Questioning God
77Questions or Questioning...That is the Question!
Sometimes it is hard to find the line between asking questions and questioning God. I've always been taught that questioning God is a bad thing, it's become pretty much a Christian "instinct" that we are taught to acquire. I wonder, though, how healthy this is. If we are so afraid of screwing things up that we cannot ask the honest questions even for ourselves, how on earth are we ever going to be able to stand in the face of the questions of others? If our faith is so shaky that we cannot even ask the tough questions without risking the destruction of the whole structure, clearly there are structural compromises that need to be addressed anyway, so why not just ask the questions and see what happens?
I have so many questions right now, and I often wonder whether I will ever have any answers for them. I guess that's where my faith kicks in, though, for I'm choosing to believe even when I don't have the answers. I've seen, heard, and felt plenty to convince me, and since my faith is based on my personal experience of God I feel no fear in the thought of tearing apart the whole structure of church and the way we think about God and the Bible.
For instance, I am struggling with the God of the Old Testament as contrasted to the revelation of God in the person of Jesus in the New Testament. Why were they so different? Why, if Colossians 2:9 calls Jesus the fullness of God made man, did they look and act so differently? And - an even bigger question for me - why did God allow the Jewish society in the Old Testament times, a nation that was supposed to be representative of Him, treat their women as second-class citizens, unintelligent and incapable of making their own decisions? Why wouldn't God want His nation to show His perfect love by perfectly loving all people as equal regardless of race, age, gender, etc.? How come the Old Testament said, "an eye for an eye," the New Testament said, "Turn the other cheek," and yet Jesus claims that He came not to destroy the law but to complete it? That sure looks like destruction to me, not completion.
But, as the brilliant Greg Boyd said in his blog (http://gregboyd.blogspot.com/) I have chosen to believe in the Bible because of God, rather than believing in God simply because "the Bible says so." The Bible is not God. The Bible is not as big, as powerful, as infinite as God. I have personally experienced God to be incredibly real in my life and that is the number one reason that I choose to believe in Him. Believing in God because of the Bible seems to be a kind of circular reasoning to me.
I, quite honestly, have no idea what to make of my questions. All I know is that the answers that I have been given by traditional Christianity are not enough to satisfy my curiosity. I feel that there must be more of an answer, or an entirely different yet better answer, out there somewhere. I just wish I could find it.
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Hi Patience,
As a child I was taught about the Christian religion. At school and at church I was taught about God and Jesus through the Bible stories. As I grew older I also started questioning many of the ideas. The big contradition between God who loves us and God who allows such devastating things to happen to people and the world we live in. I often hear people say that God would not push you beyond your limits, he knows how much you can take. Yet many people choose suicide because life is so unbearable. Why is Jesus usually portrayed as a white European looking man? Of course much of this 'picture' is coustructed by humans. I can't accept this picture any more.
Don't get me wrong here though. I do believe there is a 'God', but now I see God in a different way. I see my God as the positive power or light within the Universe. As I've got older I started to look at ideas from different relitions. I started to think more about a positive power and our choices in terms of the way we try to live our lives. I love to read some of the Buddhist ideas, Spiritualism (though considered bad because of the communications with the spirit world) has very positive principles. There is a lot of love and positivity in the world but I think you have to search for it. You can then take ideas that 'feel right' or 'make sense' to you and incorporate them in the way you want to be. You will find your God but that God may be a different image to the God you were told to believe in when you were a child. I don't think it is something to be afraid of, it's part of a natural process.
Though I believe that much of the Bible is 'man made', I don't turn my back on it either. There are some wonderful teachings in the Bible, great stories, proverbs etc. We can still learn a great deal from the Bible. Try to take the positive with you in life.
You've written a great hub there Patience, good luck with the searching.
I am no expert on Biblical interpretation, but I think that one way of looking at the difference between the Old and the New Testament is this: the Old Testament is not just a record of the word of God but also a history of the Jewish people, warts and all. Although the Jewish people were God's chosen people they also strayed repeatedly (eg worhsiping the Golden Calf) so simply because it is recorded in the Old Testament does not mean that God approved of what happened.
