Any questions?

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Published on Sunday, September 17, 2017

By Rev. Glenna Beauchamp

Rivers and Oak River United Churches

Jesus didn’t do lectures much. He taught by telling stories and engaging people with their questions. “Who is my neighbour?” someone asked, and Jesus told a story about a Good Samaritan.

“Should we pay taxes to the Romans, or not?” some religious leaders asked Jesus. This was a trick question because if Jesus answered yes, the people would not take Him seriously. If He said no, authorities would arrest Him for treason. But Jesus rarely answered a question with a simple yes or no. Instead, He used this question, meant to trap Him, to prompt the more important questions of “Who owns the earth and all its resources?” and “Who do I and other people belong to?”

Jesus never shut down people’s questions. He encouraged questions as a path to faith. A faith not imposed from outside, but a faith that takes root and springs up from deep in our hearts. Christians today should not be afraid to ask questions about out world, about ourselves or even about God and out faith. 

In answer to a question about what commandment was the greatest, Jesus taught us we should love God with heart, soul, mind and strength. We don’t have to park our mind somewhere in order to have faith.