Can you explain eleven-dimensional string theory? Or solve a fourth-order nonlinear differential equation?
I can’t! It’s beyond me
Sometimes someone asks us a question that stumps us. We don’t know how to answer.
The same happens with questions about our faith.
I know of people who have found those moments so embarrassing that they now tend to keep quiet to avoid hard questions coming up.
Let me give you one simple way to answer every question… admit what you don’t know, but share what you do know.
“I don’t know how to answer that, if I’m honest. I don’t know. But can I tell you what I do know…”
In John Chapter 9, Jesus heals a man born blind.
The people debate whether Jesus is from God (because of the miracle) or if Jesus is not from God (because he healed on the sabbath). Is he sent from God or a sinner? They ask the man Jesus healed. Then ask his parents. Then go back to the man. Eventually the man says:
‘“He answered, “Whether or not he’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see! ”’
John 9:25 CSB
Notice how he answered:
“…I don’t know. One thing I do know…“
Once I gave a talk on “Is there meaning in my pain?” at an event on Sussex university campus hosted by the Christian Union. Afterwards, I spoke to a student whose beliefs I couldn’t work out. She asked questions that tied me in knots. I tried answering each one but got into such a muddle. I suspect she left unable to work out what I believe too!
But imagine if I said: “Honestly, I don’t know how to answer your questions. But what I do know is that I believe Jesus rose from the dead and that’s a taste of the hope he will bring to one day end suffering forever. That’s what keeps me going. And I believe he died for me, and that’s how I know he loves me, even if I don’t understand what I go through.”
You could try it too:
“Honestly, I don’t know the answer to your questions about science. But I do know I believe Jesus rose from the dead. And if he did, then I trust what he says about the universe.”
“I don’t fully understand why Jesus said that. But what I do know is that Jesus doesn’t ask anything of us that he wasn’t willing to do himself.”
“I don’t know how to explain these miracles. But I also don’t know how to explain why a crucified man would be worshipped as God by the people who saw him due unless they saw him alive again.”
Each one gets to the heart of what Christianity is about. Many questions dance around the edges of our faith. This helps you get to the centre.
Just to say, this isn’t promoting laziness when it comes to answering. There are great answers out there to people’s questions! However, the reality is we don’t always have them to hand or we haven’t thought about every question. This approach gives you something to say even when you’re stumped.