The Old Testament speaks of an eye for an eye and punishment while the New Testament speaks of forgiveness and redemption. Before Christ, humans were subject to the strict application of the Law and breaching the law resulted in spiritual death. When Christ says he came to fulfill the law, I understand Him to mean that the while we must still follow the moral code such as the Commandments, we are now given the opportunity to escape the consequence of sin through grace and forgiveness.
You said that it is possible to believe in the Bible because one believes in God, and not necessarily the other way around. For me, it was the opposite. There was a passage in the New Testament that convinced me that Jesus's words were real: the account of how Jesus intervened and prevented the stoning to death of a woman guilty of adultery by saying: "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone"
The passage was significant to me because Jesus's actions were so different than the historical and religious norms of the time. Any other religion of the time, and even many now (eg strict Sharia law applied in Iran or Saudi Arabia) would have mandated the execution of the woman. Jesus's words stand out as a beacon of tolerance and foregiveness.
I liked your hub.
Patience,
You go ahead and ask your questions. The answer is not always in the book. Remember that the books were written by men. They have been altered to suite the needs of men through the years. Ask and do not expect an answer. It will come to you when it is suppose to. You know right from wrong, that is in you. It is God given so sometime and someplace you will find the answers from within. It is all okay because for each individual it is what it is.
The older I get the more I realize that I know very little., but I know right from wrong. That is what I count on and I know it is in my heart. We want answers because we do not like the things we see going on in the world. It is hard to except that each person is traveling on their own seperate journey. We all have different things we have to learn in this life. Trust in knowing that the answers will come when they are suppose to. You have your faith. That is one of the most important things to honor and believe in. Everything falls into place if you listen to your inner voice.
Bless you, I admire your style. Sincerly, Susan
Right on. As a fallen Catholic, I have now been an agnostic for at least half my life, which consists of constantly asking these questions. Constantly, the problem with organized religion is that organization constantly is corrupted by such things as "following the literal word of the Bible or obeying everything it says." God is supposed to be infallible and man is fallible - it was man's hand that actually committed the words to paper and their biases, misconceptions, etc...along with it - by the time transcribed completely its become a game of the old children's game, Telephone. The meaning is still there but now its hidden deeper. REligion is about faith and needs no proof to make it so. Whether it be a concept of God, or karma, or reincarnation, or whatever you believe, faith is ultimately the ONLY choice if you are truly committed. Another problem I have with the Bible, it attempts to describe God in different ways depending on the author (Wrathful God of Old Testament vs, Loving Guardian God of the New Testament). What makes man think that their concept is any more special than anyone else's AND that they can attempt to try and describe a Being if he/she-this issue still in debate-indeed did create all this and us. A personal concept is one thing, but forcing faith down someone's throat is misguided and ultimately, corrupt.
Btw...i forgot to say, Good write!
"I am struggling with the God of the Old Testament as contrasted to the revelation of God in the person of Jesus in the New Testament". A goal of mine is to read the bible word for word, and the in doing so the same question has risen for me.
Dear Patience,
I think you expressed a state so preciesly that would fit most of us. However not everybody is brave like you. Asking right questions with good intentions are only way to find the True path. Otherwise how can one know the difference if he is lost.
Right questions?: This is a big subject, I will try to make a hub for this.
Thanks
Yes you are all on the right path...Thank God ...G-Ma :o) hugs
As a child I was raised reading the Bible. I continued reading as a teenager. But by age sixteen, I felt I had outgrown the Bible. At age twenty, I found myself in Vietnam. By age 24 I Married an absolutely stunning woman, and was making tons of money in sales. At age 28, I finally asked if this stuff in the Bible was real.
I read about Christ's birth, miracles, and resurrection in Matthew. Prior to asking a question, I said I believed. I gave mental assent to Christ's claims. But I had never considered the thing with my mind and my heart. This day, I wondered, for the first time if His claims were true or just a fairy tale?
After giving the idea some consideration, I thought the notion of the God of creation coming to planet earth in an earth suit (a human body), so fantastic, so like something out of science fiction, so outlandish, that no human could have made it up
Then, the implication of Christ's story being real began to build in my mind. If this fantastic story is real, I'm in trouble because I have truly denied the reality of the Supreme Personality of the universe. At that moment, I decided I did believe the story. At the same time, I made God in Christ, Lord of my life.
