I don't know why we as Christians are so afraid of doubt. Maybe it is because we have been led to believe that doubt is wrong or even sinful. Even people outside the church have this notion that the church frowns upon doubt. Friedrich Nietzsche once remarked, "Christianity has done its utmost to close the circle and declared even doubt to be sin."
When I read the story of the most famous of doubters, Thomas, I don't see Jesus as condemning his doubt, but rather as dealing with his doubt. For Thomas, doubt was a state of being, but it wasn't as if he wanted to remain in that place of doubt. I think he would have loved to believe that Jesus had appeared to his friends, but he needed something to pin his faith onto. Jesus is merciful with his doubts and offers him the gift of 'evidence.' With Jesus standing in front of him, Thomas had the option to move from his place of doubt into the arena of faith.
As St Francis urges us, we are encouraged to walk alongside people who are wrestling with their doubts and to offer them faith. It is not our place to judge those doubts, but rather to remind them of life that Jesus Christ brings to us. We are intruments of faith, working in the theatre's of doubt:
"Where there is doubt, faith...."
Jude 1:22 - "Be merciful to those who doubt..."
“If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at
least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.”
-
René Descartes
“Doubt isn't the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith.”
-
Paul Tillich
ACTION: If you have ever doubted something I invite you to share this with God now, believing that God will not condemn your doubts, but will rather draw alongside you and help you.
If you need someone else to share this with, you are welcome to send me a comment/thought too.
Living in Grace
D3LM3
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