Doubting Thomas or Questioning Thomas?

An edited version of the sermon preached for the Patronal Festival of St Thomas' Church, Rondebosch.

May I speak in the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

Today we have the opportunity to honour St Thomas with proper attention. St Thomas really is a fascinating character. It is only recently that I have come to appreciate how much we have to learn from him, in the twenty-first century.

‘Doubting Thomas’ we call him – because of the of the account we heard of his response to the other disciples’ report that they had seen the risen Jesus – the Jesus who most certainly had been crucified, dead and buried. And yes, he had his doubts, because, as we know, resurrection is impossible.

But I think that labelling him ‘doubting Thomas’ is giving him an unfair press. I think we should rather call him ‘questioning Thomas’, and see him as a good role model for ourselves, and an encouragement not to shy away from difficult issues. And as such, he is certainly someone whose example we need to take very seriously in our contemporary, multifaith, pluralist, and often very secular world.

Let me explain. Thomas is mentioned in all three of the synoptic gospels – Matthew, Mark and Luke – among the twelve appointed by Jesus to be his apostles. Those gospels do not mention him again. But in St John’s gospel, there are three different occasions when Thomas is mentioned. And his presence makes a significant contribution to our understanding of who Jesus is, and what was to happen to him.

The first occasion is in Chapter 11. Jesus had been hounded out of Jerusalem, and crossed the Jordan. News arrives from Mary and Martha in Bethany that Lazarus is ill. Jesus says to the disciples ‘Let us return to Judea’ – that is, to Bethany and the immediate vicinity of Jerusalem. The disciples, unsurprisingly, respond ‘Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and you are going there again?’ But Jesus insists, and speaks of Lazarus being woken from sleep – then refers explicitly to Lazarus’ death. ‘Let us go to him’ says Jesus – and it is Thomas who responds ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’

This is not the stance of a man who has fragile faith, or wavering loyalty. This is someone who has clearly read the signs of the times. He knows that if Jesus returns to Jerusalem, the odds are that he will be killed – and his followers risk the same fate. But such is his devotion to Jesus that he is prepared to go too; and encourages his colleagues to do the same.

He has made a level-headed judgement about what is at stake – his life indeed – and fully aware, fully knowing, he makes his wholehearted commitment to keep following Jesus. Well, that is certainly something where we can learn from Thomas, and follow his example.

Our second encounter with Thomas is in Chapter 14 of St John’s Gospel, at the Last Supper. Jesus has washed the disciples’ feet, and called on them to serve one another in the same way. After Judas’ departure, Jesus begins to tell them that he will shortly leave them, and they cannot follow. Then come those famous words that we so often hear read at funerals:

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going (Jn 14:1-4)

Now, in the previous verses, Simon Peter had already asked Jesus where he was going – and I doubt this explanation left him any much clearer. But it is Thomas who dares to ask the question that I am sure was on the mind of all the disciples. ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ And he receives that marvellous response ‘I am the way, and the truth and the life.’

What I particularly like about Thomas is his honesty. He was honest and level-headed as he judged the risks of returning to Jerusalem. And he spoke about them starkly, not glossing over them. Now he is honest in speaking up when he does not understand. He is not afraid to face the issue head on, and ask questions about it: ‘What is going on here? What are you saying, Lord? How am I to understand you?’

If he had never dared to ask the question, I wonder whether Jesus would ever have uttered those words – I am the way, the truth and the life – which have been a source of comfort, strength, guidance, to so many of us over the centuries since? So, we must say Thank You to Thomas, for daring to seek this clarification on behalf of the rest of the disciples, on behalf of all the followers of Jesus of subsequent centuries.

It is his preparedness to be blunt in this way that earns him his unfair nickname of Doubting Thomas through his third appearance in St John’s Gospel – our reading this morning. We do not know why Thomas was not with the rest of the disciples on that first Easter Sunday evening. Gallons of ink have been spilled speculating that it was some lack of solidarity and commitment on his part – though that doesn’t seem to fit with the Thomas of whom we read in Chapter 11. Perhaps he was the only one brave enough to go outside, to balance the risks, and judge that he could handle it, while the rest hid together behind locked doors, ‘for fear of the Jews’.

