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Nicknames can be a funny thing in our culture. Or they can be embarrassing or hurtful. For example, my youngest sister, Patricia Louise, didn’t tell her husband about her childhood nickname. She tried to shed that nickname in her teenage years, but the family didn’t get the memo. After she heard her husband answer the phone one day “I am sorry, but there is no one here named 'Lulu'”, she had to fess up! They had been married about five years at the time! Some of my nicknames are “Fitz” from my last name, “Dooooo-ane” from the way I spell Duane, or my high school Spanish teacher gave me a nickname because there was not a Spanish translation for “Duane”. He called me Duano. Yes, the jokes never get old with that one!
The Gospel passage today gave way to a nickname for one of the apostles that almost everyone is familiar with: Doubting Thomas. It is not really a fair nickname in my opinion. We don’t know a lot about Thomas from the Bible. Most of the references about him are from the Book of John, the only Gospel to tell the “Doubting Thomas” story. It is interesting that in the references where Thomas speaks, he seems to be the thoughtful, dedicated one. I chuckled to myself that he sounded very Episcopalian! He seems to think through things on his own, makes the decision to act, and then follows through with it! Thomas showed more loyalty to Christ than many of the others in John 11. When the Pharisees were actively seeking to kill Him, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us go to Judea again” (John 11:7). Thomas is the one who said, “Let us also go that we may die with Him” (v. 16). During the last supper story in John 14, Thomas asks this question after Jesus tells them that he goes to prepare a place for them “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Thomas seems to ask the tough questions. In the Gospel passage for today, Thomas expresses his doubts, but then acknowledges Jesus and follows through with his faith.
The Bible doesn’t tell us what Thomas did after this experience. Tradition says that at the dispersal of the Apostles after Pentecost this saint was sent to evangelize the Parthians, Medes, and Persians; he ultimately reached India, carrying the Faith to the Malabar coast, which still boasts a large native population calling themselves "Christians of St. Thomas."
I wonder what it would be like to experience the lives of the disciples. Being a “techy”, computer geek kind of guy, I think it would be cool if we could have a virtual reality machine to simulate what they saw. Unfortunately, there is NOT an app for that! If I created one, I would call it the Virtual Disciple app or maybe iDisciple! If you are not familiar with the term virtual reality or don’t have a smart phone or fancy tablet, we will do this the old-fashioned way - use our imaginations!
Imagine Jesus calling you while you are fishing. You don’t know why you drop everything to follow him, but you know it is the right thing to do.
Imagine watching him teaching in the temple, casting out demons, healing the sick, feeding the thousands, and calming the sea with just his words.
Imagine marching triumphantly into Jerusalem waving palms and singing Hosanna!
Imagine the dark times as you watch your teacher die on the cross.
Imagine Jesus appearing to you after his resurrection with his hands outstretched: “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
We have an huge advantage over the disciples of that day — we know how the story ends!
Even if we did have the opportunity to experience Jesus amongst us like Thomas and the disciples, what difference would it really make in our lives? We might be looking over our shoulders waiting for Allen Funt to jump out and say “You’re on Candid Camera” or Ashton Kutcher showing up to say “You’ve been punked!” In my opinion, we are even more skeptical today than Thomas was in his.
Some friends of mine told me how skeptical and questioning their children are. Most of the children were in their 20s and early 30s. They want nothing to do with organized religion. The parents did their best to be a good example of what a believing, church-attending Christian should be. I have LGBT friends that feel the same way. What can we do to lead these folks to God?
It is my opinion that we should share our doubts, just like Thomas did. Show them that being skeptical is OK. That doubting is a normal part of growing a relationship. Even a simple game we play as children can reflect this: he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not. We all hope for “he or she loves me”!
I also thought about how life would be if it were easy to believe. Take a pill. Read a short pamphlet at the dentist office. Take an online class. After many, many years of thinking about faith and belief, it is my opinion it is like exercise. You need to build up your level of strength and endurance with slow and sure progress. Get into shape, as they say in the fitness world. Not only getting into shape, but maintaining our strength and endurance with regular "exercising" of our faith. Belief spurs action!
Even while we are exercising and growing our faith and belief, It is OK to be like Thomas. Put aside the title of “Doubting Thomas” and focus on his belief. Focus on the love of Jesus as he met Thomas’s doubts with love and compassion. Always remember that Jesus will do the same for us today as we ask questions and as we have doubts. Whether or not we want to admit it, Jesus knows our doubts just like he did those of Thomas. He calls us to him any way.
Charlotte Elliott wrote the hymn “Just As I Am” in 1834. She had been an invalid for many years, and though she wanted to help with a fund-raiser for a girl’s school, she was too ill. She felt useless, and this inner distress caused her to begin doubting her faith in Christ. She wrote “Just As I Am” as a response to her doubt. The crux of her distress is perhaps best expressed in these words:
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come!
Haven't we all felt like that at one time or another? Your homework for this week is to think about one of your doubts. Talk and listen to God through prayer, Bible study, and meditation. If you are not sure what to pray, say the Lord’s Prayer or Nicene Creed or create your own collect. Like Thomas, let us move past our doubts to serve our Risen Lord.
Always remember the words of Jesus: Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet still believe.
Amen
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References:
http://biblehub.com/topical/t/thomas.htm
http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/new-testament/gopel-of-john-commentary-who-wrote-the-gospel-of-john-and-how-historical-is-it/
The Intepreter's Bible, Volume 8, pages 794-801
https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/intros/john.cfm
http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/301.html
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=410
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