It's been thirty years. I have learned much. But every step of the journey is initiated by a question. An unbeliever does not question. A believer asks because she/he already has a glimpse of the answer. This isn't doubt. It's clarification.
Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you.
What a sincere and refreshing hub! Personally, I think God can take it--ask away! Think about it--What kind of babyish, petulant God would be angry at anyone for asking sincere questions? Questioning is like a spiritual compass. Without it, you can quickly get lost in other people's opinions. With it, you find yourself and your own way. Count me in as a fan Patience. Keep writing and questioning!
One gift God gave us was free will, I believe in God but I also know the bible was abridged by man, there are omissions and additions to these texts with the sole purpose of doctrination and control, I have no doubt that God exits or that some if not most events in the bible are factual to a limit, if you have questions of God and faith you must ask it is human nature and we are his creation so it must be good.
Patience,
One way to look at the apparent contradiction between the OT and NT is this: God has always operated outside of time as we know it. He knows what we have done. What we will do. And who will inherit the kingdom of Heaven with Him. We do not. By having this pre-knowledge so to speak, God allows the evil to exist to both purify believers and to show an example of who will not inherit the eternal blessing, (for the believers benefit).
Sure we have free will. The catch is this: God knows what our free will choices will be. This is a very difficult concept to grasp for the believer. I do not know why God chose to use the law before the incarnation of Christ. What I do know is that He has a plan for the ultimate recreation of His creation back to His original design. I think to a point God wants us to ask these difficult questions to further search His word for truth and His presence in prayer. Some mysteries are meant to be just that. -- I enjoy your thoughtful and transparent view on spiritual things. Keep on asking the questions. Answers slowly arrive. Peace and blessings!
It's good to ask questions. Maybe God is like a vast kaleidescope and there is so much find out. I like this hub!
I like this hub. And I agree with Rob Jundt's comment. I mean, it is okay to ask questions to God, or to question Him. I just believe though that His ways are higher than ours, His thoughts are deeper and wiser than ours. He is just indescribable and great.
I was really worried when I got married; my husband wanted to get married in a church but I knew I had done a lot of stupid things in my past that many church leaders would frown upon. But we went to the local Methodist Church and the minister there explained his take on God. Basically, he said, we were looking to start anew and in ackowledging that I had done wrong was a way of wiping the slate clean. He said no-one led a perfect life and God and Jesus were about forgiveness. It meant so much to me that after we got married I attended the church on a regular basis.
Old Testament God was scary; an eye for an eye and all that! The God and Jesus that I want to believe in comes from the New Testament where forgivness and redemption are given freely, where you are not judged by what you have done before but by what you can do now.
You've certainly hit on a very relevant topic for many people. Questioning your relationship to God is the first step toward truly experiencing God in your life. I just watched a fantastic interview with Deepak Chopra today, based on his new book titled, The Third Jesus. You can probably find the video at Borders.com.
The whole conversation address many of the points you mention here. It's extremely relevant to the spriritual transformation so many of us are undergoing at this time.
Keep on writing.
~Schelli
Hi Patience,
My take on this is simple. You dont have to have all the answers because then, you won't need God to guide you. If you have realization and undertstanding of everything, then you dont need faith. IT TAKES FAITH to really know the person of God, of Jesus. I am thankful that my mind is finite, that I cannot phatom everything that happens in this world, but I thank God for His Word, because then, I can rest and know that while this world can be in great chaos, God is still in full control, and with that, I will always have hope and assurance for the future.
It takes faith to know that while the Bible may have inconsistencies, (as a lot of people say ) STILL, God is never mistaken, nevery changing, never faltering, never ever failing in His Love.
May the God of light bring you to the knowledge of HIm who created you. God bless you as your question, because then you acquire greater knowledge of the ONE TRUE GOD.
Hi Patience,
Here is a website that I use a lot when I have questions about the bible and GOD.
