When the Questions are the Answers

What happens when the answer to a question seems to be another question? Or better yet, a series of unanswered questions? The goal of learning is to give us answers to our questions. But what happens when the learning actually uncovers questions that we did not even know to ask?

Bowler’s Everything Happens for a Reason has helped reveal some deep truths from my time in seminary. Three and a half years ago I felt drawn to enter seminary. I had been working in my current church staff role for the past 14 years. I knew most of what I thought I needed to know, or I at least thought I knew the things I did not know. But it is difficult, if not impossible, to know what you do not know on your own. We need some help.

As I entered seminary, I was looking for more knowledge to push me and help me in my ministry. I thought I would find the answers to the questions I had. What are more effective ways to do ministry? How can I help children and families love Jesus more? One of the first questions I felt God asked me was “Are you willing to listen to me and learn what I want you to learn?” I quickly learned that I had a lot to learn. Kate Bowler shares in Everything Happens for a Reason, after receiving a cancer diagnosis, “the first thing to go is pride” (p. 55). I wonder if that is the first thing that has to go before we can truly learn. I learned that I had become prideful in what I thought I knew about life and ministry. Seminary began helping me know what I did not know.

As I studied church history, I began to discover the ways in which the church has functioned over the past 2,000 years. What ancient practices can I incorporate into my life and ministry that has brought believers closer to Christ for centuries?

Through studying the cultural contexts of ministry I began to see how nuanced and deep are the issues facing the challenge of cultural integration. What needs to change within our church and our people to begin to build bridges with those in our community?

As I explored intergenerational Christian formation, God opened my eyes to the generations living and worshipping around me at our church. Though I have always enjoyed the company of those much older than myself, God began to show me the strengths and weaknesses of the generations. He guided me to begin to see how we can line up the strengths of one generation with the needs of another. This is the full body of Christ. How does our church encourage the separation of the generations and what needs to be the next step in rectifying the situation?

Bowler explains, as a seminary professor training pastors, she has never taught her students “how few of their words are needed” (p. 75). She has learned the importance of simply being with those who are suffering. Presence is much more comforting than any word offered. Listening is much more important. Maybe these new questions are God’s loving guidance that I need to spend more time asking questions and listening.

I have a few more answers than I did before I started seminary. But the value is not in the new answers. The value is in the new questions.

Bowler, K. (2018). Everything happens for a reason: And other lies I’ve loved. Random House.