Embracing the Questioning and Wondering
I don’t usually comment on anything considered even somewhat controversial, but this one has been stirring in my heart and I can’t let it go. However, instead of aiming this at the faceless inter webs, I want to share my thoughts here in the hope that if you are questioning—asking God the really hard stuff—you will see you are not alone and you are welcomed here.
In recent days many folks have reposted and sometimes added their own commentary to a Facebook post that went viral. In it this musician calls out Christian leaders who have left their faith. He seems pretty upset, and many have followed in his feelings by reposting it 29,000+ times (last I noticed). At the heart of it yes, I agree, don’t put your faith in people over God. However, perhaps this response that has come from the Body should give us pause to reflect and take inventory on ourselves.
Here are prominent Christians walking away or sharing on their social media accounts their struggles with their faith. Being honest about the hard stuff—the things that frankly, I haven’t seen the church address well in years past.
I’ve seen Facebook and Insta comments from people saying things like you have to trust God’s Word, you need to understand it well! How can someone with such influence “take” their followers with them away from Truth?? You have a platform that God has entrusted to you!
None of this is trivial by any means. It’s a big deal when anyone of influence walks away or questions something that they have believed in for a very, vey long time. It’s a big deal for those of us who don’t possess that influence either. Losing or questioning your faith is life-altering.
But, I would like to address some things a little bigger than a handful of influential people walking away or questioning their faith?
God is not surprised by any of this so we, the church, shouldn’t be either.
Maybe we should consider that when someone of influence questions their faith others now feel they can ask the hard questions that perhaps they didn’t feel safe asking before?
Why is it not okay for someone of influence to question their faith? Wouldn’t we rather they bring it out into the light and discuss it than hide it and let it fester and blow up into something else??
I think we need to consider that perhaps an influential leader questioning his/her faith in public could actually spur on something greater. Aren’t the most intimate and profound encounters with God often had in the questioning? In the wondering? I was in seminary for a hot second years ago and the best professor I have ever had shared how he lost his faith (in seminary mind you). And it was in that season that he encountered God in a new way that lead to the profound and intimate faith he now has.
As a body I am afraid we have not made space for people to ask the really hard questions about faith. Too often we label someone with the hard questions like we have labeled Thomas as doubting. I’d rather like to think that these questioners are the brave ones. God is not afraid of the hard stuff. He is God. I’m pretty certain He can handle it all.
Our posture should be one of service to those who are questioning. Our posture should be one in which we walk alongside in humility. We offer to dive into the scriptures with people to ask God the really, really hard questions together. We pray together, we seek the Holy Spirit’s leading. Faith is HARD. And any of us that have walked this out for any length of time should know that personally. While we may not agree or like that “influential” people post this stuff on social media, it is the day we live in and better to be open about it then hide, IMO.
I was talking with a friend ever so briefly about this and she brought up an excellent point—when a part of our physical body isn’t working right do we just cut it off, remove it, cover it up and try to live life without it? Of course not, we nurture it, we go to whatever doctor we need to, we bandage it, we try to heal it. Shouldn’t we do the same for anyone questioning their faith?
Let us be the church that I believe God delights in and help heal the broken parts. Just as much as people are watching those who have claimed to have lost or are questioning their faith, they are watching those who respond. Let us walk within grace and humility with others while they question and wonder—it is one of the places we encounter a profound communion with our Holy God who loves us all so very dearly.
To the reader: if you have questions for God and “churchey” answers aren’t satisfying, don’t stop asking. Keep pursuing. He is there in the questioning and wondering. He wants to meet you there and He can handle it.