State Your Question. By D. Davenport If you could get the answer to any Bible question what question would it be? Certainly the list of possible points of confusion seem endless—especially in light of the reality of centuries of denominational and theological squallor that has characterized the Body of Christ for 2000 years now. Would you ask about the book of James and wonder why it seems to contradict the rest of scripture on the surface by suggesting that a man is “saved” by works? Or would you be puzzled by a particular issue in the book of the Revelation? You would be in good company. Martin Luther, for example, considered the book of James to be an “Epistle of straw” that did not even belong in the Canon of scripture—apparently because he simply couldn’t reconcile what he found there to what he knew to be true from the books of Romans and Ephesians. The Bible is saturated with fallible men and women who were driven, consumed, and sometimes even plagued with besetting questions. Obviously, Job comes to mind: Job 4:17 "Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?" Job struggled with a myriad of questions involving the extent of God’s involvement with mankind, why God allows suffering, and other issues. He was in good company. Adam questioned God’s directive to be the leader in his family. Adam’s son Cain apparently questioned God’s demand for a blood sacrifice. Moses questioned if he was articulate enough to speak before Pharaoh. Jonah wondered why God had instructed him to witness to a bunch of bloodthirsty Ninevites. Later on Peter puzzled over the dispensational Mystery given to Paul: 2 Peter 3:16 As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Today we have a completed and finished Bible and are told to study it, and consequently, our questions have more to do with scriptural questions than experiential questions. My own questions generally have to do with “Soteriological” (a fancy word that means salvational) questions. I often wonder exactly how the members of the Nation of Israel were saved, if they knew it, and if they had eternal security. It seems like a puzzle that is gradually peiced together in scripture and it often frustrates me that the Bible doesn’t “come and and say” the answer to my question. This common frustration is apparently part of God’s design according to His wisdom. He has given us a Bible that needs to be studied, compared, and divided to yield the type of satisfying answers that we need. This seems to be an age-old reality given the nature of man: Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to CONCEAL a thing: but the honour of kings to search out a matter. As I have read and studied the Bible for a number of years I have come to two conclusions which I would challenge you to consider. 1. If you don’t have any Bible questions then you are not going to get any Bible answers. 2. If you don’t have any Bible questions then you are not really studying the Bible. These conclusions may seem judgemental or harsh on the surface but I believe they are sound based on some years of experience. My good friend Pastor Ken Scharf of Anderson, South Carolina (who has taught me a great deal) would agree. I have heard him challenge individuals to read the first five chapters of Romans and then make a list of questions from the reading. As Ken says: “If they don’t come back with any questions, then I know they havn’t read it.” Unfortunately, most people don’t have any Bible questions. They either don’t care or don’t know what it says. When you consider that most of us spend untold hours working on our health, fitness, appearance, education, relationships, and finances (nothing wrong with any of these things in and of themselves) and almost no time studying the Bible then we have the answer: we care much more about this temporary life than the eternal one that we are all marching toward: 2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal. In sharing the details of my own background I have to admit that I had very few answers until recently (the last five years or so). Not raised in a bible-believing house I was a staunch Evolutionist. I didn’t have any bible questions not did I want any. I was only interested in sports, girls, maintaining my B average in High School classes, and having fun. Later , in a dorm room in college every one of those interests became inconsequential as I pondered my future: what was I headed for eternity? Suddenly I was filled with questions. Who was I and why was I here? Did God love me or hate me? Was the Bible true? How could a man be accepted by God (the same question Job had asked 5000 years earlier )? Questions became a way of life for me. But it seemed intimidating and I did not like being in a state of such uncertainty. All around me seemed to be people who were settled in their Bible knowledge. I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was I so uncertain when other people were so settled? That question took another twenty years to answer. But eventually had my answer: Many people’s opinions are actually based on emotions, traditions, feelings, prejuidices, and circumstances rather than on the bible. Paul confirms this in the book of Galatians: Galatians 1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the TRADITIONS of my fathers. Later, Paul considered these "traditions" worthless: Philippians 3:8 "Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, " What are your Bible questions? You may not realize it but your questions are your greatest asset-- they will spur you toward answers if you will only study. greenvillegrace@yahoo.com (864) 420-4347
If you could get the answer to any Bible question what question would it be?