Questions, questions, questions ...

Questions, questions, questions ... Some people ask plenty of questions - but they never expect to get an answer. They enjoy asking questions - but they're impatiently dismissive of any answers that might point us in the direction of God. What are we to say to such people? We can't impose our answers on them - but, perhaps, we can suggest to them, "Here's something you may wish to think about." Questions can be asked of the questioner - What do we have if there is no God? Must we just accept the world as it is - without even considering the possibility that there is a God? Perhaps, we need to say, "Don't make up your mind too quickly or too easily." Can we say that it's an open and closed case - 'There is no God', without really looking closely at why so many people believe in God? To approach the question of God, which includes within it the question of the meaning of our life on earth, in this way, seems to be disrespectful towards those for whom God stands at the centre of their understanding of life. It's one thing to say, "I don't believe in God, but I fully accept that you have your reasons for believing in him." It's quite another  thing to say, "I don't believe in God, I'm right, you're wrong, end of story." There may be no final answer - ' There is a God / There is no God' - that's going to be accepted by everyone, but there needs to be a willingness to talk things with those who see things differently from ourselves. Perhaps, we should add something else - and this may take us beyond simply asking the question, "Is there a God?": being ready to listen to Jesus and learn from him. Here's something to start with - Jesus said, "Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own" (John 7:17). Be ready to let Jesus lead you, as you search for his answers to the questions that you are asking. You may find that he is the answer that you've been needing to hear.