Are you and I a "Doubting Thomas"? John 20:19-31

Last Sunday's sermon followed the Lectionary (as I normally do) and found us in the story concerning 'Doubting Thomas'.  I love the comment that I saw somewhere asking why does Thomas get such an awful moniker, we don't call Peter "Denying Peter"... it's a valid point and one worth considering. The story of 'the Doubting Thomas' isn't about Thomas not believing in Jesus and His ministry.  Remember that in John Chapter 11, in the Story of the resurrection of Lazarus we see that it's Thomas that is willing to go to Judea with Christ, and even to his death in support of Jesus' mission and work.

John 11:7,8 & 16
and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”................
Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

He wasn't questioning the message of Christ he was questioning the bringing back to life of a body killed by the Roman Empire (and as it has often been pointed out the Romans were pretty efficient killers, after all, they'd had a great deal of practice).  I discuss in the sermon the idea that some Scholars put forth, that Thomas was actually one of Jesus' siblings.  If this is true, then one can understand all the more the 'doubt' that he might have had, was this 'doubt' a way to protect himself from getting his hopes too high?

I also touch in the sermon on a different angle of the idea of being a 'Doubting Thomas'.  Many, many sermons have been crafted discussing how we all are at times doubters of God and Christ.  At some point in nearly every Christians life there comes a moment of doubt in the concept of an all-loving God.  Sometimes this doubt is brought on by faulty theological teaching by far too many ministers, but that's a sermon/blog for another day.  In the sermon, I discuss that if you or anyone is holding to the idea that the 'Church' (not an individual church but the Body of Christ as a whole) is dying, then you are yourself a 'Doubting Thomas'.  Christ... the Church, the Body of Christ... will 'resurrect'.  There have been many times in the last 2,000 years where the Church has taken some serious hits (far too many self-induced) and it has always been 'resurrected'.  But each time it's come back, like Jesus the Christ who is risen, not exactly as it was before.

There are changes lying ahead for the Church, we can either be involved in discerning those changes or we can sit on the side and vainly and egotistically try to hold onto the traditions that we have grown up with.  The traditions that we cling to whether they be pride in our denomination, or the love of an old church building (and I confess a tremendous love for old churches as is evident from the photos in this blog), or the songs we sing on Sunday morning, none of these would have been the traditions of Christians a thousand years past.  As I mention in the sermon, the communion table itself is not what it was in the time of Paul.  I suspect Paul would throw a hissy-fit if he could see how we celebrate the blood and body today.

I hope you'll take a few moments and watch/listen to the sermon.  It is just under 22 minutes long so it's not a terribly long sermon.  My opinion is somewhat biased but I think there is a good point or two in the mix...

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His constant care & grace,
Roy

 John 20:19-31  New Revised Standard Version

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.