Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 1-062

THE CAPACITY TO DOUBT

From ‘Sunrise Sunset’ (HarperCollins/Harper San Francisco), Rowland Croucher’s book of daily meditations. Feel free to use or adapt it.

After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3.

Physical resurrections aren’t common, so I for one don’t blame Jesus’ disciple Thomas for doubting the reality of Jesus’ conquest of death. ‘We have seen the Lord’ some of the others told him. Thomas retorted: ‘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!’ (John 20:25).

And yet – full credit to him – when Jesus appeared to Thomas and convinced him, Thomas uttered the greatest affirmation about who Jesus really was in all of Scripture: ‘My Lord and my God!’

Doubts, questions, uncertainties, skepticisms face every honest enquirer after truth. The capacity to doubt is one of God’s greatest gifts to us. Without doubt there would be no discovery, no progress; we would all simply accept what we’re told, and live comfortably with the status quo.

Lord Jesus Christ, if I doubt, at least help me to be an honest doubter, seeking truth rather than merely trying to be clever. Amen.