For some reason there is a fear in our culture to admit we don’t have the answers and even go a step further to ask questions. The place we see this the most and where we should see it the least is when it comes to our faith and church. Recently I have heard several stories of people and their questions. Some were afraid to ask and never got answers to their questions and some asked their questions only to be ridiculed and were affected by that experience for many years.
Recently I came across a quote that really resonated with me when it comes to the importance of asking questions and being willing to invite questions from others. Rachel Evans said, “Most people I’ve encountered are looking not for a religion to answer all their questions but for a community of faith in which they can feel safe asking them.”
When it comes to questions there is the fear to ask them. There are so many people that have been afraid to ask their questions. The result is they wander through life with their doubts, fears, worries, or whatever else gave rise to their questions. And, if the questions are not asked, they stay in that cycle of defeat and discouragement caused by the source of their questions. When it comes to our questions we have to know that the only bad question is the one that is unasked. If we don’t ask, how can we ever find a solution to what we are dealing with? Unless we are willing to ask our questions we will never get the answer and the solution we are looking for.
Another thing to consider when it comes to our questions is that while the only wrong question is the one not asked, we must be careful to seek out wise counsel and not just someone’s opinion. Years ago, actually in 1970, in a Dear Abby column it was said that while there is no such thing as a stupid question, there can be stupid answers. It has been phrased this way, “There is no such thing as a stupid question if it's sincere. Better to ask and risk appearing stupid than to continue on your ignorant way and make a stupid mistake.”
Also, when it comes to our questions we have to know that there is no such thing as a stupid question. This is so true. The actual quote came from Carl Sagan. He said, “There are naïve questions, tedious questions, ill-phrased questions, questions put after inadequate self-criticism. But every question is a cry to understand the world. There is no such thing as a dumb question.” We have to be willing to let go of the idea that asking a question shows how much we don’t know. Rather, our thoughts need to shift to the fact that asking questions is simply a cry to understand what we really don’t know or what we are wrestling with. Questions are just a simplistic way to get clarity.
Another very important thing to remember about our questions is the actual question mark at the end. That question mark is a symbol for seeking clarity, instruction, direction, and wisdom. It is a symbol of us simply asking for help to understand. Asking our questions is the quest for knowledge that sometimes includes failure. And just because one person may know less than others, they should not be afraid to ask rather than pretend they already know. In many cases, multiple people may not know, but are too afraid to ask their questions. So, the one who asks the questions may in fact be doing a service to those around them.
Jesus is our model and example for everything in life which includes our questions. So, to put this and all other things into perspective we must look at Jesus. When it comes to questions, Jesus asked a lot of questions in his time on earth. By one estimate, he asked a total of 307 questions throughout the gospels. These are just the questions Jesus asked that were recorded and likely that number was much higher. Jesus, who quite literally had all the knowledge in the world chose to give very few answers. You would think he would just go around sharing all his knowledge and answering all the questions people asked him. But that’s not what we see in the gospels.
Don’t get me wrong, people tried to ask him questions all the time, but he rarely answered them and instead responded with a question of his own. Think about this for a minute. Jesus, God in flesh, more often than not, asked questions and avoided giving answers. He asked questions of the ones who asked him questions. Jesus really didn’t answer many questions. There are only eight recorded answers that Jesus gave to the questions he was asked.
Maybe Jesus knows something we don’t. You see, I think Jesus knows that those answers we seek won’t give us what we hope for. So, instead he gives us questions which cause us to think, to dig into our lives, and to see what is ultimately important. In that respect, questions are greater than answers.
One of Jesus’ most famous questions was, “Who are you looking for?” He asked this of his disciples as they were considering following him. He asked this of Mary Magdalene at the tomb. Another famous question Jesus asked was, “Who do people say that I am?” He posed this question to the disciples to help them understand he was the Messiah, the Son of God, God in the flesh. What an interesting question for Jesus to ask.
It’s not that Jesus was really curious about what people thought of him. After all, he already knew their thoughts. Jesus is after something else. Jesus is using this question to point his followers to where their identity lies. These questions Jesus asked were directed at helping his followers to see who he really was and the implications that held for them.
Rather than just telling them who he was and what to believe, Jesus used a question to help them truly understand who he was. When we are told a fact, it’s not really ours. But when we have to stop and process something, it becomes part of who we are. That’s exactly what Jesus is doing. He is causing his followers to pause and contemplate who he really is. Rather than just repeating information, it becomes a conviction and a part of who we are.
So, don’t ever be afraid, embarrassed, or ashamed to ask your questions. That is the only way to truly comprehend and understand what it is that you are processing. And, always be inviting of others’ questions to assist them in their search for answers.