It's Okay to Ask Questions

“They found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers and asking them questions.”

Luke 2:46

When you are little asking questions is natural.  “Why is grass green? Why is it going to rain? What does the sun do when it’s raining? Why is that baby crying? Why is he tired? Why is it nighttime? Why is that lady mad?  Why?  Why?  Why?”  You are curious about everything. You are totally unafraid to ask any question.

That changes as we get older.  It becomes hard to ask questions.  Parents, teachers, Pastor and others have to repeat to us -  “It’s okay to ask questions?”  There is any number of reasons.  One is a fear that you are the only one who doesn’t know the answer to your question.  So if you ask everyone will wonder, “How could she not know that?”  Nothing could be further from the truth Almost always there are many who are afraid to ask the same question.  There is also the fear that our question might make others feel uncomfortable. A lot of times, people won’t ask someone who is grieving how they are doing.  Why?  Because they are afraid of making the other person cry.  Sometimes we just want to know the answer.  Have you known people who didn’t go to the Doctor because they were afraid of what might be wrong?  Sometimes we are afraid to ask questions because we think we are already supposed to know the answer.  We think everyone else knows the Bible so well and we don’t want anyone to think that we don’t.  Sometimes we don’t ask questions because we think that having doubts or questions is wrong.  We think that means our faith is weak.

That’s why I love the story of Jesus in the temple as a 12-year old boy.  Now remember that He is the Son of God.  He is the Almighty, all- knowing creator..   Yet here his earthly parents find Jesus in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  If nothing else, this one scene makes it crystal clear that, “It’s okay to ask questions.”  If He can ask questions, then surely you and I have no reason to be embarrassed when we have questions. Since He asked questions, we can be sure that He understands completely when we have questions.   There are no dumb questions. He welcomes our questions.  He invites our questions. 

Listen to Solomon in Proverbs describe the eagerness and energy with which we should seek to understand and know God. My son, if you receive my word and treasure up my commandments making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for  understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasure..”   I love people who ask questions.  I love to think through and debate the things about God.  I loved it when our DCE came in the other day and told me about a controversial book he’s reading.  We both raised lots of questions. Its how learning happens. He can give… If we are eager to know God better we should be asking all sorts of questions.

It’s essential to ask questions.  Listen as Solomon describes two great blessings that God gives to those who seek understanding.   “If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.”   The first blessing God gives to those who ask, is an ever-increasing fear of Him.  That means that the more you ask questions… the more eagerly you seek to understand what God has revealed about Himself, the more you will stand in awe of your God.  You will be truly amazed that such a great God loved the world, loved you enough to give His Own Son… to be born in human flesh and die for your sins… You will stand at the foot of the cross, at the mouth of your savior’s empty tomb and say “Wow.  God did this for me?”  That’s the second blessing. You will know God intimately You will grow in your faith.  You will know that You can trust Him.  You will become like the man I knew in Nebraska.  For 35 years He had suffered with excruciating pain.  In that pain He had asked God many questions, searched out the Scriptures, had conversations with his pastors.  In the process God had grown him in his faith to the point where facing a very dangerous surgery, he knew the Lord well enough to say to me, “I’m not scared Pastor.  I can’t lose.  If the surgery works, praise God.  If it only makes me worse, He will take care of me.  He always has.  If I die, I go to be with Him.”

Remember the parables that Jesus told. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.  Who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought that pearl.”  The kingdom of God, the wisdom of God, knowing God intimately by faith is that kind of treasure… that valuable a pearl.  So ask any question you want.  It’s okay!  Amen!