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 If
you think the brethren at large can ask provocative questions,
you should try to teach third year college students — who have
learned to question everything, are too smart for a
"snow" job, and think you must unscrew the
inscrutable. At times one may be tempted to become facetious.
"Why did not Jacob know he had the wrong woman the night of
his marriage (Gen. 29:23-25)?" Reply, "The nights are
very dark in Palestine."
We
are tempted, I repeat, but we need not yield. Nor should we
pontificate — act like we know, and say it so positively the
querist would not dare argue. If we really believe our position
is secure we can afford to be gracious. And most reprehensible
are those who, feeling their traditions threatened, classify the
querist as "heretic," and drive the matter underground
to smolder and build heat for a later breaking forth.
Not
all questions are honest. The Bible and our experience prove
this. Nor are we able to infallibly judge the hearts of others.
Too, an honest question does not mean the querist wants the
truth one has to offer. If one suspects this may be the case the
first reply can be cautiously given — perhaps another
question, to clarify, and to lead the
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querist to be more
receptive.
Above
all, keep the communication intact, for honest questions are
open doors to an ideal learning situation. "Learning begins
with a felt difficulty " and people learn what they want to
learn. The teacher who understands this is more concerned with
creating interest and stirring an awareness of needs than in
stuffing information into unwilling heads.
I'm
convinced much of our preaching has failed because we try to
tell folk what they must do to be saved before they are made to
realize that they are lost. We are trying to answer questions
they do not ask, and fill needs they do not feel. Our subject
matter may be appropriate but we need a better introduction.
An
honest question may have been long in coming, requiring a
build-up of courage and a willingness to admit the need for an
answer. If we handle it abruptly we may slam the door in the
face of a truth seeker. So, if someone asks, "How come the
Jews had to rent a veil for the temple?" you must swallow
hard and say, "Perhaps we should look at that more
closely."
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