What Happens During Question Asking
This week as a community we have reflected on God’s question asking in the book of Jonah and Jesus’ constant question asking in the Gospels. Not only do God and Jesus ask questions, but also we see that many people in the Bible, whether in leadership positions, followers, or on the margins, are encouraged to ask questions. For many of us, we have concluded that not only is question-asking a cornerstone to the Bible and the Christian tradition, but also God loves questions.
In Sunday’s sermon Bill and Brenna asked, “Why do you think Jesus asks so many questions?” In response, folks in the audience shouted out different ideas. Here are some of the themes I heard about the importance of question-asking:
To get to know everyone and to learn
It shows caring about what the person thinks
Curiosity about the other
Questions create an opportunity to grow
The more we ask, the more we know about ourselves, one another, and everything.
Questions serve many different functions. Sometimes questions help us feel known and seen. Othertimes, questions challenge us with curiosity and help us look within and grow. I imagine God’s questions to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry?” (4:4) were geared toward introspection and growth. Questions—out of love, care, understanding—invite us to be curious about others and/or ourselves.
I think God and Jesus might be asking so many questions to 1) show love and curiosity to us and also 2) invite us to be faithful question askers. God’s curious question asking about us helps us to be curious about ourselves, our neighbors, and the Divine.
Today, take time to reflect on some questions you have.
What is a question you have for God?
How do your questions to God invite you to think about your own inner spirit?
Who in your life can you more mindfully ask questions of care and curiosity? *With a listening, open, and non-judgmental ear.
- Dottie Oleson