Question but Don’t Doubt

Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” – Luke 1:18-20

Christians’ reverence for knowledge, education and wisdom should be legendary. It is the obligation of the Master’s disciples to study and question. Moses ordered the elders of Israel to “gather the people – men, women, and children, and the strangers in your communities – that they may hear and learn.” (Deuteronomy 31:12). The people of Israel’s respect for learning is probably best seen in the fact that Moses, their most important historical figure, is not referred to as leader, prophet or savior but as “Rabbenu” – our Teacher. Jesus inherited the same appellation, being frequently addressed as “agathos didaskalos” or Good Teacher.

We should be constantly seeking something new and fresh in the old, old story. We must develop our minds, and hone our skills by learning how to question. The lessons, the inquiries and the call for intellectual, creative and spiritual excellence should begin early in the lives of both our physical and our spiritual children.

Those among us who are appropriately gifted should be producing moral stories, ethical teachings, and analyses of biblical law. We should probe, argue, and consider every thought from as many perspectives as possible. After all, the Scriptures enjoin us to not only be open to new ideas but to actively seek them (Proverbs 18:15). We should double check the motivations of those who seek to teach or lead us (1 John 4:1) with a joyful, respectful attitude, but the ultimate standard simply has to be the revealed word of God (Acts 17:11). As Albert Einstein put it, “The important thing is not to stop questioning.”

However, Zacharias was disciplined for questioning Gabriel’s message. Didn’t Paul specifically teach “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:6-10)? In fact, in the very next chapter, the very same angel was questioned by Mary when he brought her a similar message and he did not discipline her for her question! The difference lies in the nature of the question. Zacharias questioned God’s ability to overcome the problem of his age. Mary was simply stating her commitment to moral purity.

God has no problem being questioned (Isaiah 1:18; 21:12). Feel free to ask Him the big questions, the tough questions - the meaningful questions. Just never doubt His ability to overcome your circumstances. Things that are humanly impossible are possible with God (Luke 18:27; Matthew 19:26).