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Healthy Questioning vs. Arrogant Questioning

Posted on 19 June, 2007 by Sivin Kit

“… For too many people, faith is a kind of “auto-pilot” flight plan, but for reflective people, faith is linked closely to wonder, which keeps them open to the possibility that they’re on the wrong path or heading to the wrong destination. To put it another way, because of their commitment to reach the right destination – a truly good life, with good character, as a good neighbor, in harmony with the goodness of God – they are willing to question the directions they got off the internet when it appears there’s a discrepancy between their map and reality…. there’s an arrogant kind of questioning that’s harmful to the spiritual life. It involves an unwillingness to acknowledge mystery and a hasty rejection of wisdom from others, including wisdom from tradition. But there’s also an arrogant unwillingness to ask questions. It reflects a hyper-confidence that one already has it all figured out, shrink wrapped, and packed in the drawer. With God, I believe, mystery and wonder always remain, and awe always has the last work.” – Brian D. McLaren, Dare to Wonder

What caught my attention in Brian’s post is “an arrogant kind of questioning that’s harmful to the spiritual life. It involves an unwillingness to acknowledge mystery and a hasty rejection of wisdom from others, including wisdom from tradition.” It was just one sentence in a piece which is actually uplifting the value of questioning, but a significant line which stood out glaringly at me. I dare to wonder out of the box that’s energizing, that’s maturing (and in reality often that’s when we see our limits as people who ask questions). It’s wandering in circles which tires me. Listening to a broken record in my mind drives me crazy.

We were walking back from breakfast at an Indian restaurant to where we parked our cars at Bangsar Lutheran Church. The weather was good so I thought walking to and fro our breakfast venue was a good idea. This reminds me of Brian’s visit to Malaysia in March. I had a memorable walk and talk with him near the hotel he was staying. Brian and I explored some questions which were occupying our minds during that time. It was open ended but helpful.

My new friend asked me while walking back to our cars about my reading. Why do I read? I think I read because I have lots of questions. And the questions I have bursts into all sorts of directions which I hunger for answers. So, usually my starting point is to find answers. Ironically, even if I don’t find my originally expected answers, I find the reading gives me some space to even re-frame my perspectives or questions, or gives new language to talk and think about it in a way which frees me and “grows” me! The wisdom from others and especially from the past has humbled me. So, questioning of this kind has been helpful to my life – especially the spiritual life, and is crucial for my own well being.

I’m off to read Bonhoeffer’s thoughts on Matthew 5-7. Lots of questions in my mind. Let’s see what happens.

4 thoughts on “Healthy Questioning vs. Arrogant Questioning”

  1. CK Lee says:
    19 June, 2007 at 10:32 am

    Hi, juz wonder any interesting issues being discussed in the Friends of Conversation Reunion that I have missed. I wanted to come but you gave me so last minute notice, that I found difficult to adjust my time.

  2. Sivin says:
    19 June, 2007 at 12:17 pm

    CK Lee – sorry for the last minute notice. Will improve on that the next round. We had a very informal small group discussion. A visitor commented we had a “multi-logue”. A number of issues cropped up,

    e.g.

    – is it possible for Christians to see themselves fulfilling their vocation or calling in areas of social justice or marketplace concerns but not being part of the institutional church or it’s related activities? (there was a lively discussion on this one)

    – how does all this relate to our current dominant Islamic context and how the church can be more “united” in our common witness?

    – There was also feedback on the Friends event, and impressions from participating in it.

  3. hawariyun says:
    20 June, 2007 at 10:03 am

    Many evangelicals (blessed with good mind, thinking and writing) started with humble and humility. But then as they progressed further, gaining his or her so called popularity, sadly began to be so arrogant in way they answer and question people. This really saddened me.

    I remember a monk who once told me, “If you can handle it with love and honor, you will get back love and honor. So be mindful of what you say and do”. Dr Ravi too once spoken that we must continually be humble in our apologetics works esp in our walk in knowing God more.

    Thus i find such people are so good in getting knowledge but then on relational side… they are way back off. I like what Brian did…engage in conversations. Respect others views. Talk in both level… deep and shallow.

    On another note… my theology of church has changed after talking to David Bok. I believe church be it organisation or individual, we are exist for others. Christian on Sundays or anyday can be with their friends building silaturahim (fellowship) and relationship so that gospel can be reach out. This is what church is for. Church doesn’t necessary means grouping within believers. It can exist with non-believers not in a church building. It can be while we are jogging, shopping, watching cinemas etc. Where 2 or three are gathered in His name, He will be there.

    I also believe we (Christian) should not disengaged from our existing church community because this is where we are brought up spiritualy. They can pray for us, and what we are doing. We need prayer support and also moral support from them.

    Again is a priority which we need to look into. We need to get out from our traditional evangelical and began to study scripture what church really means.

    In our society, where racial and religious sentiment plus also social status has divided our Msian people into their ethnic groups. Before we can be united… its a good start where we can relate our neighbours by learning to respect them (not only as a person, but they way of they live e.g. clothing, food, their beliefs and faith) and also to identify with them. We need to tear down (with help from God) all barriers that exist between us and them. Then we (church) can move on.

  4. Alex Tang says:
    20 June, 2007 at 12:39 pm

    hi sivin,

    Thanks for the quote from Brian. Brian brings out an important point about learning. Are we learning for knowledge, to prove our prejudices, or to see God? Are we seeking to put God in a box, where we can label and categorise? God is a God of mystery, wonder, and awe. Someone once said that spiritual maturity is the ability to hold in paradox two beliefs about God- his transcendence and his immanence.

    One of the dangers of a theological education especially a higher masters or PhD is that one is forced to make boxes. Hope the Lord will preserve you from this.

    BTW will be nice if you will post the discussion on Friends of Conversation Reunion

    shalom

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