I doubt we will ever know the reason. But, as so often happens, if we are prepared to let it, God uses the little circumstances of life as opportunities to reveal the truths we need to know. And so, luckily for us, if not for him, Thomas was not there when Jesus appeared to the disciples, saying ‘Peace be with you’ and showing them his hands and his side. The disciples then tell Thomas that they have seen the risen Lord. And he asks the question that people have asked in every generation since – whether openly or in their hearts.

He asks the question to which we all need a good answer. ‘How do you know that you saw the risen Lord? How do you know it was not a ghost, not an illusion, not a corporate delusion that you cooked up together in your highly emotional state?’ Like any of us today, when we hear an unlikely story, he wants proof; he wants irrefutable physical evidence. Is that so bad?

St Paul warns Christians against being gullible, or misled, by false teachings or claims that Jesus has returned here or there. We are to test the spirits – not everyone who claims to speak in the name of the Lord is accurately doing so. Thomas certainly was not gullible – and therefore, he is our man, whenever we have doubts about the resurrection. He is the forensic expert who gives the measured testimony, that we trust because we know he is not a man to be fooled – he has the living encounter with the living Lord.

And he finds that he is overwhelmed by the experience – the mere presence of Jesus is more than enough, without him needing actually to feel, to touch, for himself. He can see with his own eyes – the physical truth is right before him, and so is the more profound spiritual truth to which it points. ‘My Lord and my God!’ And we are blessed, though we have not seen, because we can trust in the testimony of Thomas, who was there for us, asking the difficult, but necessary, questions.

Thomas is a wonderful saint for the church in our time – a time of much scepticism, but also of many genuine questions about what it is to be a person of faith today. Contemporary society raises lots of questions for us, and it would be dishonest to pretend it is not so. It is also dishonest – intellectually dishonest, emotionally dishonest – if we deny that within ourselves we also often have questions.

One of the great strengths of the Anglican faith is that it tells us we must look to Scripture, but interpret it guided by reason and tradition. This means we do not take refuge in simplistic application of Scripture, as if it were to be understood literally at all points, and that to ask questions is to have a lack of faith. But it does not mean that we toss the Bible aside if we cannot find an immediate clear response to the situations that face us. No, God gave us the Bible, and he also gave us brains, and he expects us to use them! More than this, he also promises to help us use them better.

For example, St Paul says in his letter to the Romans, ‘Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God’ (Rom 12:2). And St James assures us, ‘If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given to you’ (Jas 1:5). And of course, Jesus himself promised us that ‘When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth’ (Jn 16:13).

This is how we are to read scripture, and wrestle with faith, with the greatest possible integrity that we can muster. We read Scripture asking, ‘What do we learn here about God, about his dealings with the world, about the principles of Christian life?’ And then we can grapple honestly, seriously, with matters that are not directly addressed within the Bible – questions raised by modern technology; medical ethics; business practices; political policy-making; xenophobia …

We may be faced with other, more personal challenges – not least the difficult questions about why some people suffer so much; why there is such injustice and inequality in society; and why life doesn’t always come easy to good people.

The glib answers that some people give often fail to provide an adequate response to meet the deep concerns that people have in these areas. Let us face the hard questions honestly. It is through not being afraid to ask difficult questions that the Church came to realise that slavery was wrong; and to understand that the Bible has far more to say about the equal place of women alongside men within the body of Christ than a superficial reading might suggest.

Both St Paul and the writer of the letter to the Hebrews speak of the need for Christians to grow beyond ‘spiritual milk’ and move on to ‘solid food’ (1 Cor 3:2, Heb 5:13,14). Milk is something we swallow whole – solid food requires chewing. St Thomas encourages us not to be afraid of chewing on all that the Bible has to say for us; on all that Christian tradition over two thousand years has to offer us; on all the questions and the insights and the challenges that the world today has to put before us.

We do not have to protect God from difficult questions, by denying their existence, by saying that all doubt is wrong. No, asking honest questions is the sort of doubt, doubting with integrity, which the Church needs; and which every Christian needs if we are to mature in faith.

