3 Surprising Reasons to Be Like Doubting Thomas
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I was in my early teens when I voiced some doubts about my faith. Although I had grown up in the faith and had been to church almost every Sunday of my life, I entered a season of skepticism.
We often read this as a mere description leading into Thomas’ encounter with Jesus, but there is an important truth here.
Despite his questions and with all his doubts rattling within him, Thomas did not let his questions or doubts distance him from the disciples.
Thomas remains with the disciples. For a whole week, Thomas journeyed with the disciples. He prayed with them, sang with them, and he listened as they talked about their experience with Jesus.
Even though he couldn’t understand the reality of the resurrection, Thomas continued to be on a journey with the community.
It is within the community of faith that Thomas meets the risen Lord. Would he have met Jesus if he hadn’t journeyed with the disciples?
The fact is, Thomas is a wonderful example of how someone can remain with the church even though they may have questions or doubts about their faith.
Doubts are not to be shunned, and doubters are not to be excommunicated. Thomas shows us that it is within the community that faith becomes alive and doubts become resolved.
While we often give Thomas the moniker of “doubting Thomas,” this doubt is not where Thomas ends his faith journey. The last thing we read about Thomas is his confession of faith.
Following his continued participation in the community of faith, Thomas meets the risen Lord, who provides the very experience Thomas longed for.
In response, Thomas offers one of the most succinct statements of faith written in Scripture: “My Lord, and my God!” (John 20:28). Thomas commits his life to Jesus.
Thomas’ true legacy is not his doubts but his commitment to Jesus. Thomas lived his remaining years as a witness to the gospel.
Tradition states that Thomas took the gospel message to Syria and founded the Marthoma Church.
In the end, Thomas was never satisfied with his questions and doubts. Thomas became a powerful witness to the truth of the resurrection and the Lordship of Jesus.
We can be honest about our questions and doubts, and we should also be honest about our longing for Jesus. The two are not mutually exclusive.
The fact is Jesus longs for a relationship with us and wishes us to experience new life in his presence.
While we may have to sit with our questions or doubts for a season, just as Thomas waited one week for Jesus to come, Jesus will eventually reveal his presence in our lives.
When this occurs, we should act like Thomas, who was brave enough to abandon his doubts and place his life in Jesus’ hands.
For further reading:
Can a Christian Doubt God and Still Have Faith?
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