Why Answer a Question with a Question?

When I first saw the title of the book, Questioning Evanglism, I wondered if the author was questioning whether or not Christians should evangelize. But I discovered that the book was about using questions as we seek to tell others about Jesus.

Of course some people answer questions with questions just to avoid talking about an issue. Or they think what is on their mind is more important than the subject the person just brought up. Sometimes it is simply rude to answer a question with a question.

But not always.

In fact, Jesus often answered questions with questions. When He did so, it was the right thing to do.

Why? Because just because a person asks a question does not mean he or she wants to learn something. Questions can also be used to bring about an accusation.

When the chief priest and leaders asked questions of Jesus they were not looking to be taught by Him. They were determined to trap Him with His words so they could prosecute and defame Him. When they asked Jesus to tell them by what authority He did the things He did, He asked them a question. He told them He would answer their question if they would answer His question. He asked them whether John's baptism was from heaven or from men.

Those leaders could not or would not give an answer because they knew they if they said John's baptism was from heaven, how could they explain why they didn't follow John. Yet if they said John's baptism was from men they would risk offending the multitudes who believed John the baptist was a prophet of God. So the leaders couldn't give an answer to Jesus, so Jesus did not answer their question.

Today there are times when people will ask a question of a Christian not to learn something but as an introduction to an attack on the beliefs of Christians. No matter what answer is given, the person simply wants to argue and demean those who believe the Bible. Their mind is already made up and all they want to do is denounce Christianity.

Answering such questions with an appropriate question can do more than avoid a pointless conflict. When Jesus asked the leaders whether John's baptism was from heaven or from men, they had to stop and ponder how they might answer. Asking questions can result in people doing more thinking.

Just giving a "straight" answer might not even be understood by those asking an accusatory question. What you and they mean by certain terms may be quite different. So by asking them a question related to the topic of their question, you can find out more of what they currently believe. That can help you to ask further questions which can help them think about and articulate their perspective on important issues connected with the original "question" that was asked.

If all people want is an argument, or an opportunity to put you down, there is no reason to play their game. But if your asking pertinent questions results in a serious dialogue, then the time can be well spent.

If this subject matter is of interest to you, maybe you could get a copy of Questioning Evangelism , by Randy Newman, and read it for yourself. Or see if you know somebody who has a copy and borrow it.

Thanks for reading this post. I hope it has given you a little something to think about.

Are We Ashamed Of Jesus?

How often do we talk to other people about a book, movie, TV show, news event, or sports team that we like?

How often do we talk to other people about Jesus? Or to be more specific, how often do we talk about Jesus with people who do not believe in Him as Lord and Savior?

 Why do so many of us talk so easily about all manner of things that have no eternal consequence for anybody, yet fail to talk about the one thing that does have an eternal consequence for everybody.

Are we ashamed of Jesus?

Well, Jesus does not appreciate being ashamed of Him or His words.

Luk 9:26  For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. ESV

I certainly don't want to be ashamed of Jesus. But what should we say to others about Him? What if they ask us questions that we can't answer? Will we make a mess of things, and only further convince them that we Christians don't have a clue as to what we are talking about?

Are we afraid of offending people by claiming that Jesus is the only true Savior and Lord? But by our avoiding offending others are we then offending Christ?

So, should we rush out and confront everybody with a demand that they repent from their sins and believe in Jesus as their Savior and Lord? How effective would that be? Is that what Jesus expects of us?

Did Jesus do that while He was here in the flesh?

Not exactly. So first of all we should read Scripture and learn what Jesus did, and what the apostles did after He returned to heaven. And we should take heed to what Peter wrote:

1Pe 3:15  but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,  ESV

We ought to be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks us for a reason for the hope that is in us, and do so with gentleness and respect.

Yes, we ought to be prepared. Are you, am I, as prepared as we could be or should be to give reason for the hope that is in us?

Is there anything we can do to be better prepared to talk with others about Jesus?

I believe there is. I believe we should take a fresh look at evangelism. Rather than leave the sharing of the good news to preachers and evangelists, we should do what we can to do better when it comes to talking with others about our Lord.

