Questioning The Answers

Have you ever questioned your faith? No, I'm not talking about doubting your salvation. I'm talking about asking yourself if Christianity is real. Have you ever thought to yourself: "am I just wasting my time?" I'm no expert, but I'd be willing to guess that at least half (or more) of us have thought this way more than once even.

I had a time in my life when I asked those questions. I wondered if I was believing all this stuff in vain. Is there enough evidence to support my beliefs? Have I told myself a lie for so long that now I believe it? Have we all missed the true meaning of life? IS there any meaning to life?

The problem is not asking the questions; the problem is preventing other people from asking those same questions. I have a feeling that we would rather brainwash the next generation than see them hash out their beliefs for themselves. We want to see teenagers trained in their beliefs. We answer their questions with answers that follow the thought process of "the Bible says it so I believe it." We don't share the questions we ask ourselves in our inner dialogues because we are afraid of other people asking those same questions.

Youth groups particularly are filled with great teaching, solid theology and engaging services; but lack the asking of raw, unfiltered questions. We invite teenagers to ask why things happen to them so we can comfort them with the truth that God is in control and He loves them. But what if they are questioning if God really does exist? What if they don't really buy the fact that the Bible is our source for absolute truth?

We must begin to engage teenagers (and everyone else for that matter) in a way that confronts the questions they are asking in the quietness of their hearts. We have to stop feeding them answers without ever allowing them to ask the questions.

I believe we are more interested in seeing them converted than discipled. Discipleship is a messy, difficult process; one where hearts, motives and deep rooted issues are exposed. Often, in the discipleship process, no answers from our mouths are sufficient. Sometimes, we will have no idea what to say. That should not frighten us like it too often does. We should welcome questions that we have no answer to, so that we may sit at the feet of the One Who does!

What if we began to prompt teenagers to ask these questions out loud? What if they did? Would it get uncomfortable? Sure. Would it scare some parents and youth leaders to death? Absolutely. Would it be worth it? I have no doubt that it would! If we don't let them ask these questions, their peers and colleagues will at some point. Would we rather them hash these things out in the world or with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ?

Are we willing to not only address the elephant in the room but to escort him there in the first place? It's almost as if we believe if we don't address these questions, they won't ever think about them. I have news for you: they already are thinking about it. Let's be there to help them find Jesus in the middle of it all!

I am no advocate for prompting teenagers to question their faith for no reason, but I am all for bringing to the surface the things they ask deep within their hearts. If as a youth pastor I can lead them to an authentic encounter with and belief in Jesus before they graduate high school, then I've done my job. But if all I do is feed them answers and show them how to love Jesus without ever letting them ask their questions, their faith will be nothing more than a masquerade; a terrible one at that.

So how about you? Are you willing to share your story of how you pursued Jesus in the midst of serious doubt that He even existed? Are you willing to let others ask the questions you did? Will you be there to authentically point them to Jesus when they do?