Answering Tough Questions

Last Sunday I chose to add on some verses to the beginning of the week’s gospel lectionary reading, the part where the priests and Levites come to demand answers of John the Baptist about who he is. Is he the Messiah? Elijah? a prophet? Why is he baptizing? And John calmly answers them, pointing to Jesus.

As I pondered what to write for the blog this week, it occurred to me that we are often in a position to be grilled by both those outside the church who are angry or challenging us or seeking, and also by those who are inside and in positions of power and authority. I’ve been on the receiving end of questions from people at outreach programs and the guys I lived with in university for a semester who were all atheists, as well as people in the courts of the church who didn’t quite know what to do with me because I don’t neatly fit in a prescribed box.

My facebook feed the last few days has been filled with people willing to calmly stand up for who they feel Jesus is and therefore how they should respond to the craziness swirling around us as a follower of Him. Their answers are in their actions and the words they post. I’ve seen people opening their doors to teachers on the picket lines and offering a warm place and bathroom as well as baking. I’ve seen someone speaking out against someone shutting down discussion and demanding others agree because a particular interpretation of scripture about gay marriage and ordination is assumed to be the only correct one. In the midst of fear about the planet’s future and a new deadly virus, there have been many people posting words of hope and actions they are taking. There have been many posts holding governments to account and caring for the rights of the oppressed, whether they be indigenous peoples or those of other identities and minorities.

These kinds of responses to events around us are really where the rubber meets the road in our faith. When the questions come, do we shrink back from them or do we step out in faith and trust that God will give us the words to say? Do we hide in our warm homes hoping the storm will pass and avoiding those who are looking for answers, or do we jump out in the snow and bring shovels to help our neighbours? After the blizzard this past weekend in St. John’s, Newfoundland there were posts about how only in a place like that would there be a devastating storm and people make it look like so much fun you’d want to be there.

As leaders in the church, what is our response that urges those we lead to answer the questions thrown at us well? What things encourage words and actions that point to Jesus and are in line with our beliefs about who God is? We are challenged to be real and honest as people can smell artificial from a mile away. We are also privileged to share what we have experienced of God’s faithfulness and call, of what things we have seen that point to the reality of who Jesus is. Even in the midst of the noise and anxiety around us, we can seek out the discipline of remembering what we know that we know and holding fast to it. We can voice our assurance in God’s goodness and what God represents - truth, sacrificial love, justice, grace, peace, hope. When we look through whatever is happening with this lens we more easily see what is of God and urge our people to look through the same lens.

This is a difficult time of year for many people and it’s no coincidence that this is when the Bell Let’s Talk campaign happens. It is still predominantly dark outside and mental illness is prevalent this month. We are even more challenged to hold up the light of Christ for those who struggle for any reason and to remind them of God’s love for them. We are challenged to share a message of active participation in what God is doing, and, in serving others and taking our faith outwards we re-connect with our purpose and are blessed ourselves.

There are so many questions that we can be asked, from Biblical to theological to relational. Perhaps the most important, though, is who is Jesus for you and how does that shape your response to the world? Why does your life run counter to the prevailing culture as you follow Him? May we nurture in ourselves and those we serve calm answers that lovingly express who our God is and why we serve Christ.