I am no way affillated with this site, I just find it valuable and thought that I would pass it along. http://www.gotquestions.org/
GOD bless you in your search for truth.
Archie
Seek and you shall find!! I believe that whatever we look for, we will find. What are you looking for? Nice hub; it gives me ideas for another one. thanks
Patience, some great questions. Wish I had all the answers. All I know is that
God is always there to listen to all our questions even though it may not be answered in the time frame that we think. Remember "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear". Most of us spend our lives looking for answers and in the meantime reading, learning, and understanding and becoming more knowledgeable and more believeing. Great questions. Keep it up.
Dear Patience,
A verse from the Bible that has been a great comfort to me on my own journey is this......"Be still, and know that I am God". Just be 'still' Patience and 'know' that you will receive the answers from the Source who created you.
Thank you for your comment, it's actually inspired me to write another hub about that verse!
Patience,
These are fabulous questions, and the fact that you ask them is inspiring. Perhaps I can help...
I have a friend, Kalinda Rose Stevenson, Ph.D., who is a Biblical scholar. For most of her adult life, she actually taught theological students -- people studying to become ministers.
In order to do this she actually learned the read and write in the biblical languages of Greek and Hebrew. She studied the economic and social conditions of the ancient world and immersed herself in the religious beliefs of the era.
Amazingly, her study showed her that much of what the Bible training she had received as a child actually violated the Bible itself.
As a result of her study, she became aware of how Christian teaching can create anguish in the lives of both believers and non-believers because of what she calls “Bad Bible.”
"Bad Bible,” says Kalinda, distorts the original intentions behind biblical writings to create human beings who believe that they are not worthy of love. And sadly, people who do not understand how the Bible has been used as a weapon against the weak.
What she clarified for me, which was so eye-opening and liberating, is that most people who try to study and teach on the Bible are not trained to accurately interpret the writings; meaning they are not able to put the Bible verses into their proper context. The result is mistranslation, which turns the words of Jesus on their heads, totally reversing their intent, in many cases. She refers to these mangled stories as "urban legends."
Because these urban legends are preached from pulpits and taught in Sunday School classrooms worldwide, legions of seekers have ended up confused, with mangled and totally incorrect interpretations of the Word.
If you'd like to see some potentially liberating examples, please run, don't walk, to her website, where Kalinda carefully explains why Ephesians 5:22 does NOT actually command wives to submit to their husbands, that Jesus did not really intend for us to believe that we can't get into heaven if we are rich, nor did He wish us to be weak and passive.
To help people better understand the true intent, of the Bible's stories, Kalinda's written a fascinating book called
Going Broke With Jesus: How H eroic Stories Intended To Liberate The Poor Become Biblical Urban Legends About The Evils Of Money.
If you'd like to read Kalinda's book or enjoy her blog, please check out her web site here: www.goingbrokewithjesus.com - and keep asking those questions!!
Have a look, Patience, I'm sure you'll be fascinated.
What an unexpected and delightful surprise this hub is, as well as all of the surrounding conversation that it's incited. Thanks Patience, for such a thought-provoking piece of work. And to "Life's a Journey"... what an encouragement!
Dear Patience,
I will be frank, I did not read the complete Hub,but when it comes to asking about God's existence, I am still looking for a convincing answer to this question : "If He is there,why so much pain,suffering,in justice around" And if He cannot do anything about it, then He is no God, He is just like us,one of us.
Evenues, the reason that their is so much pain and suffering around is because of man, not God, the reason for this is because we were all given free choice and unfortunately some people do make the wrong choices in life.
Sorry I haven't been replying to everyone!
Evenues: I strongly believe that the reason there is so much pain and suffering is because we all have choices. I believe God gives us free will, but He also gives my neighbors, my friends, my family, and everyone else free will. You cannot give people true free will to choose good or evil without the probability that someone, somewhere will make a choice that will cause pain, suffering, and injustice. Yeah, it sounds so trite, and most people can't believe that that's it. It seems like if there was a God the world should be better. I guess it doesn't make sense to believe in God unless you believe in real evil too (unless you can find a way to explain evil away and still believe in God, which seems pretty impossible to me). But no one can talk you into believing in God. You have to choose it or reject it on your own. Good luck searching!
