SERMON:

What Happens When We Can’t Believe?
John 20: 19-31

Pastor Robyn Hogue April 3, 2016 Skyline Presbyterian Church

The inclusion of Thomas’ story has always been one of my favorites. Of course, it’s not just about Thomas. It’s also about frightened disciples. So scared, in fact, that they hide behind locked doors. And who can blame them? They have just witnessed the one they confessed to be the Messiah betrayed by one of His own, tried and convicted by both religious and civil authorities, and then brutally executed. Little wonder they are afraid. The Romans want answers about Jesus’ missing body and they are the chief suspects.

But when Jesus comes on the scene, their fear transforms to joy. This, I think, is the way faith should work. We’ve got doubts and questions and fears, but then God arrives and those doubts, questions and fears shrink in the presence of joy, wonder and thanksgiving.

Thomas doubts. He questions. He disbelieves. He’s not satisfied with second-hand reports and wants to see for himself. We get it. Who can blame him? He was, after all, one of those who saw his Lord and friend mistreated, beaten, and then crucified. Jesus’ followers have most likely spent the last few days pulling the broken pieces of their lives back together and trying to figure out what to do next. In fact, Thomas might have already started getting on with his life – why else, I wonder, is he out and about when the rest of the disciples are hiding behind locked doors.

So here’s what I’m wondering one week after a joyous Easter: do we make room for the ‘Thomases’ in our world? They are the people who can’t pretend to believe.

Thomas does come to believe. He makes the most profound confession of faith contained in the New Testament when he calls Jesus “My Lord and my God.” But this comes after he has a chance to voice his doubt. Authentic faith is like that. It needs the freedom of questions to really spring forth and take hold. Otherwise, faith might simply be confused with religion or worse yet, with repetition of creedal formulas without personal conviction. Vigorous faith—the kind that can sustain us in the really awful times—comes with the freedom to question, wonder, and doubt.

For some, faith appears to come quite easily. Many of the other disciples were like that. But for others it’s harder. To tell you the truth, I have no idea what the disciples thought of Thomas’ initial skepticism. Maybe they were scandalized. Or maybe they sympathized. Further, I suspect that John’s whole point in including this story in his Gospel is to affirm the faith of his community, a group of people who “had not seen yet believed.” But on this Sunday, I think it’s important to make room for a little doubt.

I think that if we don’t have any doubts we’re probably not taking the story seriously enough. I mean, really – think about what we confess when we come together on Sundays: that the Creator of the vast cosmos not only knows we exist but cares deeply and passionately about our ups and downs, our hopes and dreams, and all the rest. This confession is incredible! Yet incredible literally means not believable (in-credible). We come on Sundays to hear the Word, share in the Sacraments and by being joined to those around us through prayer and song, we come to believe.

For some it’s easy. For others it is more difficult. For some, hearing the testimony of Scripture is enough. Others need something more personal and direct. This week, let’s be a church for that second group. Let’s tell folks it’s okay to have questions. Indeed, let’s commend them, even bless them for their questions! Because questions, wonder, doubt and even skepticism are signs of interest and curiosity and these, quite often, are the soil in which vibrant faith can take root.

If you are willing, I invite you to take that small blue paper you were handed when you came in today and write down one thing you have a question about regarding faith and to pass those questions in with the offering. Who knows, maybe the question asked will be something in one of the biblical readings. Maybe it will be something you’ve wondered about for years. Maybe it will be rather trivial. Why did God create mosquitoes? (Something I’ve wondered about!) Maybe it will be something monumental. Why is my loved one in such constant pain? No matter what the question, simply by making room for it we are taking you seriously and creating the space for an authentic encounter with God.

Thomas comes to faith because he first has the chance to voice his doubt and questions and then experiences Jesus for himself. Perhaps the opportunity before us this week is to provide the same opportunities for the many ‘Thomases’ sitting in our pews.

Author Sheila Walsh writes about her friend, Thelma, who has a fake garden. The thing is, Thelma wants a pretty yard without all the hard work that a garden requires, so she plants plastic flowers in her yard. The flowers look beautiful, and from a distance, no one can tell that they aren't real. But there are no honeybees in Thelma's garden. The bees learned a long time ago that although her flowers look pretty, they have no flavor or nourishment to them.

Let’s be the kind of church where no one needs to pretend with a plastic faith. Bring your questions. Bring your doubts. And let’s find out together if authentic faith can bloom.