Asking big questions can be hard and lonely. That’s why these tools are originally designed for groups to do them together. For the full version including activities, group questions, and more click here. For more info on how to start a group click here.
Problem:
Should we be asking faith questions at all? Aren’t we risking hell by questioning faith or deconstructing? Shouldn’t we be afraid of making a mistake? For many of us these are very serious and dire questions!
DUKE
Yeah! We already know God. We’ve got a free ticket to heaven. Why risk it?
MR. NAT
Duke, is God true?
DUKE
Yes.
MR. NAT
Does God want us to seek him?
DUKE
Yes.
MR. NAT
So isn’t seeking the truth a way of seeking God?
DUKE
Umm… Sure?
Tool #1 (Part 1)
Tool number one. Realize, insofar as there is a true God, that God, by definition, is true. So in seeking truth you are being faithful. This is true no matter what prompted you to ask big questions, no matter how messy your process is, and no matter where it leads.
Questioning faith; Deconstructing; Seeking the truth; They are all acts of faithfulness.
Dialogue 2:
JR.
But what if I make a mistake?
DUKE
Yeah! What if you make a mistake and become an atheist? Then you die and discover there really is a God, and then you go to hell FOREVER?!?!
MR. NAT
Good question, Jr.
Duke, I know you’re very anxious because you care a lot about your friends, but let’s take it down a notch.
DUKE
Right. I can do that.
MR. NAT
Theo, when your son, Jr., was younger did he ever try to do something nice for you but fail?
THEO
Oh yes. The infamous breakfast!
He tried to make us breakfast in bed one Saturday. We woke up to the slap of uncooked bacon falling on our faces. Understandably we jumped which made him jump which sent the orange juice, milk, and cereal he held flying all over the bed. He seemed to find this delightful because he ran around the room cheering, “Breakfast in bed! Breakfast in bed!”
MR. NAT
Now, you might have been a bit upset in that moment, but did you hold this against your son?
THEO
No, of course not. There was no saving anything so we just sat in our slightly soggy bed and choked down handfuls of dry cereal, and we thanked him very much. We did take steps to make sure that didn’t happen again, especially when we realized he turned on the burner to try to cook poptarts, but it was one of my wife and I’s favorite memories.
MR. NAT
Now, if he had accidentally burned the house down or done this on a work day and made you late for work, would you have held it against him?
THEO
I might have gotten upset, but no, of course I wouldn’t hold it against him. He didn’t know what he was doing. He was trying.
MR. NAT
Do you think your love for your son is greater than God?
THEO
Of course not. I’m just trying to be a half way decent parent.
Tool #1 (Part 2)
Insofar as there is a God connected to the God in the Bible that is called “Love” (1 John 4:8), that God’s love is at least as good as a half way decent parent. Therefore, there’s enough grace for any mistakes you make seeking the truth.
Bible Verse (if you’re into that sort of thing)
Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.
- 1 John 4:8
Summary of Tool #1
Insofar as there is a true God, that God, by definition, is true. So in seeking truth you are being faithful. And insofar as there is a God worth serving, that God’s love is at least as good as a half way decent parent. Therefore, there’s enough grace for any mistakes you make seeking the truth.
NOTE:
It is really important to be able to question without fear or threat. It’s much harder to be honest with the evidence, with ourselves, and with each other when there are incentives or threats. While we can’t turn off all fearful or motivated thinking, hopefully this tool can help ease fears about losing one’s identity or going to hell.
Asking big questions can be hard and lonely. That’s why these tools are originally designed for groups to do them together. For the full version including activities, group questions, and more click here. For more info on how to start a group click here.
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