“The Benefit of Doubt”

Some groups within Christianity have frowned on doubt over the years.  Questions have been viewed as threatening while acceptance without critical thinking has been viewed as faith.  Sadly, some things that have been embraced as “biblical” are actually the preferences of well-meaning people.  Thankfully, there have always been some people among the believing crowd that are willing to ask questions.  They may be afraid to ask the questions; but not because they fear the answers—they fear interrupting the status quo.  Even more though, they fear not living in harmony with what is actually true.  I have found that the writers of most Bible commentaries are hard on Thomas.  Thomas is often referred to as the “doubter,” and worse.  Admittedly, there is a form of doubt that is dangerous; it is the doubt that refuses to know.  It is the doubt that looks for excuses not to believe.  However, there is also a doubt that is healthy.  It is driven by a desire to truly know and receive what is true.  There are some who doubt that actually have a strong desire to believe.  Their heart is open and welcome but their minds need to be satisfied.  I’m so glad the story of Thomas is in the Bible.  As J.C. Ryle put it, the story of Thomas is in the Bible because “the Holy Ghost knew well that the dull, and the slow, and the stupid, and the doubting are by far the commonest type of disciples in this evil world…our Lord has many dull pupils in His school.”  Maybe you don’t see yourself as one of them.  Congratulations.  For the rest of us, there’s Thomas, we’ll get to know him a little better on Resurrection morning.