Perhaps He would wait until the very last minute and then perform one of His patented miracles to escape from the midst of His enemies or, better yet, destroy them. But then even that hope vanished as they saw His mutilated body hung on a cross, a sword thrust through His side. When He had breathed His last, His body was given to Joseph of Arimathea for burial in an unmarked tomb.
What a disillusioned band of followers they must have been! They had hoped for so much and yet nothing had turned out as planned. They had left their livelihoods to follow this Man, and now they were seemingly left holding the bag.
We know virtually nothing of the disciples’ activities during the 48 hours immediately following the crucifixion. But the Gospel writers pick up with Sunday morning when Mary Magdalen first discovered that Jesus was no longer in the tomb. She shared the news immediately with Peter and John, and they came and saw the still-wrapped graveclothes, containing no body. It was as though Jesus’ body had just evaporated.
After they left to tell the other disciples what they had seen, Mary remained at the tomb and was crying when Jesus Himself appeared to her in His resurrection body. He told her to report the astounding news to the other disciples, but when she did, she got a less-than-enthusiastic reception. The last chapters of Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell us they were doubtful or that they simply didn’t believe what she was saying. Well, I can understand that! I don’t think I would have believed it either.
However, for most of the disciples, their unbelief and skepticism were short-lived, for on that very first Easter Sunday evening Jesus also appeared to them. The Gospel writers tell us that the doors where they were meeting were locked because of fear of their enemies. But that presented no barrier to Jesus, for His resurrection body was not limited by time and space. His first words to them were, “Peace be with you,” and immediately their grief and despair began to disappear. He also showed them the marks of His passion in His hands and side. They were overjoyed with this display of evidence—so strong they could not deny it.
But not all the disciples were there. Judas had committed suicide within the previous 48 hours, and Thomas was also missing. Let’s read about Thomas in John 20, starting in verse 24:
Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “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 it.”
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
I don’t know why Thomas was missing when the disciples gathered on that first Easter Sunday, but there is some evidence that of all the disciples, he was the most shocked and disappointed by the events of the previous week. This was not because he loved the Lord more than the others but probably had a lot to do with his personality. Though a sensitive person and a faithful friend, he tended to be melancholy, pessimistic, and, well, skeptical. He had probably chosen not to even associate with the other apostles, for associating with them now could only mean worse things ahead–more broken promises and more dashed hopes.
Since he now believes Jesus to be dead and gone, he is ready to chuck the whole thing. He isn’t about to get his hopes up, only to have them dashed to the ground once more. He is through with the gullibility of the past; now he demands proof! His rejection of their testimony is very strong, for the Greek reads, literally, “Unless I have proof, I will not never believe it.”
Now let me ask you, “If you were Jesus, what would you do with a friend like Thomas?” Would you rebuke him? Would you pity him for his doubt. Would you abandon him and seek another disciple to take his place? Well, we’re not left to wonder, for exactly one week later the disciples get together again (20:26), and this time Thomas is present. Perhaps he is lonely, as melancholy people often are. Maybe he has had second thoughts. At any rate, while they are meeting, Jesus again appears (despite locked doors once more), and again He says, “Peace be with you.”
Then in a kind and gentle way Jesus singles Thomas out and, looking directly at him, says, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas had laid down three prerequisites to faith and Jesus responds to all three:
Thomas said, “Unless I shall see his hands….” Jesus says, “See My hands.”
Thomas said, “Unless I put my finger….” Jesus says, “Put your finger here.”
Thomas said, “Unless I put my hand….” Jesus says, “Reach out your hand.” Jesus demonstrates His victory over death, not by feats of strength, not by spectacular miracles, but by wounds–nail holes and spear marks.
Thomas sees, but he doesn’t touch Jesus. He knows when enough is enough. And here is the real sign that Thomas is not just playing intellectual games, like academics so often do today. His seeing gives way not only to belief, but also to worship, as he responds, “My Lord and my God!”
I see three significant points to his confession. First, Thomas evidences the work of the Holy Spirit in his heart. Paul writes in 1 Cor. 12:3: “No man can call Jesus ‘Lord’ but by the Holy Spirit.” He is the one who converts the skeptic and allows him to see the truth about the Person of Christ.
Second, in acknowledging that Jesus is Lord and God, Thomas clearly affirms Christ’s deity: “my Lord and my God.” Convinced both by the objective sight of Jesus still bearing the wounds of His passion, and by the subjective trust implanted internally in his heart by the Holy Spirit, Thomas emerges from the darkness of unbelief and rises to one of the highest expressions of faith in the entire New Testament.
Third, Thomas personalizes the relationship: “My Lord and my God.” It was not enough that Jesus be the sovereign God; He is now that for Thomas personally. And Jesus responds: “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Traditionally the church has read this as a rebuke to Thomas, and this is why he has been given the nickname, “Doubting Thomas.” But if it is a rebuke, it is a very gentle one. Jesus certainly takes nothing away from Thomas’ strong affirmation of faith.
Friends, I want you to understand this morning that biblical faith is not sentimental, sloppy, or vague. It excludes more than it embraces.[iv] In this age of credulity we see new and extravagant forms of mysticism and irrationalism. People believe the strangest things. Hundreds of young Muslims are blowing themselves up for the promise of receiving 70 young virgins in heaven for their martyrdom. We easily dismiss such beliefs as the result of demonic hatred. But what about reports of apparitions of the Virgin Mary in windows or trees or clouds? In charismatic churches we hear of the Holy Spirit causing people to laugh uncontrollably and bark like dogs. Some people even claim the Holy Spirit has turned their amalgum tooth fillings to gold.
