Questions, questions, questions!!!
How many times have you heard someone ask a question about faith, God or the Bible, that you just didn't know how to answer? How many times have you had difficult questions yourself? It can be really challenging, can't it?
Questions like:
- Does God really care?
- Is God really there?
- Why does the Bible [seem to] contradict itself?
- How do we know the Bible is true?
- How can we find comfort in heaven, knowing that there are family members [and friends] burning in hell? (I was asked this specific question only yesterday)
- Hasn't science disproven God and the Bible?
- How does faith work in my everyday life?
The more I seek to follow Jesus in this life and talk to others at various stages of their own faith journey, and the more I see the current social and cultural climate in which we live, the more I'm convinced that we need to give space for the difficult questions to be asked, and allow space for discussion.
Sometimes answers will come, but even when they don't, I think there is something special about really hearing, that can be helpful to those who are asking. It's not about having all the answers.
Just in the last two days, from two different people, I've been challenged with some really difficult questions, that have come from a place of genuinely wanting answers. I didn't have all the answers, and I think that they respected me more when I admitted that, and that they appreciated being in a space where they felt safe enough to ask, and it opened the way to talk about it.
There have been times in my life when I have loved hard questions, and sadly for me in those times, often my motivation was to show how much I knew, rather than caring enough about the person and their own faith struggles. Other times I've shied away from difficult questions out of fear of not being able to answer them. I can relate to both those extremes.
Many questions do have good answers and there are so many resources around that can help. However, there is also an increasing amount of information available that raises hard questions and presents an alternative, humanistic and naturalistic view.
It's no longer enough to simply say, "... because the Bible says so." It is definitely ok to say, "I don't know. Let me look into that," or "I'm not sure. Let's find out together."
What I'm seeing more and more is that there are so many people (and the number seems to be increasing) with real questions, that they really want answers to, or at least have the opportunity to ask and be heard, and have space to talk about these things.
Can we talk about this?
Do we really believe that God is big enough for all our questions and that His Bible will stand up to any scrutiny? Then can we be brave enough to intentionally give space to hear these questions, and hear the heart of these people who are hungry for something solid enough that it's not going to crumble underneath them if they stay aboard or get aboard?
Too many people are leaving faith behind and I wonder if there is more we can do to help them. Have you ever been through a time of doubt in your own faith? I know I have. Who or what helped you out? Maybe you still feel like you're in that space. Maybe you feel like you've come out the other side and lost faith in the process. Maybe you've come through with stronger faith. Wherever you find yourself, you are not alone. Questioning faith is a normal process that most (if not all) of us go through.
Can we talk about this?
Even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you will receive a blessing. Don’t let them frighten you. Don’t be intimidated, but exalt Him [Jesus] as Lord in your heart. Always be ready to offer a defense [give an answer], humbly and respectfully, when someone asks why you live in hope. Keep your conscience clear so that those who ridicule your good conduct in the Anointed and say bad things about you will be put to shame. (1 Peter 3:14-16, The Voice)
And even when you don't have an answer, "Be quick to listen, but slow to speak. And be slow to become angry" (James 1:19).
Yes, we can talk about this. And I think we should be speaking more openly about faith and how it works in our daily lives, and make time and space to listen to those around who have questions.
If you have questions, who is someone in your life that you can trust enough to talk to? Don't have anyone else? I'm a pretty good listener. Why not shoot me a message?
Let's keep asking questions and keep seeking answers. Let's keep being open to listen and learn and grow together, and help each other along in this journey.
Blessings,
Mike
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