So let us do as Thomas did, and bring to Jesus the difficult questions, the things that trouble us, the areas where we know our understanding is lacking. Then, like Thomas, we will find that he is the one who truly is the ‘the Way, the Truth and the Life’. And we shall come to know for ourselves the fulness of Jesus promise, ‘you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free’ (Jn 8:32). And, like Thomas, we can bow before him, knowing that in every area of our life, no matter what our questions, our doubts, our fears, Jesus truly is, ‘Our Lord, and our God’. Amen

Current Social Unrest: Statement from the Western Cape Religious Leaders Forum

This statement was issued on 14 July 2010

Statement from the Western Cape Religious Leaders Forum on Current Social Unrest

The Western Cape Religious Leaders Forum (WCRLF), under the chairmanship of the Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, convened a special Consultative Forum on 13 July 2010, following its annual general meeting, to consider current incidents of social unrest against the background of the widespread positive atmosphere experienced throughout the 2010 World Cup.

There can be no doubt that South Africans are at heart an Ubuntu people. The experience of the last month has shown the genuine warm hospitality and generous spirit with which we have welcomed visitors from around the world to our country and our continent.

We therefore have been hearing with dismay the reports of threats against fellow Africans living among us with whom we have been standing shoulder to shoulder in our support of the World Cup. We roundly condemn the violence which is now being directed towards them, and the opportunist criminal acts that are taking advantage of the fears and tensions that are being raised. We particularly denounce the way that criminals often use children to carry out their purposes, so as to avoid the direct legal consequences of their malicious intentions.

We therefore urge the SAPS, who have done such a marvellous job in upholding law and order during the Tournament, to work with local communities in isolating those who are responsible and bringing them to full justice. In the same way, we call on other government departments, who offered such a first class service to our World Cup visitors, to provide the same level of treatment to all foreign visitors, workers and residents. We seek this especially for those who are being traumatised and violated by the current threats and acts of social unrest. We trust that stories of maltreatment and poor service from government officials will become entirely a thing of the past.

As leaders of the faith sector of the Western Cape, we have had the privilege and pleasure of working together over many years to promote better inter-religious understanding, and to foster peace and harmony within and among our communities – welcoming all who live among us, whatever their background, their nationality, their creed. We therefore strongly urge all people of faith not only to stand up and speak out for the well-being of all who live within the Western Cape, without distinction, and to monitor and swiftly report any incidents or threats of violence to the police.

Where, tragically, violence does occur, we call on all religious communities to render humanitarian services. We underline our insistence that this should be unconditionally given, regardless of the faith of those assisted, and without any expectation of religious or other commitments being made in response to the help received.

Finally, we affirm our readiness at all times to respond to humanitarian needs, wherever they present themselves, and note the ongoing assistance and development programmes that so many of us run on an ongoing basis within the neediest communities of the Western Cape. Yet bearing in mind the particular needs of the present time, we announce that the WCRLF has today established a Faith Sector Task Team which will monitor developments, and coordinate appropriate responses, as necessary.

Issued on 14 July 2010 by the Office of the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town and the WCRLF. For further information contact Elizabeth Petersen, Consultant, WCRLF, Tel: 021 462 2277; Cell: 082 4755116; Email: wcrlf@iafrica.com

To the Laos - To The People of God, July 2010

Dear People of God

Well, the World Cup is finally over! Spain has won, in a thrilling final, and the celebrations will, I am sure, continue for a long time.

We also have cause for continuing celebration. The first tournament on African soil was a resounding success, from almost every perspective, even if Bafana Bafana, and then the Black Stars of Ghana, did not progress as far as we had hoped. It was the a vivid affirmation of all that is best in our societies – people of every background uniting in love of the ‘beautiful game’; and proof, if it be needed, that with focus, commitment, hard work and perseverance, we can achieve whatever we set our hearts and minds to do!

