John 20:24-29 (KJV)
“Then saith he to Thomas, Reach here thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach here thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.” John 20:27 (KJV)
PAINFUL LETTERS
Many today are struggling with their most basic religious beliefs. In sharing a portion of the following letters written by students away from home or college, although not so pleasant, reflect a great deal of doubt. One young man wrote to his parents, “I have reached the place where I cannot affirm belief in any Christian precept. I can but cling to one principle. I believe that it is right to do right, and that it is wrong to do wrong. I have been praying to that abstract principle, even though it is an awfully dark prayer.” Another young man, a college student, wrote these words to his mother, “I have made a decision to sweep God out of the universe. I must start again, taking nothing for granted.”
Maybe these letters are similar to ones you have received from sons or daughters away from home, or as a church committee or pastor, may have received from a member—resigning from church roles—for many sundry reasons. Or, maybe they remind you of a letter you once wrote, or perhaps felt like writing. Ah! But most of us who are adults are realistic enough to know that there are in each of our lives those dark times of doubt when we are even afraid to admit all the questions that we have about our faith, Scriptures, God, or even—Jesus! Hope falters!
THORNY QUESTIONS!
So what can we do then when we find ourselves speculating in the deep, dark recesses of our soul about the truly hard questions of life? Thorny questions such as:
- What if the Bible is not true?
- What if God does not exist?
- What if the whole world is just a figment of my imagination?
- Why was I created?
- What is the truth?
These are some of the deeper dimensions of doubt that some of us may have known—and many, many more. The church cannot pretend these questions have never been asked.
CLOUDY DOUBT
Yes, the sea of faith ebbs and flows. Sometimes it’s easy to believe, and life is so beautiful. Oh! But there are those times of doubt when it is very difficult even to say the words, “I believe. . .”
While the Bible is primarily a book of faith, we can be grateful that it deals realistically with—doubt! Many stories in the Bible are interwoven with shades of doubt. Abraham, the father of faith, is an excellent example of a person who lived by faith. Ah! But in those bleak days, while he waited for the birth of a son, even Abraham wondered if God was really with him. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, felt that God had abandoned him. Job was full of questions in the midst of his suffering. Judas Iscariot suggested doubt to the other disciples. The Psalms are full of expressions of questioning and doubt about God’s presence. Nearly one-third of the Psalter comprises psalms of lament—the anguished cries and prayers of Israel which are psalms of doubt as well as of faith.
In the New Testament, moreover, we find great saints who knew the struggle of doubt. John the Baptist, for instance. He was called by God to be the forerunner of Christ. Yet when John was imprisoned by Herod, he must have gone through an intense period of doubt, for he sent his followers to ask Jesus, Are you He who is to come, or shall we look for another? (Luke 7:19). The question is a clear indication of doubts. Philip’s doubt questioned the identity of Christ (John 14:8) (Reflecting Christ, p. 354). Yet, Paul did not yield to doubt while in a Roman prison (The Sanctified Life, p. 96).
“Satan stands at the head of the great army of doubters, and he works to the utmost of his power to beguile souls into his ranks. It is becoming fashionable to doubt.” –The Great Controversy, p. 526. “Satan has the ability to suggest doubts and to devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue, a mark of intelligence in them, to be unbelieving and to question and quibble” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 255 (emphasis mine)
All of us have been wounded in some way, whether by violence, disease or other personal tragedy, but although we can never pretend we have not been touched by adversity, we can refuse to be held by it. . . . and begin doubting!
JESUS?
Dare we even consider the possibility that Jesus was tempted by doubt? We are told and reminded that our Savior is one “who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4: 15). I believe Jesus was tempted by doubt, even though He was the Son of God. I believe it when I hear His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.” (Matthew 26:39, NIV). Jesus was tempted by doubt, in His Father (Confrontation, p. 40). However, He was our example in that Satan could not tempt Him to doubt. We read of Christ in the wilderness. “Satan flattered himself that he could lead Christ to doubt the words spoken from heaven at His baptism. If he could tempt Him to question His sonship, and doubt the truth of the word spoken by His Father, he would gain a great victory. . . . He [Jesus] did not for a single moment doubt His heavenly Father’s love. . . . Satan’s temptations, though skillfully devised, did not move the integrity of God’s dear Son. His abiding confidence in His Father could not be shaken.” –Confrontation, p. 40–41
How could He have been fully human without having been tempted by doubts? If the greatest spiritual giants or prophets had temptations to doubts, and if Jesus himself was tempted by doubts, then our doubts begin to seem small in comparison. Surely there have been times when even the most steadfast and serious Christian has doubted his or her faith. So, then we can personally identify with Thomas.
