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Foreword:
In the realm of spirit and soul, I can be
more certain of the questions than of
answers. Rather than answers, there are
answering persons. Rather than quickly
respond to my ego’s need for closure and
satisfaction, I need to develop a vital
relationship with Jesus Christ. My ego
typically seeks immediate satisfaction and,
in doing so, will settle for falsehood that
satisfies rather than a less satisfying
truth. Jesus keeps me on the necessary
search.
Jesus directly answers only a few questions
asked in the 4 Gospels. Jesus seems not to
understand that resolving personal dilemmas
is the function of religion. In response to
questions, Jesus typically:
-Keeps silent (as with Pilate Jn 19: 9),
-Returns with another question (as with
Caesar’s coin Mt 22: 19),
-Offers an illustration (as with Good Samaritan Lk 10: 30ff),
-Puts the question in the inquirer’s frame
of reference (as with the rich young man Mk
10: 19),
-Laments the ill will inherent in the
question (as when Pharisees asked for a sign
Mk
8: 12), which is used to fortify the argument.
Often, silence, prayer, and love for an
opponent are the only answers. By
understanding this fundamental dynamic, I
can understand that Jesus, in asking his
questions, is trying to:
-Reposition me
-Make me own my
unconscious biases
-Open my dualistic mind
-Challenge my image of
God and the world
-Offer me new creative
possibilities
Jesus does not wait for specific answers,
but intends to call forth an answering
person:
-Wanting to be in relationship with me,
-Intending to inform me, and
-Initiate a process of transformation in me.
Jesus’ questions along with parables reveal
a unique style of evangelization in
encountering souls. This style is contrary
to modern televangelism or a mainline
approach of ‘Dear Abbey’ bits of advice and
workable solutions for daily living – mere
stabilization of the status quo by use of
platitudes and euphemisms. Jesus
destabilizes false assumptions upon which
persons build their world-view. “In
thinking, the majority is always wrong!”
Jesus understands that persons will return
to the dominant consciousness unprepared to
deal with their inner conflicts or critique
of others. Unspoken assumptions are
embedded in every aspect of culture causing
the message to become irrelevant. Only
relationships and life style form a firm
foundation.
Jesus asks questions that unnerve, realign,
transform, rather than moving people to
higher moral ground, certitude, or ego
superiority. Jesus subverts cultural or
theological assumptions that persons must
face. Persons are like the ‘emperor without
clothes’ not in control, but thereby open to
grace. Without answers to hard questions, I
allow God to change me, rather than my
trying to change others.
“God alone is good” (Mk
10: 18);
I cannot make myself good with glib answers
to unanswerable questions. “What must I do
to inherit eternal life?” “Follow me!” The
rich young man wanted to believe himself to
be good, rather than rejoicing in God’s
goodness. This is the problem of religion
based primarily on morality and satisfying
answers rather than based on the questioning
person. The rich young man missed the
primary call to relationship; ‘Jesus looked
steadily at him and loved him.” The young
man, however, could only hear his own
questions.
To be continued |