So let me encourage you, especially if you feel a little ‘down’ that it is over, to spend a few moments reflecting on all that you found best in the tournament – and thank God. St Paul says ‘whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things’ (Phil 4:8). And so we should, whether because we overcame all the sceptics’ predictions and so have given a huge boost to potential increases in tourism and investment and economic upliftment; or because crime fell; or because for those of us in South Africa in particular there truly was a glorious sense of the whole nation coming together. We can sustain and build on all these to develop healthy societies for all our people. (I commend the Keep Flying the Flag campaign, as a visible sign of holding on to all we have achieved. See www.keepflying.co.za.)

There is also a challenge here – particularly to politicians and government services. If South Africa can deliver on the World Cup, the largest sporting event apart from the Olympics (and we may be bidding for that, next!), then really, any government ought to be able to deliver on health, education, housing, water and sanitation, and the other needs of its people. All it takes is focus, commitment, hard work and perseverance. Of course, we know that there are steep, high, mountains to climb in some sectors – but we should all be optimistic, because we now know what can be done, if we truly want to do it, and keep working at it.

Did you know that Danny Jordaan and his team first began planning for South Africa to bid for the World Cup 16 years ago, in 1994? I mention this, because we can be encouraged to think big, and think long term, in our planning. This is of course what we are doing in our ‘Vision 2020’ process at Provincial Synod at the end of September. Do keep our Synod preparations in your prayers.

But I also want individuals – young people in particular – to dare to think big, and think long term. Especially dare to think ‘on your knees’, asking God how he wants you to use your life so you can make the biggest possible God-shaped difference in the world! Helping build God’s kingdom, pursuing a life of eternal significance, is a far more profound measure of success than seeking money or status. Not everyone can be rich or famous, but everyone can become God’s valuable instrument. For some this may mean becoming teachers, nurses, doctors; or upholding the highest ethical values in some commercial walk of life. If you marry and have children, it certainly means being the best spouse, the best parent, you can be. And for some it will mean saying ‘Yes’ to God’s call to some form of full time Christian service – even the precious vocation of ordained ministry.

We should encourage all our young people to listen to God’s calling on their lives, and consider the possibility of ordination. This was one of the themes of the Anglican Students’ Fellowship Conference in Lesotho last month. It was my great joy to join them there. I’m also looking forward to the Annual Consultation of Diocesan Youth Councils in Swaziland in September. ‘Protection and Nurture of Children and Young People’ is one of the eight priority areas of our Vision, not only within the life of faith, but also through promoting their safety and well-being across wider society. We are also deliberately ensuring we take account of the perspective of young people in tackling our other priority areas, across everything from liturgical renewal to leadership development, health, and the environment.

The needs of young people have been in my mind in other ways recently. Last month I participated in the hand-over to the Governing Body and Department of Education of Mzamowethu pre-primary school, in Mzam’omhle township, which had been built with the support of St Martin’s in Gonubie. We congratulate the community on this achievement! And last week, I joined the launch of an initiative of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Nelson Mandela Institute, and Equal Education (of which I am a patron) to promote reading and fully functioning libraries in all the public schools of South Africa, as a tribute to Madiba on his birthday. I hope all your churches have received my message encouraging you to become collection points for books that can be donated to local schools. If you haven’t seen it, you will find it on my blog at http://archbishop.anglicanchurchsa.org/.

If you have internet access, you can follow my latest news by ‘subscribing’ at the bottom of the web page. Then you will get an email whenever anything is posted, to keep you up to date. You can see there that I have had a busy few months, even though I have tried to be on holiday during July! I was privileged to give an address at a UN Africa Consultation on the Status of Jerusalem earlier this month – and was able to speak up for our Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters, whose voice is so often unheard. Do keep them in mind, as you ‘pray for the peace of Jerusalem’ (Ps 122:6). Last month I addressed the annual USPG conference about ‘Mission Realities for Southern African Anglicans’ and spoke about how our hugely diverse Province holds together ‘in Christ’, finding our unity ‘at the foot of the cross’. Do pray that the Anglican Communion may hold fast to Jesus as Lord and Saviour, as the source of both unity and truth. You can read the full texts of my speeches on the blog or the ACSA website.

