QUESTIONS

A famous proverb says, "Whoever asks a question may appear to be a fool for the moment, but whoever fails to consistently ask questions will remain a fool for life." How can we obey God if we do not even know what He wants from us and where He is leading us? Growing up, I recall always being told to ask questions. When I would apologize for asking, I would hear my teacher say “never be sorry for asking…that is the way we learn.” No matter what you want to do or learn, you must ask questions if you wish to be successful. It is true that there are no stupid questions! A question is just a question. It is a probing for clarification. We must all continue to ask God questions. If we are going to obey God’s Word, we must continually ask Him questions.

As a youth minister, I used to hear from concerned parents from time to time about the questions their children were asking. Many times they are curious where they received these questions or why they are asking them. My response was simple: "they want to learn." Questioning is a healthy exercise when we want to follow a teaching or way of life. How are we to follow what we don’t understand? Jesus was found as a boy in the temple asking questions to the elders who sat with him. The questions and understanding Jesus had amazed all who heard. We too must ask questions!

If you walk through life and never ask a question or question yourself, you are not walking wisely. If you rebuke those who question parts of the Bible, their faith, or God, you are hindering their growth. It is natural to be afraid of the questions your teenage may ask about God. It is natural to be afraid of the questions you may find yourself asking. But remember, your teenager and you as an individual are growing through these questions. Jesus asked over 300 questions in the four gospels. Countless stories in both the New and Old Testaments revolve around those who have questioned circumstances or even God. If we suppress our questions or the questions of others, it is as if we don’t believe God can answer them for Himself.

I pray that you never stop asking questions. When an individual stops asking questions, they stop learning. When a child stops asking questions, they cease to understand. When the body of Christ becomes content and stops exploring questions, it dies and strays from the Bible! What good questions have you asked lately?