What’s in a Question?

When was the last time someone asked you a question that made you think?

For me, it was not long ago when I had the opportunity to talk with an older believer about some topics on my mind. After peppering him with questions about spiritual life and growth and listening to his answers, I explained that I’m constantly digging deeper. One of my favorite questions to ask is “What does that really mean?” I shared that recently I began corresponding with a friend I’m getting to know better, and in my first email I told her that I love discussing in-depth topics. I will ask pretty much any question short of “What is the meaning of life?” I enjoy talking about fun things too sometimes, but I’m not likely to start those kinds of conversations. 

“Why do you think that is?” he asked me.

It was a good question. I hadn’t thought about it much, but it didn’t take me long to formulate an answer. I believe that there are a multitude of things that matter so much more than the majority of topics that occupy our conversations. (I’m not talking about essential things; I’m talking about trivial things that can become all-consuming if we let them.)

Questions related to what loving God and living our faith looks like fascinate me. If faith is the most important thing in our lives (as I believe it should be), then we should take it seriously and want to learn as much about it as we can—not primarily so that we have a vast storehouse of spiritual knowledge, but so that we can live as the Lord wants us to.

As 2 Peter 1:3–8 (ESV) tells us, “[God’s] divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We see in this passage that knowledge is not an end in itself; it’s only one step along the path to godliness. But it’s an important step that we all must take.

Over the past several months or so, I’ve grown even more curious in this relentless pursuit of understanding the deeper meaning of life in general and faith in particular, especially in the context of community. There’s so much to be explored, and I wonder if sometimes we find it easier to leave the depths at rest rather than dive in and discover what treasures are to be found.

Why is that, I wonder?

facing our fear

The main reason, I believe, is fear. We’re afraid to ask questions because we think they’ll cause us to doubt and sink into disbelief—which isn’t unfounded. Sometimes questions do that.

Is it really the questions that are the problem, though? Maybe it’s not the questions themselves as it is what they reveal about the state of someone’s heart. 

I think a deeper understanding of where someone’s questions are coming from can help our perspective. There are at least two different ways to bring questions: as a cynic who’s looking for reasons to turn away, or like a child who’s wanting to come closer. The second wants to learn; the first wants to criticize. The difference marks the line between healthy doubt and deathly disbelief. 

There’s another kind of fear that holds us back from asking questions: fear of what others will think. If you ask too many questions, people might start getting concerned. They might wonder if you’re thinking about leaving the faith. And maybe you are. But maybe you’re not. Maybe you’re seeking to understand or trying to learn more so that you can help someone else—or maybe you’re asking questions for an altogether different reason. How do they know? How can anyone other than the Lord see the motives of someone else’s heart? 

I wonder if it’s so much that people are afraid of your questions or that they’re afraid of their own. Are they frightened for you, or do your questions scare them because they’re eerily similar to things they’ve always wondered but never dared to speak? A faith that can’t withstand questioning is a faith too weak to stand. 

the art of asking

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

— Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)

I think the value of asking sincere questions has been downplayed to our detriment. Let’s start using the currency of curiosity more often. Let’s not be afraid to ask searching questions in pursuit of satisfying answers, trusting God to lead us toward a deeper knowledge of the truth as we seek to grow in godliness.

What’s one thought-provoking question you could ask today?