Questions

13, November 2005

Dakota Community Church

Questions

Do these quotes sound familiar?

“Children should be seen and not heard.”

“Because I’m your father and I said so; that’s why.”

Most of us were raised with the idea that it is somehow wrong to question authority.

The Church where I became a believer was forever reminding us that we should not question spiritual authority.

“Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft”.

“Touch not God’s anointed.”

You get the idea.

If we were raised not to question authority then we certainly are not going to question God.

But is this the relationship God wants with us? Does God desire mindless obedience?

What about when the Spiritual authority is wrong?

Illustration:

When I was in Bible College one of my classes went to a local prison to minister to the inmates in the chapel there. Several of the men were very angry and one of the themes I kept hearing from them was that when, or if, they ever stood before God for judgment they would have a few questions for Him.

“Why did you let my dad desert our family?”

“Why did my little brother drown?”

I stood up and told them that “when” they stood before God they would be kneeling, and that God would be the One asking all the questions.

That happens to be true, but if I had it to do over again I would take a different approach.

Those questions reveal deep hurts. These are the kinds of questions that God wants to answer now. Asking these questions is the first step toward finding God.

If a Christian believes that God is calling him/her to preach but “pastor” doesn’t recognize it - which voice is to be obeyed?

Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD.

"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

“Let us reason together”?

Again this seems to be a God who wants to be engaged in relationship, a nurturing Father.

Go ahead and ask your questions because:

1. Questions bring freedom.

When you are willing to ask questions it means you are willing to admit that you do not have all the answers. That is a truly liberating revelation.

Many of us think that God needs us to have everything figured out so we can be effective witnesses. The truth is that if you have God completely figured out you are not dealing with God, you are dealing with something you made up.

Deuteronomy 29:29

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

God reveals things to us, many things even, by His Spirit. He does not reveal everything to us.

Even Jesus was not told everything.

Matthew 23:35-36

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

The Apostle Paul expressed it like this:

1Corinthians 13:12

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Doesn’t the bible say we are supposed to have an answer for everything?

1Peter 3:15

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

The hope you have - not every issue on the planet.

Go ahead and ask your questions because:

2. Questions are central to faith.

All through the Bible we see the people of God engaging him with questions.

Genesis 18:25-26

Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."

Exodus 4:1, 8, 10-13

Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ’The LORD did not appear to you’?"

Then the LORD said, "If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first miraculous sign, they may believe the second.

Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."

The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."