The Danger of Questioning God

The_Danger_of_Asking_God_QuestionsThe danger of questioning God is that we don’t question God. To paraphrase something I once heard, “God is big enough to know that in our desperate search for answers–that at the end of our quest for truth we will land safely once again in his arms.” There is something infinitely comforting about those words.

I have always asked questions. I am hopelessly curious and endlessly pondering. Unfortunately, my teachers, preachers, bosses, and parents did not fully appreciate my incessant wonderings. Statements like “children are to be seen and not heard”, “do this, don’t do that”, “curiosity killed the cat”, “because I said so, that’s why”, and myriad other negatives did nothing to quell my rambunctiousness.

As life happened, and I gathered more words, emotions, sadness, guilt, betrayal, and yearnings, —many things I had been told as truth did not add up. Inconsistencies like Jesus making wine at a wedding and yet God saying not to drink it. Huh? David dancing for God in the Old Testament, yet I was told God did not allow dancing. Why? If I masturbated, I would go blind. What??? Sex is only for procreation. Agh!

I was told Columbus discovered America. False. Told there were nine planets. False. Told to boycott Disney. Right! Told that all gay people would go to hell. Told that sensitive people were weak. That there is only one way to heaven. Told that God can not hear the prayers of the Jews. That doubt was sin. Told by my pentecostal upbringing that I wasn’t “saved” until I spoke in tongues—only to be told by my Baptist preacher that Jesus never spoke in tongues. Uhm-shala!

No wonder I’m so $%&#@*! up.

I believe most of what I was taught growing up was wrong. I now believe we should question everything. And everyone: our parents, our teachers, our preachers, our friends, ourselves, yes, gulp, and even God. After 56 years of life, I have come to the conclusion that I don’t have all the answers, but I certainly do have a lot of questions. And I’ve learned to be skeptical of anyone who claims to know all the answers.

So, I decided to ask God a few hard questions. About difficult things such as: guilt, loneliness, fear & anxiety, grief & loss, depression, betrayal, doubt, and addiction. Things that are really hard to understand and reconcile. Things that are inevitable in normal everyday life.

They are all in a new visual series on which I’ve worked really hard, called “God, I Have A Question…or Two.” If you are like me, you have a few questions of your own. Maybe mine will help you get started. This series is not for those who have everything figured out. It’s for those like me—who are wounded, wandering, disillusioned or simply tired of “pat” answers.

You can check out some of my questions and ponderings in my new series at: QuestionOrTwo.com. I would love to hear a few of yours as well. And if you buy “God, I Have A Question…or Two” and it doesn’t help you ask better questions of yourself, others and of God— I’ll give your money back. No questions asked. ;)