Indian Paintbrush Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15, New International Version

I have been asking questions for a long time. My parents, my teachers, and my friends can all attest to this. It is my desire to know things, to be certain about something that motivates me to ask so many questions.

Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn’t be so inquisitive, particularly in matters of Christian theology or spirituality. Perhaps it would be better if I put all of my questions aside and simply had a childlike faith. After all, my desire to know things is only secondary to matters of faith and love.

While it’s true that faith and love are more important, I would contend that our efforts to understand God’s truth are also significant. God gave us minds with the ability to understand and reason. We ought to be good stewards of that gift. One of my pastors, encouraging me in my faith journey, told me that theology – thinking about God – is the best thing we can do with our minds. I think that he was right.

Asking questions is a symptom of good spiritual health. I have found that honest questions ultimately lead to fuller understanding and deeper faith. This growth not only benefits the believer personally, but it also enables us to witness more effectively. For example, Christian apologists seem to be able to defend their faith through rational arguments. Knowing such arguments can be especially helpful in sharing faith with intellectual skeptics.

I should note that while theological study is very helpful, it is not nearly as important as time spent in prayer. This is because when I think objectively about something, I distance myself from it. Thinking objectively about God can be helpful, but it is nothing compared to prayer, in which we enter into a personal relationship with the Divine. Theology, strictly speaking, does not bridge the gap between God and self. Prayer does.

I have learned a lot by digging deeper into the truths of my faith. I have become more secure in some things, and I have let go of some superficial ideas I once had. It has been a challenge to reconcile what I was taught growing up with what I later discovered. Despite the challenges, or perhaps because of them, I do not regret being inquisitive about Christian theology. I believe that God can handle both my questions and my inquiring mind. I feel that God can handle yours, too.

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