Today I purchased Questioning Evangelism by Randy Newman, a rabbi who came to believe in Jesus. I read the introduction this morning, and I intend to read the rest of it in the coming days so as to hopefully be better able and more confident when talking with others about Jesus.

The introduction of the book also mentions other books that should be worthwhile reading for Christians who want to do better at letting others know about salvation.

There is More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell.  Know Why You Believe by Paul Little.  Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Also The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel.

I intend to read all of these books on my Kindle reader. If you also want to be better prepared to talk with others about Jesus then I hope you will consider reading these or other books that could help you share the good news. I'm sure you can get them in whatever format is best for you.

We don't have to become an "expert" or "professional" to talk with others about Christ. But we can become better able to tell others about the hope we have in Jesus.

When Jesus returns I don't want Him to ask "why were you ashamed of Me and My words" or "why did you act as though you were ashamed of Me and My words?"

How Many Ways To God?

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:2-6 ESV

The disciples who were with Jesus for over three years saw Him heal the sick, calm a storm, walk on water, and even restore life to a man who'd been dead for days. They also heard Him teach profound truths both to the multitudes and to themselves as they traveled about.

But for all that time they spent watching and listening to Jesus, there was still much they did not understand about Him. When He spoke about going and preparing a place for them, and coming again to take them to be with Him, they weren't sure what He was talking about.

Therefore when He told them "you know the way to where I am going" Thomas had to speak up. He felt he needed to explain to Jesus that He was mistaken. How could they know the way to where He was going if they didn't even know where it was that He was going?

Jesus wasn't perturbed by what Thomas said. He understood both the situation and His disciples much better than they did. He didn't try to resolve their dilemma by showing on a map the way to where He was going. Nor did He give them a list of directions to memorize so they wouldn't get lost on the way to the location where He would prepare a place for them to be with Him.

Instead of providing a map or directions to show the way, Jesus answered Thomas with one of the most amazing things ever spoken by anyone. Jesus told him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

The place where Jesus was going was to be back with the Father. Later He would return and take them to be with Him in the presence of the Father. And there is only one way to come into the presence of  God the Father. That one and only way is a person,  Jesus Christ.

Why is Jesus the only way to God?

Because God is perfectly holy. We are all sinners. None of us as sinners could tolerate to be in the presence of the one true and holy God. As sinners we reject God and His Lordship over us. With our sinful thoughts, words, and deeds we rebel against God. We deny that He knows what is right for us. We declare by our actions that we deem ourselves to be better at determining what is best for us. We don't want Him to tell us how to live.

We totally deserve the judgment of God. And there is no way to fool God into thinking otherwise.

But there is a way to be accepted by God. One way. Only one way.

Jesus is that one way. He was sinless. He always has and always will do what pleases His Father. He deserves no judgment, no rejection, no punishment from His Father.

When Jesus was declared guilty by men, and crucified and put to death by men, it was not as a consequence of sinning against God. What men did to Him was because they did not like what He said, even though everything He said was true. They didn't like what He did, because they wanted to be the ones to decide who did what and when. They had decided they knew what was best and they didn't want Him around to interfere with what they wanted to teach and do.

Jesus suffered and died on the cross. He got what we deserve, not what He deserved. He went to the cross on our behalf, in our place. On that cross, His Father rejected Him, treating Him as if He had sinned the sins we have committed.

Jesus died because the wages of sin is death, and He took that payment on our behalf. His body was laid in a tomb. But on the third day after the crucifixion, Jesus left the tomb with a resurrection body what could never die again. His sacrificial death to atone for our sins was acceptable to the Father.

Only Jesus, having paid for our sins by His death on the cross, is the way we can be accepted into the presence of God. If we reject that way, if we reject Jesus and tell Him we'll find another way to be acceptable to God, we'll simply be adding more sin and rebellion against God than we already have committed.

How many ways to God? One. That way is Jesus. He is both Son of God and Son of Man, who came in the flesh as a baby so that he could be one of us, and grow up and then suffer and die for us. He got what we deserve. We can be blessed with the eternal life and unending joy that He deserves.

If at this time you do not acknowledge Jesus as your savior and lord, I urge you to take the time to get to know Him in Scripture. Read the Bible, starting with the New Testament. When you come to know Jesus, you will come to know the way, the truth, and the life.