Christian Pathway

Today’s story is about Thomas whose or Didymus, however both names simply mean twin ( in Aramaic  Thomas = Aramaic Ta’oma = “twin”  Didymus = Greek for “twin” We don’t know who Thomas twin was or if he ever became an apostle

However, in the bible his name has simply become associated with anyone who doubts, and in turn anyone who doubts has become seen a bad thing or as weak in their faith.  Then even worse in the arms race to show off how much we believe, people who doubt are sometimes seen someone to look a little down on, and then to offer solutions, and quick fixes.

None of these things are true or helpful , Because if you have never doubted even for a second it’s more than likely you have never gone to places in your head that might make you doubt, never sat with an intelligent atheist and heard their arguments.

Maybe you never sat with someone who went to war and had them explain why the cruelty they saw made them doubt. My dad was in the army; he had a little groove on his back from where a Bren gun had rested on his shoulder for many miles.  He started off as a pacifist, and then when a bullet nearly took his head off, he was in a ditch in Korea, he realised today he may have to compromise that and fight. If you want to know the details of that see me later.  But Korea ruined his faith.

Or maybe as I have heard from a few, they came from  a church where the congregation did not reflect Gods love and the pastor was cruel and nasty.  Hypocrisy from the clergy have made a few waivers, a pastor who may preach one thing and do another. Really poor angry theology made a few doubt

Or maybe it’s the unanswered prayer for suffering of loved ones , or maybe it’s just the ridiculous things Jesus asks for, love your enemies, do good to those who harm you etc?

I knew some people who really suffer when they make the slightest mistake. They feel they let Jesus down and feel awful guilt for any small slight, sometimes again it’s the congregation in the virtue arms race that can reinforce that story with people in the church who would throw the first stone.

You can see there are a thousand reasons why people may doubt, logical, emotional, spiritual, the enemy loves a diverted soul. In our story today long before Emmaus Thomas demanded to see Jesus wounds because he hadn’t seen a man rise from the dead. Albeit he had seen Jesus raise others from the dead because he was at Bethany when Jesus raised Lazarus.

But I would doubt that story, that a man who had been beaten to within an inch of death, then nailed to a cross, is up and about again in three days,  your logical brain would try and rationalise it, from the depths of grief, he’s back? We would all struggle without the benefit of hindsight or Paul explaining it

So Thomas doubt is logical, and for anyone who was at my easter sermon, we know that  Jesus knows our past, present and future really, really well.  So, he will have known that  after this moment of doubt Thomas went on to Iraq, Iran and India spreading his faith as he went, legend says he was stabbed by 4 spears from four soldiers for annoying a king and speaking truth to power. That’s all our role speaking truth to power btw.

So  as we have seen Doubt can come from many places,  but it’s never to be derided or dare I say even avoided? It’s part of our faith as much as death is a part of life.  I think we should react to both in the same way. Love, listening, and, most of all, prayer. They may come back, they may not, only God knows, and I think our best way of helping them back is by being a great example of our faith, both individually and as a group.  Love bombs them into a change of path 😊

My dad never really came back to faith, although he was glad, I had found it.  My atheist friend sort of lost interest in our conversations when he realised I wasn’t going to leave you all and Jesus behind. 

The person who was somewhat disillusioned by the church, by the way it acted, I don’t know.

What I do know is that God never stopped bothering them, so who knows….

The question also is what should you do if you encounter doubt? First of all, never ever feel shame about it, it’s a sign your faith is strong enough to notice the difference.   Also, like any person, our faith grows stronger through  coming through the fire of doubt, we cleanse ourselves of the arguments that cause doubt , and then we can put it to rest, remembering at least for me it’s the relationship that helps because the holy spirit doesn’t go away

doubt is actually a sign of maturity , noticing it means you probably will come back to us, and it’s for us to remember the parable of lost sheep, and remember Jesus is out there looking for you

We will all celebrate when you’re found , for us and our community. What’s our job in this ?

It’s for us here today make you want to come home to be loved and know you won’t be doubted yourself but seen as on a journey 😊loved and celebrated

Look at today, Thomas missed the meeting on easter Sunday, and he isn’t convinced. It took Jesus 20 years to convince me.  But did Jesus judge him, he just gave him the proof he needed?
He had the courage to voice his doubt, knowing Jesus wouldn’t judge him. We need to be the same.
The home for doubt, the place where doubt is rejoiced in as part of the journey

Just an FYI, if you ever doubt, you can also sit with me, and we can pray together, even if you think at that point it’s like talking to yourself.  But just being with someone who isn’t going to judge you, who wandered off himself for 20 years before walking through that door.  That might help
age
Maybe that’s a cure, maybe it isn’t , but once you do come through that door, you are one of God’s children like us, and that makes you family.

we here today are your family and that doesn’t stop because of a little detour because as we all know families can be dysfunctional (its why I fit in so sell here)

But we will never stop loving you.
So doubt is part of a Christians life, as much as the days when it feels like Jesus is right there with you.
And I hope I’ve made it clear in my sermon, if you see someone struggling with their faith
our job?
Our job is to be with you , wherever you are , love you enough so you want to come home

Amen.