What are we to do with such reports? Some believe, and I guess that’s OK; it’s a free country. But I doubt. I’m a skeptic. I say with Thomas, “Unless I see….” I’m not necessarily proud of my doubts–that’s just who I am. If pride is added to doubt, the result is dangerously toxic, but let’s face it, it’s equally dangerous if pride is added to faith. Those proud in their faith and those proud in their doubts can both be terrors to society.
But doubt does not have to be prideful, nor does it always reveal a lack of faith; it may even be an expression of faith. Someone has said, “the depth of our doubt is roughly proportionate to the depth of our faith. Those with strong faith have equally strong doubts.” Sometimes to doubt is merely to insist that God be taken seriously, not frivolously–to insist that our faith is placed in and upheld by something other than fools’ gold. Thomas stands as a bulwark against foolish credulity.[v]
Now there are some important lessons for us to ponder in this story. One is that no one is spiritually lost for lack of evidence. The nature of God is to provide for men all the evidence they need to be saved. Sure, He is pleased when they believe just because He says so, but if men need more, He will give them more. Look what He offered Thomas. I like what James Boice writes in this regard:
“Do you say, ‘But I don’t see it’? Then come to Him. Ask for the evidence. You will find that God, who is far more anxious to reveal Himself to you than you are to find Him, will provide the revelation.” [vi]
We live in an age of great skepticism, and yet in the past 50 years God has allowed unprecedented discovery of data by archaeologists that continually confirms the facts of Scripture. Well over half of all the archaeological evidence for the truth of Scripture and therefore of the Christian faith, has been dug up during my lifetime, even though it lay buried for 2,000 years and, in some cases, for as long as 4,000 years. God has always condescended to give men all they need, though not necessarily all they want, to convince them of the truth.
But, you say, if the evidence is that clear, why isn’t everyone a Christian? Friends, in my humble opinion, the reason has almost nothing to do with lack of evidence; the reason is sin. People rarely disbelieve the Scriptures because of intellectual problems, but rather because of moral problems in their own lives. They are sinners, they love sin, and they know that to acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ over their lives would demand repentance. They aren’t ready for that.
A second important lesson I see is that the best place to bring one’s doubts and skepticism is to the Lord. Don’t take them to the neighborhood tavern (you may drown them there, but you won’t resolve them). Don’t deny them; they’re real. Don’t ignore them; they’ll come back to haunt you. Thomas was admittedly a little slow at this, but even if late, he did eventually come to the right source.
If you have come today with doubts, you have come to the right source–to the Lord’s house. I welcome you; you’re my kind of person. I challenge you to bring your doubts and questions, and let Christ prove Himself. A week from Wednesday I will be meeting with our High School students for a “Doubt Night,” allowing them and even inviting them to bring any and all of their questions and see if together we can’t find the answer.
If you hunger for God, He is going to seek you out and reveal Himself to you. That is just the kind of Lord He is. But the thing that ultimately wins you over will probably not be reasoned arguments, but rather the love Christ demonstrated by His death for you and His resurrection from the tomb.
Of course, there are some who don’t doubt the facts of the Christian faith so much as they doubt the representatives of the Christian faith–Christians themselves. You’ve heard the excuse many times–“I don’t go to church because there are so many hypocrites in church.” Yes, unfortunately that is true, there are many hypocrites in church. In fact, I’m going to ask all the hypocrites here this morning to raise their hands. (Thank you; at least we have a few honest people here today, and the fact that not everyone raised his or her hand merely shows you that hypocrites don’t like to admit that they’re hypocrites). But show me a better place for a hypocrite to be than in church. Hopefully, as he sits under the ministry of God’s Word, his life will eventually become more like what he professes. Either that or he will become so uncomfortable he will leave.
One thing of which I am fairly certain is that the percentage of hypocrites is no higher in the church than in the business world–probably smaller. And usually the one complaining about hypocrites in the church is really a hypocrite himself, claiming to use the less-than-perfect lives of Christians as an excuse for rejecting the Lordship of Christ, while the real reason he doesn’t get serious with God is his own twisted lifestyle and priorities.
A third lesson I find in the story of Thomas is that God reserves a special blessing for those whose faith is not dependent upon visual, physical, scientific evidence. That’s a faith that was very slow in coming for Thomas. John is concerned that it not be as slow for us. That is why he concludes the chapter that is our text today as he does in verses 30, 31: “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” What is written in this Book, verified by centuries of study and rigorous examination, can give you life if you put your faith and trust in Jesus.
I am firmly convinced that God has provided completely adequate evidence of the Resurrection of Jesus and thus of the truthfulness of the Christian faith. The next move is up to you. Will you surrender to His Lordship and begin to experience the joy of knowing God personally and the abundant life that accompanies such a relationship? Don’t wait, don’t delay, don’t remain trapped in your doubt. He is risen, and He is Lord!
DATE: April 11, 2004
Tags:
Doubt
Thomas
Skepticism
[i] Mark Buchanan, Christianity Today (April 3, 2000), 67.
[ii] J. Carl Laney, Jr., Understanding Christian Theology, edited by Charles Swindoll and Roy Zuck, 253.
[iii] Laney’s experience closely parallels my own. See p. 252.
[iv] Buchanan, 64.
[v] Buchanan, 64-66.
[vi] James Montgomery Boice, The Gospel of John, Vol. 5, 322.