New Reminders: Questioning

I am the type person who likes to know the how, why, and why nots of things.  But I have always wondered if it is wrong to question the Bible or even God himself.  I was always taught that the Bible is the sacred Word of God, and that I should treat it with respect and reverence and never question its validity.  Yet, when something does not make sense to me, I can’t help trying to find out what I might be missing.  Sometimes seeking out and reading the broader context helps, but other times the rest of the passage only serves to deepen the confusion.

If the bible is meant to be our guide for living, it is important that we understand the intent of each message.  A sincere effort to find the deeper meaning, and to clarify what I am to learn from it, is certainly a worthwhile endeavor.  Some passages are clearly meant for a particular person or group of people at a specific juncture in time, and do not apply directly to everyone in our own times.  These can be read for their historic significance and can show us how God dealt with a specific problem in the past.  Some passages refer to cultural norms of an era and may only serve as reminders that different customs arose from problems such as a lack of sanitation facilities or the availability of proper storage and cooling for food or a lack of safe drinking water.

For example, I’m pretty sure most protestant church groups would be mortified if a prominent church leader were to turn water into really good wine at a church wedding reception today, but it was very acceptable in a culture where wine was the only safe thing to drink in Jesus’ time.  So, yes, times have changed, and what was unthinkable in Jesus’ time may now be possible and even acceptable and vice versa.  I think it is fair to make those kinds of adjustments for time and cultures.  We have evolved, in some ways for the better and in some ways for the worse.  We no longer allow slavery, and in most places in the civilized world, we insist on equal treatment of women and girls and encourage their education and value their contributions.

I believe questioning the Bible in order to learn more and to deepen our understanding, is a healthy thing, as long as it is not in defiance of God or to serve our own purposes or justify our own actions.  “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5