This month, please pray especially for the Diocese of Mbhashe that will be inaugurated on 16 July; and for Archdeacon Daniel Kgomosotho and his family, as he is consecrated the new Bishop of Mpumalanga, on 24 July.

Yours in the Service of Christ

+Thabo Cape Town

Human trafficking and the call for a new collective response

This statement was issued on 9 July 2010

Over the last few weeks, the world's attention has been focused on South Africa like never before as we hosted one of the world's biggest sporting events - the FIFA Football World Cup. However, this honour brings even greater challenges for us as a country, away from the glory of the soccer fields: the need to acknowledge and tackle the desperate problem of human trafficking.

As many visit our country from around the world to share in our wonderful natural attractions, rich cultures and traditions, there are also many who seek to take terrible advantage of this influx of tourists. The World Cup has provided opportunities for abusers, exploiters and traffickers to meet the perceived increased demand for cheap labour and sexual services. Inevitably, it is the most vulnerable in our society who suffer at their hands.

Human trafficking is modern day slavery, most commonly seen in the form of prostitution or sweat-shop labour. Those at most risk tend to be young girls or women who are tricked into enslaved prostitution by men who may initially pose as boyfriends or friends, to gain their confidence and trust. In reality they are pimps who isolate and control them. They may take away victims’ money and identity documents, keep them locked indoors, make them dependent for food and even drugs. They then force them, often through threats or actual violence to them or their families, to sell their bodies to clients on the street or work in unsafe or illegal sweat shops.

In South Africa, young girls are trafficked from one province to another, or from neighbouring countries, to work in brothels. But this problem is international. It is estimated that as many as 27 million people have been victims of human trafficking, with around 1 to 2 million people trafficked every year. Most victims are young girls between 5 to 15 years of age and half are African, though boys under 18 are also increasingly being lured into sexual exploitation. Crime syndicates target rural areas and informal settlements for vulnerable women, young people, and children, and transport them to urban centres. They are often enticed by the promise of jobs in offices, in modelling, or as domestic workers. Yet on arrival at their destination, the reality is very different.

Poverty is one of the biggest reasons why women, young people and children are at such a huge risk of being exploited and trafficked. The chance to make good, quick money and get a better life is understandably attractive. The breakdown of families, gender discrimination, HIV/AIDS, ignorance and demand also play a role in this tragic reality. This complex problem must be addressed collectively.

While no country has yet attained a truly comprehensive response to this massive, ever increasing, ever changing crime, the World Cup has brought a heightened awareness of what we face. We must now use the opportunity this provides to get to the root causes of human trafficking. To beat this terrible and destructive practice, we need to understand better the social and economic dynamics that create the markets that make human trafficking profitable. With the world's eyes still upon us, South Africa can take a lead in pressing for a comprehensive global response.

How do we find the solutions? We need a combination of international and regional government task forces working with local communities, NGOs and religious groups to put in place effective action plans. With every human trafficker identified and every successful prosecution, lessons should be learned and applied to ensure that others swiftly follow and that trafficking rings are broken. However, it is not enough simply to prosecute the traffickers. We also need to provide emotional and practical support to the victims and survivors.

Individuals need to become more aware of the reality of human trafficking in our country – to learn to identify the signs of trafficking, and to be conscious of this modern ‘slavery footprint’ just as we are of our carbon footprint. We also need to be proactive and support efforts to protect our most vulnerable citizens who may fall prey to traffickers. While we look to our police force to find and prosecute individuals and trafficking rings who inflict this worst kind of human suffering, individuals have the power to help prevent these crimes and protect those who are at most risk. We must also ensure the proposed Human Trafficking legislation for South Africa is passed as soon as possible, to assist law enforcement agencies as well as provide related services and support systems for victims.

We believe that all God’s children are created in the image of God and as such deserve the respect and dignity inherent in their creation. Our Constitution ‘enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom.’ Let us therefore all fight against those who would deprive others of what we should all rightly take for granted. Let us fight for a world without human trafficking. Let us make 2010 the year to remember, not just for the World Cup, but as the year that South African society stands united against the traffickers in our country, and makes a positive difference in safeguarding the lives of our most vulnerable people.