Ron's Insights 2013

Questions of a Fool

by Ron Susek

©Golden Quill Publications

If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them,

'I told you and you do not believe'

(John 10:24-25).

      "Never let people ask you the questions. You ask the questions. Any fool can ask the seven wise men of Athens a question that will take 100 years to answer."

      This was reportedly Dr. Arthur Kannwischer's opening statement each semester as he taught philosophy at Pitt University. While questions are welcomed from those who are in search of truth, the questions of a fool come from a sinister pit.

      Fools are not searching for knowledge or wisdom. "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion."¹Yet, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes."²

      When it comes to God sending His only begotten Son, Jesus, fools assume their questions to be marks of brilliance, when, in fact, they confirm the ignorance of unbelief.

      Jesus made bold declarations about himself that were confirmed by the prophets of old. His claims left no questions in the simplest minds, but produced endless questions from unbelieving hearts.

      He clearly presented himself as the Son of God who came to die for the sins of the world, be raised on the third day and be seated at the right hand of the Father. There was no question that he viewed himself as the redeemer of the world. No one had to wonder about his claim of kingship in the coming kingdom of God.

      Still, Jesus was dogged by questions all the way from the offset of his ministry to Pilate's court. These questions were not a quest for truth, as were the disciple's, but to validate disbelief.

      Pilate, for instance, looked into the eyes of the One who claimed to be the way, the truth and the life³ and pointedly asked: "What is truth?"⁴ Thinking he had asked the show-stopper question, certain that there was no answer, he abruptly departed without waiting for Jesus' response. Nor would Jesus' answer have mattered. Answers never satisfy the fool. Thus Jesus taught not to cast one's pearls before swine.

      Somehow, the ability to ask questions makes unbelievers feel exempt from responsibility to the truth. Whereas Pilate walked away, these people mentally leave the room, assuming that they have asked the unanswerable question. They are actually in search of questions that confirm unbelief, no matter what truth stands before them.

      When unbelief unleashes an endless volley of questions, Jesus hides truth in a parable that cannot be understood. The non believer becomes smugly convinced that the "seven wise men of Athens" are soundly stumped. All the while, the questioners remain dumb.

      God welcomes the questions of true seekers of truth. Jesus never turned his disciples away for asking questions. Jesus said, "If you seek [that certainly includes questions] you will find."

      Here is the ultimate question: Do I become a believer after all my questions are answered? Or do I become a believer and then let the Lord grant the answers in His own time and way?

      The latter proves true. Once in a relationship with Jesus, Who is truth, many of the questions do not matter anymore. Too often, however, questions are a shield to keep us from commitment to God through Jesus Christ.

Immanuel: God is with you!

Your friend,

Ron

¹Proverbs 18:2 ESV

²Proverbs 12:15 ESV

³John 14:6

⁴John 18:38