A phone call with no name or a name that isn’t recognized, or originates from a strange Area Code, is a case for suspicion, a serious doubting of its intent. Similarly with emails and texts, if the senders aren’t familiar or present themselves as having extremely urgent business, red flags should go up. Nowadays, with AI, seeing isn’t necessarily believing. It’s much safer to doubt the authenticity of what is seen and do some investigation. There is falsehood rampant in our world today. Even things with a thread of truth but which come prettied up or present as exaggeratedly horrible, need to be eyed with caution. Doubting can save your bacon and your bank account and your identity.
The Apostle Thomas was, I believe, inappropriately dubbed the ‘Doubter,’ as if that one word wrapped up his entire character. There was a great deal more to Thomas than doubt. Maybe the very characteristic that earned him that moniker was the one that earned Jesus’ highest respect. In any case, Thomas was beautifully, intimately, rewarded.
Everyone wants to know the ‘call of God’ on their life, but when Moses got his, he doubted in the face of the miraculous burning bush and the Voice speaking from it! When elderly Sarai heard that she would finally have the desire of her heart, she laughed a doubter’s laugh (and was gently chided for it). When Joshua was given his destiny, he shrank back in fear, looking inward at his smallness, his insignificance, doubting God’s ability to make Joshua what He wanted him to be. When Zechariah, the priest, was one day ministering in the Holy of Holies, the Angel Gabriel appeared startingly close to him with the great news that God was answering Zechariah’s prayer. Because the word arrived approximately 60 years too late (in Z’s estimation) he doubted how that ever happen. Affronted, Gabriel made Z. mute for the entire next nine months, opening his mouth to speak again only when he obediently named his son, John.
Seeing from Scripture that all these people were highly regarded and rewarded per God’s Plan ‘A’, it would seem that doubting is not a disqualifier, not a shock to God, not something earning a Capital ‘D’ stamped scornfully on one’s forehead. Maybe doubting is the fruit coming from an honest heart, a confession of human weakness in the blazing light of a God Who sees, and knows, all! Maybe we should let the Thomases of the world off the hook. PD
Don graduated from Regent University in 1988 and moved to France for seven years, coming back to the US briefly to marry Sue in 1990. The work in France included working in a Christian School and helping plant a church before returning in 1995. He’s been pastor of Peninsula Vineyard since 1999. He enjoys counseling, especially married couples, traveling back to France (with Sue), reading, doing Sudoku puzzles and sleuthing out good, dark chocolate. Don serves as the senior pastor of the Vineyard Church Peninsula, in Newport News, Virginia.