Question Time

Another tragedy or disaster, another enquiry.

It seems we are in the habit of trying to get answers to important questions, often raised in the wake of a death or disaster.

So, today, after exploring the deaths of 200 young people in custody, the organisation 'Inquest' has produced a report which highlights the appalling connections between these young lives so cruelly cut short.

All these enquiries take time and cost money. 

Mercifully, in our country and culture, it is accepted that getting to the truth matters, and that justice should be available for all, especially the vulnerable and powerless. 

This is not true in many parts of the world, where the powerful and tyrannical can do what they like, without fear of any reprisals. 

When we stop to ask why our culture is as it is, we see that the concern for truth and justice grows directly from the Christian heritage that has shaped our laws and values. For this we need to be thankful, and alert to the currents which would change that.

We should not be surprised that it is our Christian heritage that has made such a difference, because Jesus himself confronted his closest followers with questions, which it took them some time to understand and answer. 

'Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 

“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.” 

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8.27-29)

Some people I know have accepted that they haven't worked out satisfactory answers to these sorts of questions. They tell me that to do so would take too much time - and then they might have to reassess their life's direction!
Perhaps we all avoid some questions, for fear of the answers they might unearth.

But just as we accept that there should be time-consuming enquiries into major aspects of our public life, so we should all take the time to face deep and important questions for ourselves. Growing in knowing God, as He is revealed in and through Jesus, is not something that will happen while we are fully engaged with other activities. 

So here is my question for today. How much time have you allocated to asking and answering such questions for yourself?
Best wishes,

Richard