2nd Sunday After Easter

Doubtism:

The New American Religion

I doubt if THAT can happen.

Where is our faith in what we call the “American experience”?  Much of what we claim as the American experience is summed up in free market enterprise.  The ability to make “a go of it” in a society that allows choice, destiny, and the probability of failure.  What now?  Are we in a state of doubt when it comes to the probability of General Motors making it alive in this tough and restricted economy we find ourselves in?  What is different this time?  Why are we reluctant to believe that money and the advancement of stimulus funding can make our economy move out of a slump?  Why do we doubt?

Dear Mr. Snyder, your name matches a profile in our records that indicates a high chance of your numbers listed below may be the winning numbers in the PCH prize patrol 10 million dollar super prize.  We have secured reservations at ________ hotel in Waterville, Iowa and will fly into the Waukon Airport.  It is no wonder we doubt eh?

25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “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.”

For those with faith, no explanation is necessary. For those without, no explanation is possible. –Thomas Aquinas

Applying the Word

A clergyman was walking down the street when he came upon a group of about a dozen boys, all of them between 10 and 12 years of age.

The group surrounded a dog. Concerned lest the boys were hurting the dog, he went over and asked "What are you doing with that dog?"

One of the boys replied, "This dog is just an old neighborhood stray. We all want him, but only one of us can take him home. So we've decided that whichever one of us can tell the biggest lie will get to keep the dog."

Of course, the reverend was taken aback. "You boys shouldn't be having a contest telling lies!" he exclaimed. He then launched into a ten minute sermon against lying, beginning, "Don't you boys know it's a sin to lie," and ending with, "Why, when I was your age, I never told a lie."

There was dead silence for about a minute. Just as the reverend was beginning to think he'd gotten through to them, the smallest boy gave a deep sigh and said, "All right, give him the dog." 

Doubting others authenticity.  Doubting the probability that I have the winning numbers for the Power Ball in my pocket.  Doubting that even with “stimulus funds” it will be gravely difficult for our economy built on false pretenses of success will suddenly emerge from collapse.  Doubt like Thomas.  “Unless we see with our hands, taste with our tongues, and see with our eyes we just cannot believe...or can we?”

(1) Doubt is transformed into belief through testimony.

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— 3we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

How have you come to believe in these things that “are written so you may believe”?  Can you tell me why do you believe in Jesus?  What has God been up to in your life this week, month, year?

With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.  

How will others know about the Lord if you don’t share?  How can we ever expect doubt to be transformed into belief if we don’t tell the story?  The New Testament is the thriving and living story of God that continues through the hearts and voices of his children.  

(2) God’s promises stand in opposition to the shroud of doubt.

Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

They faced the cross, they were witnesses to the greatest let down in human history - or so they thought.  Did they turn a blind eye to the possibility of God’s promises that Jesus evoked in the Word?  Could they believe that Jesus was serious when he spoke of the horrors of Good Friday and the glory of Easter morning?  

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;  So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to 

Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."

Isaiah 55:10-11

3.  Go beyond doubt - but believe

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.