A sermon on John 20

A couple of weeks ago I got the chance to preach the sermon at my local Anglican Church. I post it here, not because I think I have any readers (given how long I have gone between posts), but because I liked writing a sermon and I don't want to lose it.

John Granville Gregory - Still Doubting

I have enjoyed the writing of Paul Tillich since well before I understood Christianity well enough to be able to understand what he wrote. One of the first things that stood out to me was his statement: "Sometimes I think it is my mission to bring faith to the faithless, and doubt to the faithful."

As someone who grew up unchurched, this resonated with me. I felt like I was defending why I had faith, to those who didn't; but when I was with people of faith I found the resounding denial of doubt unconvincing and even off-putting.

That is why I feel like I understand today’s gospel reading. Thomas and his reaction to the disciples' story that - the same Jesus he had seen crucified, had popped in for tea and scones.

Even before 20th century western medicine became the big fashionable way of understanding how death works, people were well aware that dying was a one way track, so it is not unreasonable for Thomas to be a little concerned that his friends might have, in their grief, all got a bit confused.

We live in a world where people won’t come and sit with us on a Sunday morning because. If I can't see it and can't touch it, why should I believe it? The scientific method and critical thinking skills have been at the centre of our education system for a long time.

So it is logical for both unbelievers and believers to ask do I need to believe in things that I can't see?

And, if I do, how do I work out what those things are?

And on what basis do I believe them?

In short I guess, where is the boundary between faith and gullibility or between faith and deliberately ignoring reality? How many of us are putting our fingers in our ears and going “lalala lala”?

This is a critical thing for Christians to grapple with, because you don't have to look far to find people who will tell you all the things that Christians shouldn't believe in:

climate change, evolution, fossil geology or

healing, resurrection and answered prayer...

So, again, how do we work out which of these things we do (or can, or should) believe in? How do we engage seriously with contentious issues and faith's part in modern society?

Thomas, in today's reading, shows us one way we can work out our faith. We can put our fingers in in, touch things, examine them. I would say though that is not just something we can do, but something we should do. And I’d like you to consider that following Thomas' example is good for the church.

When it comes to people leaving the church, most statistics seem to be American, but the American stats line up with what I hear from my students; and that is a clear belief that Christianity and Science are incompatible. So, if one of those things has to go it is faith they discard. We are (unintentionally I hope) putting a stumbling block in the way of others by demanding that they quell their doubt, push it down, hide it.

Thomas’, story gives us permission to use scientific enquiry in questions of faith. Even more importantly, we see Jesus' response to this doubt. Thomas is not cast out from amongst the believers, he is not rebuked because he failed to reign in his sceptical nature and he is not instructed to turn his brain off and pretend that ignoring your doubts is the same as having faith.

“Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

He is allowed to test the claims that the other disciples put to him and once he has performed that test then and only then does Jesus instruct him to stop doubting. So, let’s embrace those with doubts and make St James the sort of place where the curious are welcome to poke their fingers in and test what they find.

This is not the only scripture that shows us we are permitted to admit our doubts. In Mark 9 we meet a father who brings his son to Jesus. The son suffers from convulsion and the father wants to know is healing is possible. When Jesus tells the father “Everything is possible for one who believes.” we hear a profoundly human cry from the father “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

So, where do we go to find what we as Christians should believe? Well, you don't rely on me to tell you. Nor should any of us rely on anyone to be the sole arbiter of what is true just because they have access to a pulpit. Take your cue from Thomas and work out the answers for yourself using God's word and sticking your fingers into the confusing bits; to make sure you are understanding them. 1 Thessalonians 5 talks about prophecies, “don't treat them with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good.” It tells us.

Some in The Church, I think, need an occasional gentle reminder that testing things is not the same as denying God. Whether it is prophecy or the words of anyone who tells you that they know the truth “test them all; hold on to what is good.” What does testing them mean? Test them by making sure they line up with reality. Test them by making sure that they line up with God’s word.

Testing, like doubting, is not a lack of faith. It is perfectly easy to disbelieve something without testing it, just look at the claims being made in our current election campaign and the reactions of the public who believe the claims of those they like and disbelieve the claims of those they don’t – without testing anything.

For other (myself included) I would put the emphasis on a different part of 1 Thessalonians 5. “don't treat them with contempt” and Jesus’ words to Thomas “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Because doubting shouldn’t be the same as being cynical.

Don’t try to avoid being a Doubting Thomas, follow Thomas’ example. Be open with your doubts because you don’t build your faith by supressing them, you build your faith by putting your finger directly into the disgusting, confusing, impossible parts of your faith and try to understand what you find.

Thomas, despite his desire for proof, went on to do great things. It is claimed that he travelled as far as India, establishing Christianity there in the year 52. Some 230 years before Christianity reached Britain.

And, if you have doubts about how true that story is, that is probably OK.