If doubting Thomas was so loved that Christ revealed himself to him, why don't I get the same level of proof?

Question

Am I not loved?

I'm not talking of touching wounds, but a guy in robes saying, "I'm real," would be appreciated.

Thank you for assuming you know me.:rolleyes:

For those that seriously answered, I'll read the replies, because I seriously want to know.

BTW, I don't have any beliefs. I'm asking for an appeal to reason not faith because I have seen faith abused. (So have most of you. It's called Santa Claus.)

BTW, God does not only love those with Flash Player 6.0 or higher.:)

Answer 1

Perhaps He hesitates to do it for you because He knows He'd be giving you the shock of your life.

Answer 2

You might enjoy Christianity for Modern Pagans: Pascal's Pensees, by Peter Kreeft (cited below).

In the meantime, you may consider my (perhaps unsatisfying but true) answer:

Who are you to _demand_ proof from God (I say this with a gentle tone of voice)? God doesn't want to force to you believe. He offers you the freedom to believe. He totally respects your will. If the witness of 2000 yrs by His Church is not enough to convince you, then I doubt an apparition would be of much help. In any case, God knows what's best, so you can be pretty sure an apparition isn't the best thing for you. Most Christians have come to believe without extraordinary intervention as it is, so it's definitely possible.

If you're interested in finding answers, you've got to pull your fair share. Do some research. Read. Look to the witness of the Saints, Martyrs, holy authors, apologists, family, and friends. God tends to use others as His instruments. Maybe He's been trying to tell you something, but you're looking in all the wrong places.

Answer 3

John 20:29

Answer 4

That's sort of the problem in Christianity. We read about really amazingly good people ... and we read about really doubtful people who do things wrong. Both end up chillin' with Jesus. The people in the middle, who are not saintly but don't do any horrible deeds, just get shafted.

At least that's how it seems in my mind. Really, though? I feel we'll each see God when we are meant to. Maybe the path we're on now is hard, but I think it's supposed to be hard. I just hope it'll teach us something.

Answer 5

Do you really think that if "Jesus" came down and said hey I am here do you really think people would believe him He would be on the six o'clock news with a head line such as this " I am here with a man who suppositly calls himself Jesus...do you have any proof af this?" This is why he is a sprit and he came to earth once to save us from sin. But I promise you will all my heart and I am not trying to push my religion on you or make you get saved because that is a choice that you have to make, that if you get by yourself sitting, standing, knelling, laying down does not matter but get to yourself and just start talking to him. Tell him your hearts desire how you feel ask him to show himself to you and he will put you have to be sincere in your request. You will not see him, but you will feel him. It is a feeling that is evident you can not mistake it for anything else you will know. You get the peace that passes all understanding. I mean I can't even explain it. It is just this great feeling. I hope that this helps and I hope that you will be able to feel his sprit. "Thomas"

Answer 6

You missed the main lesson of this episode:

"Blessed are your eyes, for you have seen me, but even more blessed are those who haven't seen me and believe anyway."

The blessing he's talking about is depth of belief, and you have the opportunity to rationalize your own life and beliefs and arrive at your own conclusion. When you're beliefs are based on the real world that you see, you have a strength of confidence that you can get no other way.

Many of us have done this, reached out to God and spoken to him, and with an open mind we waited and heard his voice. Our experience IS the proof you're looking for, whether you know it or not, and it might actually take a life time for you to see it. Many of us take many years to come around, but we all have the same thing in common; we came around in our own time and in our own way.

Answer 7

Jesus hadn't acsended into heaven yet. He revealed Himself to all the believers before he was ascended because these were the foundation stones, the ones who were going to start His church and build it. They needed to witness these things to understand it all. We have their testamony and the testamony of other Christians today. And if that's not enough, do what I did and say in your heart, "God if you're real show me," and He will. God bless.

Answer 8

You get something even better than he got -- after Christ left the world he sent the Holy Spirit. Give the book of Acts a read and you will understand.

Answer 9

Maybe you answered your own question by saying "a guy in robes". God is interested in humility and sincerity. Being sarcastic doesn't invite the Lord into any ones presence.

Answer 10

Did you not read the next verse that jesus spoke to Thomas?

:
John 20:29
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed

At times He does reveal Himself to people, but He shows who has the greatest faith.

Answer 11

Here's the difference. When Thomas touched the wounds, he believed.

You could have watched him rising from the tomb, but you'd still deny the truth!