Some teachers are considered, by their followers and perhaps even by themselves, to be above such things. Or worse, why even bother? Why not just stop with the questions already? Just believe everything my favorite guru (Christian or otherwise) says. Isn’t the Holy Spirit going to lead me into all truth so all I need to do is follow my inner twinges? Well, no. This leaves the door wide open for error to waltz right in and the potential for spiritual abuse. Also a twinge-based theology offers no protection against being tossed by every wind of doctrine, human cunning, and craftiness in deceitful schemes.

We have been told from ancient times that the unexamined life is not worth living, and I agree with that. And yet I must find myself in a small minority because I find it difficult to find many people who put their own philosophies and their religious convictions under a microscope and ask themselves, “Why do I believe what I believe? Do I believe it simply because it has been passed on to me by my parents or the subcultural community that I have been in?”…

Why do you believe what you believe? Because what you believe determines how you live. And so it is a very important question to ask yourself particularly as a Christian, because there is real sense in which we are called upon to justify to our believe systems, not just to our neighbor but to ourselves, because we are called to be mature in our faith. Paul tells us to be babes in evil but in our understanding to be adults, which means we have to use the minds that God has given us to see the basis for our truth. This should not threaten us. It should encourage us, as the more carefully, I believe, we examine the data of scripture, the more amazed we will be at the internal harmony and profundity of it.¹

This quote is classic R.C. Sproul. His call for reason and rationality is breath of fresh air in a time when the Christian subculture is embracing emotional experience as the benchmark of faith. I firmly believe in asking “Why do I believe what I believe?”, but with that one question comes many other questions, which leads me to ask thisquestion: Am I allowed to ask questions?

I am not talking about query for query’s sake, starting an argument to pick a fight, or blatant skepticism that refuses to listen to anyone. I am talking about genuine and respectful inquiry. Isn’t this the reason the Apostle Paul commended the Bereans? (Acts 17:11) They weren’t commended because they believed him implicitly on the basis of his credentials and status. No. They compared his teaching to the standard of scripture to see how it measured up. Shouldn’t we do the same? Is there any disrespect in asking the following questions?

• How does this teacher handle scripture? Are the verses used in context or taken out of context? Does this teacher employ sound principles of interpretation?
• How does this teacher portray the Triune God? Is it consistent with the Bible and how God describes Himself therein?
• Is the emphasis moralism or the gospel? Does this teacher get justification by faith alone by grace alone through Christ alone right?

But this may be easier than done. I haven’t ventured very far in the Christian blogsphere before I’ve learned that some questions are not welcomed. Some teachers are considered, by their followers and perhaps even by themselves, to be above such things. Or worse, why even bother? Why not just stop with the questions already? Just believe everything my favorite guru (Christian or otherwise) says. Isn’t the Holy Spirit going to lead me into all truth so all I need to do is follow my inner twinges? Well, no. This leaves the door wide open for error to waltz right in and the potential for spiritual abuse. Also a twinge-based theology offers no protection against being tossed by every wind of doctrine, human cunning, and craftiness in deceitful schemes. (Eph. 4:13-14)

So it may make you uncomfortable. It isn’t always comfortable for me either, but I will keep asking questions. God gave His people His book to read and the capacity to think. I will not turn off my mind, and neither should you.

1. How do you know? from Think Like a Christian – R.C. Sproul

Persis Lorenti is an ordinary Christian. You can find her at Tried With Fire and Out of the Ordinary. This article appeared at her blog and is used with permission.