Ms Holmes: I don't believe that they are just urban legends; I do believe that there is historical accuracy in the stories told, however it could be very helpful to look at them through the historical lens of Jewish society back in the first century AD. I do not reject any of the Bible as truth, but I do question many of our current interpretations of the Bible.
Aramis: I absolutely agree! My faith has to be mine completely, heart and mind, or it is not real, whole, true faith.
MOmmagus: I am looking for truth, the kind of truth that will help me live life better rather than justify how I choose to live life selfishly now. Most importantly, though, I am looking for God, for a real relationship with God. I'm not sure if this search for truth is aiding or distracting that, perhaps I should think more about that...
Cellebrate: I know that I cannot know everything. On the other hand, I will not stop searching simply because I cannot know everything. I want to know God as much, as deeply, as intimately and personally as I possibly can and part of that search for me involves looking for truth in all of the doctrine and dogma I've grown up with.
tjmum: I definitely agree, the God that is presented in the New Testament is a much more appealing kind of God than the God of the Old Testament, which is why I struggle to understand why the two are so seemingly different and yet the same. I wish I could understand this or find an answer, but as of yet I am still looking.
Raven king: I like that thought! I definitely think that different people grasp different pieces of truth because none of us are capable of understanding everything there is to know. Perhaps we all understand parts of God but none of us yet understand the whole.
Rob Jundt: I struggle to accept that God would allow evil to exist for those reasons. I know that evil exists, but I don't think God allows it just so that He can "teach us a lesson." I think we brought evil into this world, and for the time being evil rules this world, not God (yes, there are verses in the Bible that back up this theory).
singpec: I'm not sure if I think the Bible was actually edited, but I do believe the the interpretations we have taught have often been incorrect and sometimes even used to control and have power over other people. I still do believe that the Bible is God's word and is the way it is supposed to be. I also believe that our human perspectives can get in the way of interpreting the Bible correctly.
Amazing story groupw!
pgrundy: thanks! I also believe in the importance of questions (if you couldn't tell from my hub). I think that when we stop growing, changing, and asking questions our faith can easily begin to grow stale and lose its power in our lives.
Quotations: excellent point on Old vs. New Testament.
jooles: I do still believe in the God of the Bible and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. I think I just see God a little differently from most Christians.
G-Ma: You are absolutely right: rarely do we hear God speak exactly the way we thought we would. But He does speak if we listen, and in the end that is what matters.
Thanks to everyone else for your comments!
God is the same today, yesterday, and the day before, just the stories of what God is has evolved. I always keep in mind the statement that everything in the Bible is true, just not truly stated. The difference in God from the Old Test, to the new is really only the way the people at the time seen it. God has never really changed, we did and how we saw God changed also. It still works that way today. If I'm the type of guy that sees the beauty in everything...God is good! For those that see life in a different, more negative way, they often ask how could God let this happen and feel somewhat negative about God or view it as there isn't a God at all.
You see, God is all things to all people. So you and I would more than likely never see God in the same way whether we are of the same faith or not and the same holds true of those times. The Bible is truly somewhat of a guide not always meant to be taken as how you need to think personally, because even if you would have encountered some of these same events you would have wrote them, and felt about them differently than the others. There are key points to the Bible that God would intend for you to place your focus, like Faith, knowing thyself, and love... working on these things bring you more answers than you could possibly imagine. Life happens through you, not to you....so God is exactly what you need it to be not what others want it to be for you! Real Talk..
This a great hub also...keep em coming!
Nice Hub Patience,
I have always been taught to question God. If you can't question God, then God is too small in your mind. What God wants most is to have a relationship with us. That includes all fo the tough questions. So go ahead and ask - get angry at God if you have to. He can take it. He is God.
And for you doubters, go ahead and challenge God. Ask him, "if you are real, prove it to me". God wants his people to interact with him.
