Jim Kenney
Doubt, Faith and Democracy
Posted on: 04/29/2011 13:52
My sermon for May 1
Judith heard about the Holy Spirit at Sunday School wondered how people could have beliefs about things they can't see. She asked her parents. They answered, "Some things you have to believe, even if you can't see them." That was not a good enough answer for Judith, so she asked Miss Zedekiah, the retired teacher down the street. Miss Zedekiah proceeded to show Judith a few things. She took a glass full of water, slid a piece of cardboard across the glass and tipped it upside down. She then asked Judith why the water didn't fall out. Judith said it was because of air pressure --she learned that in school. Miss Zedekiah then asked if she could see air pressure, and Judith said, "No."
Then she used a magnet to pick up a nail, and asked Judith why the nail was picked up. Judith said it was because of magnetism -- she learned about that in school too. Miss Zedekiah asked if she could see magnetism, and Judith said, "No."
Then Miss Zedekiah tied the magnet to a string and tied the string to a hook in the ceiling, stood to the side, held the magnet and let go. She asked Judith why the magnet didn't hit her in the face. Judith replied that it had something to do with energy. Miss Zedekiah asked if she could see the energy in the magnet, and Judith said, "No."
Then Miss Zedekiah asked Judith if her dog Benjamin loved her. Judith said, "Yes, of course." Could she see Benjamin's love? "No, but she knew Benjamin loved her by what he did. Miss Zedekiah said we had ways of measuring and showing invisible things like air pressure, magnetism, and energy with instruments. We can see things like love and hate by what people do, even though we have no ways of measuring them. We can feel them in our minds, but we cannot measure them. Not everyone feels the Holy Spirit, or at least knows that is what they are feeling, but we can see the effects of the Holy Spirit in different ways. When the disciples who seemed to be afraid of their own shadows became very brave, that is a sign. When people who seem trapped in bad behaviour or attitudes suddenly change that is another sign. We cannot prove the existence of the Holy Spirit, but it is not silly to have a belief in the Holy Spirit, just because we cannot see it..
Doubt and Faith
A couple started to be unsure about each other's faithfulness, and each hired a private investigator to watch the other person. She hired a male investigator who could blend into her husband's environment, and he hired a female investigator who could blend into her environment. After a week, they both got reports from the investigators about their spouse meeting with a stranger on a daily basis. It turned out the strangers were each other's investigators. When they realized what happened, they laughed and decided it was time for them to go on a holiday together. They realized their doubts happened because they were not spending enough time together, and were drifting apart.
I believe doubt is an essential part of the development of our faith. For some people, an important step may be to try atheism, to take a time when they reject everything they believe about God, before they can be ready to see God in a new way. I have learned that many atheists do not believe in the same God that I do not believe in -- they just have no idea about the God who is the foundation of my faith.
For many people, doubt is an important tool for refining their faith, for examining and changing things they used to believe that don't fit their experience. This helps people move from brittle faiths where if even one claim is threatened, their whole belief system can shatter. Doubt helps people move into resilient belief systems that can withstand the challenge of giving up particular claims. This is sort of like moving from cast iron to tempered steel.
When Jesus was crucified, a large piece of the belief system of the disciples was shattered. The resurrection provided a way to rebuild their belief systems to become much more resilient, the kind of resiliency that prepared them for risking their lives for the sake of their story about Jesus. Thomas was probably the bravest of the disciples: he was prepared to die with Jesus when they returned from Galilee to Judea. He was prepared to leave the safety of the Upper Room where the others hid. He was prepared to question the claims of the other disciples.
But not everyone needs to challenge their belief system. There are many people who luckily develop a belief system as they grow and mature that works for them, a belief system that is often gained through the stories and claims of our traditions. Happy are they indeed who can believe without seeing. Many of these people are the saints of our communities who quietly care for others, maintain the foundations of the community, and provide ongoing strength.
Each of us is on a personal journey of faith and we share parts of our journey with the people around us. Our journeys take us through many different kinds of places and activities.
Right now, many are preparing for voting tomorrow, a privilege that tens of thousands of people around the world consider so desirable they are risking their lives.
For members of the UnitedChurch, we are called to consider many factors in making our decisions. The issue of justice and healing for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples is high on our list. Stewardship of the land, water, and air is another important concern for us as God's children, and our call to care for the earth while we make our livings from it. Compassion for the people living in poverty or without homes is another concern. We are called to foster healing for those people struggling with illnesses of the mind, body and spirit. Over the centuries many of our ancestors faced persecution, imprisonment and execution for their beliefs. This history prompts us today to care for those in prison, and to support restorative justice, not vengeance.
Prisons are necessary for protecting society from people who present a danger to others, and are not suitable candidates for alternative measures. But are they appropriate places for the mentally ill and the mentally incompetent? Are they the best way to deal with people trapped by addictions? Most importantly, as stewards of this earth, are prisons the most financially responsible way of responding to many crimes?
How can we welcome refugees and immigrants from other countries while rejecting animosities and practices that are offensive to our Canadian values of equality and respect for all?
Do the policies and practices of potential MPs and their parties support or undermine our values of democracy, integrity, and respect for all persons?
As we consider how to vote tomorrow, and what we wish to communicate to the winners, may these and other issues frame a way to be most faithful to what we believe, and to our relationship with God and the Risen Jesus.
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