Armodoxy for Today: OK to Question

Quick, think fast: Who was your favorite teacher in school? Who were the teachers from whom you learned the most? Chance are they were not the straight lecturer, who sat you down, infused your brain with knowledge and then dismissed you 50 minutes later at the end of the period. I’d venture to say the best teachers, instructors or professor was not a lecturer at all, but one who engaged you in dialogue. A teacher who challenged you by giving you material to ponder, wonder, ask questions, and form your conclusions was one who imparted knowledge and perhaps some wisdom.

Asking questions is a means by which we learn. Jesus taught by posing questions, by engaging his students and disciples in a thought process by which they came to know him, to know his love for them, and the high truths about the Kingdom of Heaven. Even the crown of his teaching, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) which is laid out as a “lecture” is a series of Q&A with statements stating the known and answering with the teaching. “You have heard…” Jesus would say with a given, such as “You should not murder, but I tell you…” he answers with his lesson for thought, contemplation and eventual learning.

As a loving and caring God, He asks us to come to Him out of love and a desire to know Him closely. We are all different with very different upbringings, dilemmas and joys face us. It is only natural that we will have questions. Why evil? Why pain? Where is joy? Finding heaven?  To each of us, He grants the opportunity: “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 he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Yes, it’s okay to think and it’s okay to ask questions.

We pray Psalm 4 today, Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness. You have given me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. In peace, I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Amen.