Real Talk: I think that our perception of God is responsible for the different views of God. No one person can see the whole picture, so we walk around each holding a piece of the jigsaw puzzle. Some of us insist that our piece is the whole picture, some of us deny the truth in other people's pieces, and a very few people actually search for the truth and the good in every perspective and every opinion. I don't think God is necessary different in and of Himself, but we have limited perspective and our limits close us off from seeing certain truths about God that another person with different limits may be able to see. Sorry that was rather rambling, I think you get my drift.
Bull City Bob: great point. If God is all powerful He can surely handle my questions. There are those whose beliefs are threatened by my questions, but God Himself can handle it (and I think He actually likes engaging with us, even if it is with our doubts and disbelief).
I wonder about things, but i believe. God bless ")
It's funny, but I think my questions have only strengthened my belief, and when I felt I couldn't question was when my faith felt the weakest.
I was contemplating something earlier today. Not sure why I was on the subject or even thinking about it. This may help you understand more or it may confuse you more.
What was on my mind was how a relationship goes through periods or eras. There are times when we don't get along well with our spouses. We fight and argue a lot during these times. This is especially true during the beginning stages of a relationship. Two different personalities will clash every time.
What I see is God trying to help us to understand who he is in the OT. He is showing us that He will protect us from any and all enemies if we only allow Him the opportunity to do so. We are the ones who fight and clash with Him.
The person of Jesus is the long suffering and patient side of God. He was also the ultimate sacrifice. Even though we fought with Him and clashed, He still loved us through it all.
I hope this may help you a little. If not please do not think I was trying to confuse you.
Hi!
No wonder there are so many comments that it´s hard to get through them (I confess I stopped at half), you wrote it very well, indeed.
I am sure you WILL get all the answers. Meanwhile in this world, we have to keep the trust in God´s ways, that´s it. I was asking so many similar questions before joining christianity, but it has somehow stopped - not because I would be afraid ´the construction will fall´, just simply because I have undestood so many things since then that I am sure there are good answers to the rest of the questions as well, and it´s not my priority now to find them. It´s something else: I know what I personally ought to do to ´win the race´, as St. Paul called it, and the problem is stick to it, fulfill it, transform my view of life - and consequently the way of life. The questions are good - they can strenghten the faith and, at the same time, they are proof that the faith is true & honest, not hypocritical or shallow. However, though I don´t undestand many issues, I have no questions in my heart right now, because there´s no doubt God has good reasons for everything. I guess it´s a phase of my personal development: no need to strenghten the faith, just more self-discipline. (Would you believe I once considered myself a permanent searcher? So glad He lightened the dark start of the road for me!)
All the best!
mike
Sir Dent: This sounds like a well thought and reasonable explanation, although I am not sure that it answers all of my questions on the subject (but, then again, I can't expect to find answers to all of my questions in this life). I'll have to think about it for a while (kind of what I do with everything though).
Mike: I'm glad you're at that point! I guess even though I've been in Christianity most of my life my faith didn't begin to be real to me for the longest time, and since I didn't have an opportunity to question it before being swamped in Christianity, my questions didn't begin until recently (plus I'm still young, so I'm just getting started). I guess as much as I trust God to have good reasons for everything I am not content with many of Christianity's explanations of those reasons, and I want something else.
Thanks for your comments everyone! It's made me think even more about all of this.
asking questions is the way to get to god , since truth is god. and the scriptures have so many inconsistencies becaseu parts of them simply aren't true, often they are not the word of god. so keep questioning and don't be swayed. take your instructions direct from god by asking questions and sticking to what you see to be the truth. Yea verily, this doth be the Quest :)
Truth is not God. Love is God, God is love. But perhaps, love is the ultimate truth behind everything...now there's an interesting thought...
Do you mean questioning the existence of God or searching for the existence of God?
I think I have already been through my "questioning the existence of" and "searching for the existence of" stages; right now I am questioning the picture of him I've been given and the picture I have, wondering if he might be even better than I thought him to be. Hoping that he's even better than that, because my picture of God really sucks sometimes.
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pjdscott says:
2 years ago
A fascinating and extremely well-written hub. Questions show you care - and I can't see any questions to which a loving God would complain. I particularly agree with your point about Jesus destroying Hebrew/Jewish law, rather than 'rebuilding' it - perhaps we need to view Jesus as God's radical persona - the person that God could never be.