There are those who say faith dare not doubt while others
claim faith without doubt is no faith at all. I’m not sure I care to enter the
debate. Thomas had good reason to wonder at this word, “We have seen the Lord!”
and as the ten weren’t blessed until they had seen I’m willing to give Thomas
the benefit of the doubt. Truth is there are times when I wonder at this word
and question whether everything written is the Gospel truth. I don’t think that
is as much a function of doubting as it is the product of the God given ability
to think critically. God is not threatened by our questions and does not punish
us for asking them. Touch and see was
what Thomas needed to do and touch and see is what Jesus offered him. And what
seems like Jesus rebuking Thomas, “have you believed because you have seen
me?” is really an encouragement to those
of us who given the opportunity would do anything to “trade places with Thomas
and touch those ruined hands.” (Friederich Buechner – Peculiar Treasures) So we
who live by faith and not by sight are free to question and in whatever way
doubt and faith intersect find the place where the life of believing lives
comfortably with questions.
No comments:
Post a Comment