TOYING WITH DOUBT
Ah! But let us reflect for a moment to realize that doubt does not always lead to disaster! Our doubts may just as easily lead us to deeper convictions. We can also concede that it is not good for doubt to become a way of life, gnawing away at our souls. You see, doubt can become debilitating and destructive. If we toy with our doubts too much, they may wreak havoc upon our faith—and health; it can lead to depression and depression can lead to more doubt!
If we give too much credence to our doubts then we can never work through them to discover the certainties that will give us an anchor in the storms of life! Furthermore, “indulging in doubt attracts devils, dishonors God, drives away the angels, makes them harder to overcome, to grow, and when indulged further—rivets upon the soul fetters that are seldom broken!” (1T 428; 2T 319; 1T 428; 4T 558; 1 SM 46).
There are, as a suggestion, three ways to deal with our doubts so this does not happen:
1) FIRST, when doubts come we should try changing our perspective. Looking at something from only one perspective may be very deceiving. If we look at life, or one aspect of life, from a single viewpoint we may draw misleading conclusions. We may be just like the fellow who said, “Indians always walk single file. At least the one I saw did!”
If one is living in the relatively closed world of the college or university campus, caught up in modern philosophies, it will be hard to keep up the faith. A change of perspective, perhaps seeking out a faculty person of faith, or another Christian student for fellowship, or a local church of believers will do wonders for the spirit—a faith community.
The same can be true at your place of work. If your faith is contradicted you may begin to doubt your convictions. This is time to change your perspective—going for a walk on your break, reading your Bible, writing a letter, calling a believer, going to the gym. A change of perspective helps us maintain our mental and spiritual health. Try it! If you are too preoccupied with work and terribly busy, you might need a quiet spiritual retreat, with your time spent in Scripture and prayer. Or, on the other hand, a camp meeting, a conference, a hospital or nursing home visit.
Oh! If, on the other hand, you live a very quiet, relatively isolated life, it might be well for you to break out of that cycle in order to spend time with people who are task-oriented rather than idea-oriented. Perhaps being with people in the working world or working with your hands would help you change your perspective. Social interaction is a predominant longevity factor! People need people!
Our opening Bible verse is the story of Thomas (John 20:24–29). The disciple is often known as “doubting Thomas.” We find also a similarity in the story of Mary Magdalene. Interesting, as two very different people both struggled with doubt; Thomas with intellectual doubt like many in this scientific age. He needed empirical proof that Jesus was really risen. “Thomas boasted that he would not believe upon the evidence which the disciples rehearsed, and which they credited, that Christ had indeed risen and appeared to them.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 696. Thomas was always troubled with doubt (The Desire of Ages, p. 663).
Moreover, Thomas, although faithful and earnest, was yet slow of heart to believe (Education, p. 85). His slowness and backwardness to believe may help to strengthen our faith. Thus “out of the eater came forth meat.” Either Thomas would have his fancy gratified or he would not believe (see Matthew 16: 1; 27: 42.) His open avowal of this in the presence of the disciples was an offence and discouragement to them. It was not only a sin, but a scandal! As one coward makes another man a coward, so does one believer make another believer, and as one skeptic, making his brethren’s heart to faint like his heart (Deuteronomy 20:8). It was not their veracity that he questioned but their prudence. It may be conjectured, by what he said (John 11:16; 14:5), and by his unbelief and conduct, that he had been a man of a rough, morose temper, apt to speak peevishly; for all good people are not alike happy in their temper. He had either not heeded or not duly regarded what Christ had so often said, and that too according to the Old Testament that “he would rise again the third day!” (Hosea 6:2; Psalm 50:17; Luke 18:33)
Jesus said to Thomas, Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side; do not be faithless, but believing (GR: me ginou apistos—do not thou become an unbeliever) (John 20:27). Thomas was then fully satisfied of the truth of Christ’s resurrection—and the same Jesus that was crucified was now alive.
This warning is given to us all. Be not faithless; for if we are faithless, we are Christless and graceless, hopeless and joyless; let us therefore say, Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief! Thomas believed Him to be Lord and God, and we are to believe Him so. We must believe His deity—that He is God; not a man-made God, but God made man!
There is nothing, however, to demonstrate that Thomas touched the Saviour. Ah! The sight of Him had been enough. But, what about the multitudes who would not have this opportunity of sight? A blessing is pronounced on such who dare to make the venture of faith (1 Peter 1:8). Thomas had another name—“Didymus”—Greek, meaning “twin.” Who was his twin? We don’t know but sometimes you and I feel as if we might be his twin! How often we have refused to believe and have insisted that God prove Himself to us!
Now, returning to Mary Magdalene. Like others of us she had a different kind of doubt—an emotional doubt. When she came and saw the risen Jesus, she feared He might leave her again and so she clung to Him. Notice that Jesus responded differently to Mary by saying, Do not touch me (John 20:17). Jesus wanted Mary to realize that she could walk on her own and still know that His Spirit would be with her. Ah! But to Thomas, Jesus said, “Touch me,” But to Mary He said, “Don’t touch me.” Jesus sensed the differing needs of individuals, recognizing that each of them needed a change in perspective to help deal with their doubts.
