Appendix IV: St. Thomas an Example

“In a marvelous way God’s mercy arranged that the disbelieving disciple, in touching the wounds of his Master’s body, should heal our wounds of disbelief.” - St. Gregory the Great

“Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

GOD DOES NOT hide the fragility of humanity in the Holy Scriptures but rather shares it with us, showing that we all are of like passions. Whether we are like a prophet Elijah who despaired of life thinking God had forgotten him or a modern soul wondering if God is real or understands, we all err and doubt at times. St. Thomas gives us this sense of humanness in his doubting: “Unless I … put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Yet God allowed this to show His incarnational love for humanity. Nine days after the crucifixion, Christ invites Thomas to touch Him. Thomas touched the wounds of Christ, and discovered God.

This encounter with God changed everything for St. Thomas. What is little known for many modern believers is that this doubting Thomas became a radical missionary, bringing the Gospel ultimately to the most southern tip of India.

“It was to a land of dark people he was sent, to clothe them by Baptism in white robes. His grateful dawn dispelled India’s painful darkness. It was his mission to espouse India to the One Begotten. The merchant is blessed for having so great a treasure. Edessa thus became the blessed city by possessing the greatest pearl India could yield. Thomas works miracles in India, and at Edessa Thomas is destined to baptize peoples perverse and steeped in darkness, and that in the land of India.”

According to the Church historian Eusebius in A.D. 300 Thomas and Bartholomew were assigned to Parthia and India. Following apostolic teachings, St. Thomas converted and ordained elders and leaders in the seven Churches he planted.

St. Thomas was martyred by castration in A.D. 72 in India and finished his course and race well. Now we have a different story, not of a doubting Apostle but of an inspiring Apostle who finished well in his Christian journey, bringing many to the knowledge of Christ.

St. Thomas is this example for us of missionary zeal in reaching the lost. He is the example of not only serving the Lord but putting his hand to the plow and not turning back. Will we follow the example of one who, like us, doubts at times? Will we come to a place of crisis and encounter with God and allow Him to call us afresh to share His heart for lost humanity?

The Book of Acts Missions Model

The Book of Acts in the Holy Scriptures is also our missions model and example. The early believers displayed great love for the lost and willingness to sacrifice greatly to share Christ’s love for the multitudes. We see multiple accounts of martyrdom, believers and leaders being put in jails, angry mobs abusing believers, and many stories of opposition. Yet in the midst of these challenges the early believers were constrained to continue to share this Good News.

We recommend in general and to all adherents of St. Thomas Churches to read and re-read the book of Acts. It is recommended to read it even up to 10+ times in a year, allow this book to infuse you with the zeal and passion of missions. We are not called to have large churches, but every church needs to have a large vision. That larger vision is the entire world, to go and make disciples as our Lord commanded. Thus even a small gathering of a few believers in a home can end up having a significant impact for the kingdom of God. The Lord uses the weak and insignificant for His purposes. Consider St. Philip who was only ordained a Deacon but used of God to bring an entire city to the faith of Christ.

Fasting And Prayer For Missions

Jesus exhibited a life of prayer and fasting that was evident to His disciples. Fasting was a practice kept by Jewish believers and carried over into the early Christian assemblies. The Pharisee stated, “I fast twice a week.” Jesus did not correct such a practice but the way it was practiced, not to be boasted about or done before men. Early Christians moved the fast days to Wednesday and Friday. As the Didache says, “But you should fast on Wednesdays and Fridays.” The Apostolic Constitutions say, “On [Friday] because on that day the Lord suffered the death of the cross.”

“Fasting is, as much as lies in us, an imitation of the angels, a condemning of things present, a school of prayer, a nourishment of the soul, a bridle of the mouth.”

When we fast we neglect ourselves for the greater vision of God and His work in the earth. Praying for the lost and furtherance of the Gospel of Christ. St. Thomas Church recommends the fasting of Friday and at the very least of one of the hours of prayer during this day, potentially the 6th hour (noon). For at the 6th hour our Saviour was crucified. We can pray for the efficacy of His death for all Nations and peoples.

“Blessed Savior, at this hour You hung upon the Cross, stretching out Your loving arms: Grant that all the peoples of the earth may look to You and be saved; for Your tender mercies’ sake.”

“That all nations may come and worship You. Amen.”

Following in the Footsteps of Christ

You and I have, with Christ’s disciples, inherited the command of The Great Commission. Having made the Father known, taking on the form of a servant, obedient unto death on the Cross, and defeating death that we might live—He who is the Resurrection and the Life has given us the role of proclaiming His Good News.

We are told to live as Christ lived, so if we say we are Christians then we must walk as He walked. If anyone says they are a follower of Christ and does not obey Christ’s command to go or send, to rescue the perishing, then our words in worship are inadequate and incomplete. Just as He came and laid His life down, giving all in order that God’s plan might be accomplished, may we follow in His footsteps and willingly carry on the gospel work.

St. Thomas saw Christ, he followed His example ultimately and laid down his life for the spreading of the Gospel. When we see a vision of this and the precious “faith once delivered” we are to pass on, our zeal should choose to suffer for the sowing of these truths. Life will be soon closing for us all. What have we done for eternity?

Touching the Wounds of Christ

The key to understanding the true importance of missions and discipleship is to have a personal, intimate experience of Jesus Christ.

In our hurried lives and society, we seldom stop and look at Christ and pause long enough to truly touch Him. Thomas exclaims: “My Lord and my God!” Notice the possessive language it is not “the Lord” but “my Lord.” He came to understand that Christ’s death was for him.

In similar fashion Lutheran Nicolaus Zinzendorf in 1716 was visiting an art museum and, when viewing a portrait of Christ, had an overshadowing of the Holy Spirit and understanding of that Great love that captures men. There was an experience of the blood of Christ, that precious thing that redeems men. It so revolutionized Zinzendorf that his only passion left in life was to proclaim the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to those who never heard it. He planted hundreds of Church communities all over the globe and became one of the main inspirations for all modern-day mission movements.

The picture of Christ that Zinzendorf was struck by was called Ecce Homo, painted by Domencia Feti. Beneath the portrait were the words: “I have done this for you; what have you done for Me?” The response of Zinzendorf was: “I will do whatever He leads me to do.” Will you consider Christ today and look into His wounds? Will you see that Christ’s sufferings demand our all? A Lost unreached world is waiting.

Say these prayers aloud:

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you, bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

O God of all the nations of the earth: Remember the multitudes who have been created in your image but have not known the redeeming work of our Savior Jesus Christ; and grant that, by the prayers and labors of your holy Church, they may be brought to know and worship you as you have been revealed in your Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.