I am glad to be part of a tradition that encourages questions. Recent conversations with others have gotten me thinking on this topic. Many faiths, and even some denominations within the Christian faith, discourage questions of faith. The Methodist tradtion has always promoted thought, learning, and seeking. I think everyone, at some point, begins to wonder if what they've been told is correct. We feel the "what about..." questions coming to our minds. We can deal with that in two ways. The first is to dismiss the question as a weakness of faith. The second, and I think more helpful, is to allow the question to help us seek a deeper understanding of our own faith. With that being said, having a strong community of faith and spiritual leader to help us explore these questions is critical. We cannot do this alone!
A new year is a great time to begin new habits and new explorations. I would encourage everyone to write down your questions, no matter how silly they seem, and get them to your spiritual leader. If he or she is unwilling to help you explore them, I would encourage you to look to a different guide who will be able to help you grow on your own journey of faith. The faith of our fathers and mothers is a great faith, but we eventually have to come to an understanding of faith on our own, and that requires some deep questioning, searching, and struggling to do. Explore the questions, and be blessed by the journey!
Pastor Brian
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