Questions are usually good things. It gives us the opportunity to answer. We want to confess our faith, defend it, and give the reason for the hope that is in us (1Pt 3:15). People who come as guests to the congregation I serve arrive with questions on their mind: "Why do you do...? Why do you believe...? Why do you say...?" What a blessed thing such questions are! I feel strongly that the church is like Radio Shack, whose advertising campaign theme was straightforward: "You've got questions. We've got answers." Questions are not a threat to our faith or our church. They are an open door to knowledge, and by the power of the divine Word, to faith in Christ who has promised to be the answer to our questions.

However, there are questions that are asked not to elicit answers, but to accuse or shame. Such questions must be replied to with their true intent in mind, that is, not answered at all. Sometimes probing questions are asked about things for which there are no answers. Then we should be willing to say that there are no answers to such queries. They are dangerous for the asker, because they imply that unless we can know and understand the answer that God cannot possibly do what He promises to do. Such doubt is a transgression, as Chrysostom says; a transgression of the first commandment.  We have deified our own knowing of answers, replacing the God who answers when and how it is pleasing to Him.

We, like Abraham, should be fully convinced that God is able to what he has promised (Rm 4:21). That means that we may not know the means by which God will fulfill His promises. No sort of question will gain any answer. Indeed, even if God were to answer, we might not be able to make any sense of it, because of our depravity and weakness. Faith must accept the fact that God will do what He promises. Not only do the promises require us to believe that God has the means to fulfill them, but the radicality of the promises also highlights the character of faith. It is trust.