Have you ever noticed how often Jesus asked questions of people? Perhaps the most compelling question he asked was to his closest disciples when he queried, “Who do you say that I am?” Questions, at least in Jesus’ eyes, are an important way for us to develop our faith.
We seem to have trouble with that concept in the church today. We seem to be more about telling people things than asking God and one another things. I think we have missed the mark by a country mile with that blunder. We’ve left folks feeling like they shouldn’t ask questions in church or even of God. As a result, we’ve witnessed two possible results (there are probably more, but I only want to focus on two).
First, we see people who are willing to toe the line. They appreciate the “black and white,” “either/or” nature of religion. They learn what others say about faith and then repeat it back and pass it along. That’s fine as far as it goes, but if that is as far as it goes, there is very little maturing of the faith. It stays comfortable and simplistic.
Second, we see people whose questions burn within them so furiously that they cannot tamp them down. They may try to ask their questions in a church setting, but far too often they are silenced by the first sort of people. They are threatened with the fires of hell. They are told that their faith is weak and that they, too, just need to toe the line. These are the folks who are leaving the church in droves.
The thing is many of them haven’t rejected Jesus. They haven’t rejected God. They simply want to go deeper, and they are now seeking a community that wants to go deeper with them. And to go deeper, we must ask questions even as we are questioned by God.
- Who do I say Jesus is? (Matthew 16:15)
- What do I want Jesus to do for me? (Mark 10:51)?
- What do I still lack in my faith walk? (Matthew 19:20)
- What is written in the law and how do I interpret it? (Luke 10:26)
- What am I looking for? (John 1:38)
- Where is Jesus staying now, and am I willing to go there? (John 1:38-39)
These are just some of the possible questions we might ask. There are others related more to doctrine than to scripture, but they, too, are important.
- Why did Jesus die on the cross? Would a good God actually demand such a violent, cruel death? Are there other ways to understand Jesus’ death and resurrection?
- Are we to read all the Scriptures literally? What do we do with the passages that attribute genocide and war to God’s will?
- Is there a literal hell? Would God consign someone to an eternity of torment?
These are tough questions and we long for absolute answers. However, I don’t know that finding an absolute answer is as important as exploring the possible answers in the company of Christ who continues to walk alongside us just as he did with Peter, James, John, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and all the others. I wonder if that isn’t the point of it all – not to get answers but to walk with Christ in the grace of the questions.
The disciples came to understand more and more who Jesus was by spending time with him, observing him, and questioning him. He never turned away from their doubts or their misunderstandings. Yes, he got frustrated with them at times when they weren’t able to grasp certain ideas he was sharing with them, but he never gave up on them. I believe Christ continues to desire that sort of relationship with us today. Not a relationship full of answers, but one full of questions that keep us growing deeper and deeper in love with God. That sort of faith is much more challenging than the kind that simply toes the line. It is also much more gratifying and much more fruitful. I believe that the church would do well to be more welcoming of those who are asking questions and to do so without feeling the need to give them pat answers. I believe that’s grace.
Rev. Joyce Day
If you would like to view past editions of Grace for the Journey, follow this link: https://sounddistrictnc.org/category/grace-for-the-journey/