The Jesus I Know and Love
I've finally learned that I can ask questions about the faith journey.
Barna Research Group found that 80% of believers [followers of the Jesus Way] have unresolved questions. And of this 80%, 50% of them have had them for prolonged periods of time.” We have to have questions about the hope that is within us. Disciples [followers of the Jesus Way] are going to have those questions because they are trying to understand.”
—Ben Shaw, PhD, Author of Trustworthy: Thirteen Arguments for the Reliability of the New Testament
Unresolved Questions
I’m a questioner.
My massage therapist affirms. This past week, she said, “You need to understand everything, don’t you?” with a little chuckle and frustration.
“Oh, I do,” I smiled. “I’ll try to receive this healing touch and stop asking questions.”
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been curious.
And for as long as I can remember, that wasn’t always a good quality.
In my parochial elementary school, the nuns silenced many of my questions.
In my transition from Catholicism to Protestantism, I thought I’d find more receptivity to my questions.
Some pastors and leadership accommodated my curiosity, but when and if I disagreed, I heard phrases like:
“Scripture says, ‘Do not touch God’s anointed’” (Psalm 105:15).
“God will take His hand off your life if you don’t listen to my counsel.”
“You are not a scholar so what makes you think you can teach on the book of Ezekiel?”
“You are overparenting. You need to stop homeschooling—your children have a great foundation—I need you as my children’s pastor.”
Seriously, I couldn’t make these things up.
When I remember these “phrases” or “comments,” I shake my head in disbelief and deep distress.
“Why would I let myself be in these position?” I ask.
Delayed Victory
If we learn from the experience, there is no failure, only delayed victory.
—Carrie Chapman Catt
I love the idea of seeing failure as “delayed victory.”1
It softens the judgement and shame I often project onto myself.
I can be so hard on myself.
But Carrie Chapman Catt’s thought softens the blow of perfectionism.
As long as we learn from our experiences, we can move forward into future freedom.
980 Questions
Yet in the age of secular counseling, and now question-centered therapy, inspired questions have largely been set aside. Even though they are among the most effective and time-tested ways to help us diagnose our spiritual condition, strengthen our walks with God, and foster our journey with others, many Christians don’t understand what they mean for our spiritual growth. Maybe now is the time to notice and note the question-driven nature of the Bible. Perhaps we should start allowing God to lead us in the question asking.
—Brian J. Wright
In this week’s podcast episode with Dr. Ben Shaw, author of “Trustworthy,”2 I remembered why I love and follow Jesus.
Jesus asked questions and encouraged “inspired” questioning.
In “What Would Jesus Ask,”3 Brian J. Wright proffers the idea of asking “inspired questions.” He feels inspired questions have been set aside.
He writes, “A substantial portion of our Bible is questions, and asking questions was a primary teaching method of Jesus. To put this in perspective, the Book of Proverbs has approximately 930 sayings, while the New Testament alone contains about 980 questions. That means, you could ask yourself a new question from Scripture every day for the next two and a half years and never see the exact same one—even if you limited yourself to just the questions in the New Testament.”4
He goes as far to say, “Change your questions, change your spiritual life.”5
This Week’s Question(s)
After listening to the conversation I had with Dr. Ben Shaw, did any “inspired questions” rise up in your heart?
One specific question rose in my heart, today.
During a surprising hospital visit with my husband, I found myself in the hospital chapel.
I love hospital chapels.
Lord knows I’ve been in MANY of them over the years. They’ve served as a place and space of solace when the world whirls unexpectedly.
I asked God, “What am I missing, Lord?”
And then, “Am I focusing on the wrong things?”
Immediately, I heard a whisper: Psalm 61.6
Verses 2-3 stood out:
“You are the One I will call when pushed to the edge,
when my heart is faint.
Shoulder me to the rock above me.
3 For You are my protection,
an impenetrable fortress from my enemies.”
This is why I love my Jesus.
He is always the silent guest sitting next to me.
I can count on His presence.
No matter how overwhelmed, discouraged, even despressed that I am,
He shows up.
Your Turn
Okay, I’ve shared my heart.
Will you share yours?
Did an inspired question rise in your heart after listening to this week’s episode or perhaps after reading today’s heartlift?
I can’t wait to hear.
https://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/carrie-chapman-catt
https://www.ivpress.com/trustworthy
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2019/11/what-would-jesus-ask-inspired-questions/
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2019/11/what-would-jesus-ask-inspired-questions/
Ibid.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2061&version=VOICE