Blind Faith?

"Today's Devotion" For April 20, 2006

Read: John 20:24-29; Hebrews 11:1-13, 39-40

BLIND FAITH?

"Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen but yet have believed." (John 20:29)

One of the least creative, but, perhaps, most used "put downs" of Christians is that we have "blind faith." In fact, it's often Christians, when hard-pressed to come up with “reasonable" responses to the queries of others about faith in Jesus, who frequently say, "You just gotta' believe!"

Perhaps one of the most poignant lessons of faith surrounding Jesus' resurrection occurred when Jesus appeared to the disciples a week after His first appearance to them. It seems Thomas wasn't with them the first time, so he only had their word on it that Jesus was alive, and he didn't find them credible. As most of us know, that's where the expression, "Doubting Thomas," has its origin.

It's kind of hard to blame Thomas for doubting the word of the disciples. From a "modern" perspective, based on the psychology of death and dying, we might presume, as Thomas did, that the disciples were hallucinating. They were in denial, the psychologists would tell us. Perhaps they were suffering from having had a "few too many," having been drowning their sorrows at the loss of their Teacher and friend. Not only that, but His body was missing from the tomb. It was enough to "drive anyone to drink." Even more, there were incredible stories flying around that He was alive - He had risen as He had said He would. Thomas wasn't about to fall down that "slippery slope." He was too practical to fall for any such tomfoolery. He was no advocate of "blind faith" and certainly wasn't about to be made out a fool.

So, after hearing the testimony of all those witnesses (we recall that in Jewish culture the word of two or three witnesses was considered bonafide proof of the truth), Thomas still didn't believe Jesus' was alive. His cautious and measured response to the disciples' "proof" of Jesus' resurrection was, "Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it." Imagine his surprise when a week later Jesus again appeared to the disciples in the same house as before, and specifically addresses Thomas and his doubts.

Thomas's response to Jesus is wonderful. He sees and believes. Yet, Jesus lovingly chastises him, noting that his belief is a result of his seeing with his eyes, not believing the testimony of others nor remembering Jesus' promises in his heart. Now some would say that Thomas's approach to faith is the only reasonable approach - if you can't see it, taste it, touch it, or hear it, it doesn't exist, it has no reality. To believe in something that can't be seen, tasted, touched, or heard is to believe blindly - to have "blind faith" - and that's just not reasonable. Yet, as we hear and weigh Jesus' words to Thomas, we also learn that "proof" isn't just found in the physical reality of life, but in the spiritual as well.

The writer to the Hebrews vigorously develops this truth, building upon his earlier statement, "For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything" (Hebrews 3:4). He notes that even though we haven't seen God, the very existence of the world and the universe is evidence that He exists and has created all things. He writes, "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible" (Hebrews 11:3). From Abel, to Enoch and Noah, from Abraham and the patriarchs to the days of Israel in the wilderness, and from David to Mary and Joseph, Simeon and Anna, those who believed God's promises of a Savior, a Messiah to come, were saved from and forgiven of their sins and received eternal life. For them, faith was not blind, but simply trusting the reality of God's presence in their lives as He provided for their every need, even in the most difficult times.

Contrary to the world's view of God's people, we do not believe blindly. Our evidence for faith is found in the lives and testimony of the people of God who have gone before us - Adam and Eve, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, the prophets, etc. They saw God's hand at work in their lives and, because of His care and providence in their lives, they also had faith in His promise of their coming salvation in Jesus. By God's grace, we have been blessed to draw upon this evidence for our own faith; seeing God's hand at work in their lives, helps us to see Him at work in ours as well. Our faith isn't blind, for faith sees what others are blind to seeing, and trusts what others cannot understand.

Here's a footnote to this lesson from Thomas. Tradition tells us that Thomas headed east to spread the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ. That tradition says that Thomas ended up in India, declaring God's love in Christ to the lost souls in that far country. He died because he shared Jesus with others, yet today, there is a group of Christians in India, The Evangelical Christian Church of India, which considers Thomas to be their spiritual father (my doctor grew up in that church). They didn't see Jesus, they didn't hear His voice, they didn't put their fingers in His hands, or their hands into His side. They only heard the testimony of one who had first doubted, but then believed; and they took him at his word and believed in Jesus by the power of God's Word and Spirit. Their's was and is no "blind faith," for they believed because a witness told them. Guess what! That's what we are, too - Witnesses to God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ that is evident in our lives each and every day. "Blind faith" my eye! Just take a look around!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You graciously and lovingly showed Yourself to Your disciples once again in order to make certain Thomas truly saw You and believed that You had truly risen from the grave as You had promised. You were not willing that he should be lost to You, just as You asked the Father (cf. John 17:6-19). You wanted Thomas, just as the rest of the disciples, to be confident of Your resurrection, rejoice in it, and be Your witnesses and proof of it to all the world - to all who would believe because of their report (cf. John. 17:20-26). Because of their testimony, and the power of Your Word and Spirit, I, too, have believed. My faith isn't blind, as the world would entice me to believe, but is based fully on the testimony of those who have come before me and Your blessings to me every day. According to Your promises I receive Your forgiveness and love each day through Your Word and the touch of those around me who love You and share You with me. Help me to be a faithful and loving witness to Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in my life, so that others might believe in You, Whom they cannot see, except as You work through me. Hear me precious Savior for Your name's sake. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.