2) SECOND, give yourself time while dealing with doubt. William Buckley, a conservative author, once said, “If I felt I was losing my faith, I would lie down until I got over it!” So, if you’re struggling with doubt, give yourself some time. Your doubts may disappear altogether. You say, “I don’t have time!” “You will never ‘find’ time for anything. If you want time you must make it.” (Charles Buxton, English author (1823-1871).
With the passing of time your faith will be tested, but so will your doubts. A genuine Christian faith will stand up to the tests of time, while doubts will not! Therefore, “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5
Furthermore, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings.” Philippians 2:14
So what are the ways to deal with doubt? Try changing your perspective! Give yourself time!
3) THIRD, staying close to the community of faith is very important! You are not the first to have doubts. Others have asked the questions you are asking. Having walked that difficult road before you, they can help you along the way. If you want to grow in your faith, it is best to stay close to those who have faith or at least are trying to grow in their faith.
In Hebrews 10:23–25 we are told that this kind of togetherness is to be the pattern for the community of faith, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised; and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Thomas is a good warning to all of us not to miss meeting with God’s people in church. Because Thomas was not there, he missed seeing his Master, Jesus Christ, risen, hearing His words of peace, and receiving His gift of spiritual life.
Remember Thomas when you are tempted to carelessly stay home from the solemn assemblies of Christians. You never know what special blessing you might miss! Thomas’s words help us to understand the difference between “doubt” and “unbelief.” Doubt says, “I cannot believe! Too many problems!” Unbelief says, “I will not believe unless you give me the evidence I ask for!” In fact, in the Greek text, there is a double negative: “I positively will not believe!” Thomas represents the “scientific approach” to life—it did not work! Hence, being more grounded in the church helps us deal with doubts.
Our doubts, furthermore, become most oppressive when we are in isolation. Alone in our little pockets of silent skepticism, our doubts may overwhelm us. But if we stay close to one another, encouraging one another, strengthening one another, sharing candidly our doubts and our faith as well, I am convinced that we will mature spiritually. The community of believers is an important ingredient in this formula for dealing with doubt. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (Psalm 22:22).
IN CONCLUSION: Now let us go back to our three college students who wrote rather “resigning” letters. I will put you at ease, first of all, by assuring you that these are not students even from our own church or denomination! In fact, none of these two were even born in this century!
The first student, who could not affirm belief in any Christian precept, was Horace Bushnell (1802-1876). Bushnell became the most eloquent proponent of the Christian faith in his day, preaching from the prestigious pulpit of his Congregational Church in Harford, Connecticut. At the end of his career, many called him “the prince of the pulpit.” Remember, he began his journey of faith from a moment of dark and dismal doubting.
The second student was determined to “sweep God out of the universe.” Things got even worse for him, for at one point he experienced what can clinically be called an emotional breakdown. Shortly after that, however, he wrote one of the most wonderful volumes on prayer, and spoke of discovering the healing presence of God through prayer. He was Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969), one of the most celebrated American preachers in this century.
Ah! If you have been counting, you may have realized that I never did tell you about the third student, or read from his letter. Let me tell you about him now. He was a student at the University of Glasgow. He was Scotland born and eldest of eight. His letter was not to his parents, but to the little church where he grew up. He wrote to request that his name be stricken from the rolls of membership, for he confessed that he no longer could even say that he actually believed in God! You may not recognize his name, Dr. George Matheson (1842-1906), but you may have seen it, maybe, in the small print of a hymnal, for after many years of struggling through his doubts he came to an ardent faith, and he gave us a beautiful hymn:
O LOVE THAT WILT NOT LET ME GO
I trust in your unfailing love (Psalm 13:5)
O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O Light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
(Jeremiah 31:3)
George Matheson had partial vision as a boy and by the time he was 18, he was completely blind. Yet, he amazingly obtained the BA, MA, and BD degrees with honors, and an LLD (1903) honorary degree. He composed this hymn and others when 40 years old. He was a pastor, evangelist and eloquent preacher attracting large crowds (101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Pub., 1982).
Should you fall upon this hymn somewhere, try to understand it in the context of the doubt and struggle from which it was born; Matheson described his writing as, “fruit of much mental suffering,” “an anguish of spirit.” It was not physical pain, or the blindness he incurred that penned an immortal hymn. As his heart moaned, he was divinely moved; as words welled up in his mind, words of comfort. In less than five minutes the poem (hymn) was complete!
The “Blind Preacher” saw quite well!
Let us, therefore, celebrate it with the saints that our doubts can lead us to deeper certainties. Always leave the worship service with a song in your hearts and in your memory! Oh! One more thing! Do not doubt! Keep looking UP!
Amen! <>< <>< <><
John Theodorou U.S. A.