Tough Questions
Rev Charlie (September 2021)
We are just over half way through our latest online Alpha Course and it has been fascinating, as Alpha courses always are. I have participated in many Alpha courses and I am always amazed at the diverse range of perspectives, insights and questions. Questions about life, faith, God, the Bible and so on.
I often come across people who grew up in a ‘Christian’ environment, but were always discouraged from asking questions. There is a popular misconception that Christians are expected to accept the Church’s teaching unquestioningly, even when it seems obscure or strange. Alpha is popular because it gives people the opportunity to explore the Christian faith for themselves. Guests are encouraged to express opinions and ask questions. After all, thought is not the enemy of Christianity, quite the opposite in fact.
As I sat down to write this reflection, I found myself thinking about all the amazing unasked questions that people have buzzing around in their heads. Anybody who considers life, in anything more than the most superficial terms, will have serious questions about themselves, human nature and the world we inhabit. Regardless of one’s worldview, be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Atheist, Agnostic, or whatever, we all have deep questions.
Christians do not claim to have all the answers; however, the Christian worldview properly understood provides a framework that makes sense of the world we live in. Indeed, I would argue that it makes sense of the whole of human history. As C.S. Lewis put it:
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
The upshot of this line of thinking is that I have decided to invite ‘tough questions’ from the readers of our newsletter. Bearing in mind that this newsletter is distributed to a wider audience, I want to stress that you do not have to be a member of St. Andrew’s Springfield, nor do you have to consider yourself a Christian to send in a question.
Each month, I will endeavour to research and answer a question that you, the readers, have posed. Again, I do not claim to have all the answers, but I will do my best to shed some light on the subject matter from a Christian perspective.
If you have a question that you would like me to attempt to answer, please email me at charlie@standrewsspringfield.org.au.
