In What Ways are We, as Christians, Today's Doubting Thomas?
How letting go of the need for "hard-proof" can lead us to a deeper and more profound faith in Christ
A friend of mine has been in the process of coming back to Christianity, but made the assertion that he needed to “do more research.” This was after he spent some time reading into other Abrahamic religions. While he was, he initially found it compelling, but the more he read and researched, the more he found himself drawn back to the heart of Christ.
As we talked, he shared his doubts and his need for more evidence. Still, he admitted with a sense of resolve, “I think I’m back.” To that I say Hallelujah! God is good. But he then went on to describe how he needs more convincing evidence to fully commit to Christianity. As I rejoiced for him, there was something off-putting about what he said. I didn't mention it at the time, but his need for absolute proof stuck with me.
The notion of needing absolute proof before having faith seemed, to me, like a contradiction in terms. How can faith coexist with the demand for proof? In a separate conversation with a coworker, I shared that no belief system—whether it’s atheism, the Big Bang Theory, Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, Christianity, or even something as whimsical as the Flying Spaghetti Monster (I know this is generally a troll, just poking fun)—offers definitive proof. Each requires a certain degree of faith.
But do we really need definitive proof? Must we hold something tangible in our hands before we believe in the intangible?
The pursuit of hard evidence has inspired great works like A Case for Christ by Lee Strobel and Jesus on Trial by David Limbaugh. These are great examples of Christian apologetics, providing compelling arguments for the truth of Jesus Christ. Yet, even with all the evidence, there remains little-to-no absolute, hard “in your hands” proof. You always have to trust the truth contained in texts or tradition to some degree.
Faith Beyond What We Can See
Faith, in its essence, requires trust; trust in the unseen, in the One who is greater than our understanding. Barring the Lord's second coming or a direct, physical encounter with Him akin to the resurrection, we are called to hold onto a faith beyond what we can see or touch.
Is this wrong? Must we have proof to believe?
This brings to mind the story of St. Thomas, “Doubting Thomas” as he is also called. In John 20:24-25, we read:
"Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in th mark of the nails, and place my hand in hiHis side, I will not believe.’”
Even after Christ had risen and appeared to the other disciples, Thomas struggled to believe. This was the same Thomas who had walked with Jesus, witnessed His miracles, and heard Him speak of His death and resurrection. Yet, he needed to see, to touch, before he could believe. And how does Christ to him?
“Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands, and put out your hand, and place it into my side; do not be faithless, but believing.’ Thomas answered and said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.’”
In Matthew 18:3-4, Jesus speaks of having the faith of a child. We find Jesus teaching His disciples about the kingdom of heaven:
“and said, ‘Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven’ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Talk about challenging?
It makes me think of my own son, who is just around two and a half years old at the time of this writing. He is like a sponge, absorbing everything around him and trusting those he loves with reckless abandon (I like to think I’m an honest and decent father, so fortunately, it’s a little less reckless for him). I could tell him just about anything and he would wholeheartedly believe it, and spread it like the gospel.
In many ways, his simple trust is more wise than our often complicated, adult faith. The more knowledge we gain—or perhaps, one could say, the more pride—the harder it becomes to accept this childlike trust. We start demanding more proof to scratch our “intellectual” itch. Leading to, as the saying goes, being "too smart for your own good.” For your own good, indeed.
Embracing Faith with Humility
We are called to embrace the teaching of Jesus, to have faith in the One who is greater. This does not mean a blind faith; we should always seeking truth. But I see this is about approaching faith with humility, acknowledging that we may not comprehend everything—and that’s okay. We’ll continually grow in our understanding, engaging in perpetual catechesis, while simultaneously submitting to the idea that we as humans are limited in our divine revelation.
So, as I reflect on these Scriptures, I wonder: In what ways are we the Doubting Thomases of our time, demanding proof before we can believe? In what ways are we rejecting essential or fruitful teachings, doctrines, or moral standards, simply because we aren’t personally convinced that Scripture explicitly, in black and white (or red, for you red-text readers), advocates for it? Are we witholding ourselves from the grace of Christ because we do not believe, because we have not seen?
In many ways, this need for proof before believing mirrors the broader struggle many of us face today. It’s natural to want certainty, to seek assurance before committing fully to something as immensely important as our faith. We live in an age where information is at our fingertips, where we can research and question anything—and that’s not inherently bad.
However, this constant quest for tangible evidence can sometimes hinder our ability to fully trust in the Lord and the wisdom that has been passed down through the ages.
This brings my reflection to a crucial point: while seeking truth and understanding is vital, there comes a time when we must recognize the limitations of our own understanding. Just as St. Thomas needed to see the wounds of Christ to believe, we might find ourselves needing more proof before we can fully embrace the fullness of the Christian faith, including essential doctrines and teachings of the Church.
What if, in our pursuit of certainty, we end up overlooking (or outright denying) what’s most spiritually nurturing, life-giving, and essential? In fact, overlooking the depth of wisdom that we have access to right now? The wisdom that has been guiding believers for over two thousand years—and still does to this day?
I recognize that the Church’s two-thousand plus years of (timeless) wisdom will far outmatch my twenty-nine years of life experience any day of the week, and will continue doing so until I’m cold in the ground. There may be theological concepts that I don’t fully grasp at first, but I trust that, through a lifelong commitment to catechesis, I will come to understand the fullness of truth. As much truth as the Lord wills me to understand.
This is why I feel so blessed to have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Church. I’m confident that, together, both will help me fill the gaps, providing me the necessary structure to guide me through this life with faith, hope, and charity.
Imagine how our lives could change if we instead approached faith with the trust and humility of a child—committing to the Lord first, open to His teaching and providence? How much could our lives be openned up to the fullness of Christian life, when we actively participate with the His grace without the prerequisit of tangible proof? I firmly believe that when we do, everything else falls into place.