| April 22, 2001 Acts 5:12-16 + Revelation 1:9-3,17-19 + John 20:19-31 |
| Two powerful human emotions draw us into the readings today· fear and doubt. Any follower of Jesus would have every reason to be filled with fear in those days following his death; and the years following were not much better as the little minority group began to experience the hostility, the blame, and the persecution of every other social and political group that was threatened by their spirit, joy, and identity Not much has changed. Minority groups still get the blame and experience hostility in the form of racism and hatred for social i11, economic trouble. Fear is still sunk deep in the human heart, but when it comes to religion, it’s not something we experience in the 21st century |
| On the other hand, doubt is something with which we can easily identify The doubts experienced by Thomas mean more to us than the fear The gospel tells stories of disciples running in fear and denying their relationship with Jesus. In the present there are also enough stories to be told, personal ones when our relationship with Jesus is denied or we cut and run; but not because of fear Few of us get close enough to be really afraid. embarrassed maybe, not really afraid. |
| The truth is, we’re not really afraid of much at all theses days. In fact, we entertain ourselves with simulated fear Horror movies ghost stories, haunted houses, and games of virtual reality all tease us with fear, but it’s all over when the lights are on. There are some things scare us. diseases we cannot control, loss of a job, having our homes broken into, domestic terrorism, and for some global warming is a real danger But, worried because we are Christian? Not much change of that. It might be a problem in the middle east, but not here. |
| I am beginning to suspect that there’s something missing when we don’t know fear with faith. So much of the Gospel addresses fear, and the greeting: “Fear Not” Almost leaves us out, and as a result, we begin to hear the gospel as though it’s addressed to someone else, or as though it’s some old piece of ancient literature and we’re reading about the olden days when things were tough, as we read about the years before electricity and before instant communications. If we get serious about the Gospel, it seems to me that fear and faith go hand in hand.That faith and fear are almost in direct proportions. The more you believe, the more you have to fear I am proposing to you that what God has to say to us today when He speaks through the scriptures to this age and our generation has something to do with a missing emotion. |
| Comfortable and compromised these days, faith is often used to condemn others, justify our behavior and attitudes for self preserving conditions. In fact, for some, there is fear from the power Christians now use to deny expression of different faith and customs to people different from themselves. Those who do give their all and risk something for their faith in Jesus are judged to be fanatics and extremists. They are dismissed easily and shoved to the margins of our lives with little attention to what and whom they believe. |
| Doubt seems more appropriate for us. It is certainly more “in” these days. It’s far more common to hear someone say· “I don’t believe all that stuff.” than hear someone say· “I’m afraid.” We really ought to admit it. We don’t do enough because of our faith or say enough because of our faith to be afraid of anything. When I listen carefully to the story of Thomas, as I have, like you, every Easter season for as long as I can remember, I begin to wonder about this business of doubt and fear, because Thomas wanted to see Jesus face to face, and he got what he asked for, and he became a believer Since he was out of the locked room that first time Jesus dropped in, I have come to suspect that he wasn’t quite as afraid as everyone else. It’s either that or he had more courage than the others, and I don’t think that was the case, because I believe that courage is a by product of faith.Thomas just didn’t have enough faith to be afraid. |
| I suspect that the moment he said. “My Lord and my God.” Things changed for him dramatically I suspect he found a new vulnerability along with the other gifts of peace, healing, forgiveness, and life. If like Thomas, we want to see Jesus, we had better be ready for all that it may mean for us. Most likely if he were to stand here before us, doubters that we are, he would NOT say, “Do not be afraid.” Perhaps he would say· “Do not be afraid to be afraid.” |