Saturday, January 29, 2011

Truth Spaces (6) One more general point

I liked the pertinent question posted last time: "So what kind of questions did Christ ask?" In painting a general picture I mustn't obscure my focus on Jesus. But, I think, these general points about questions need to be made before I look at the unique differences of Jesus' questions.

I have shown that questions are (1) revealing, (2) of all sorts, and (3) can be asked in a relationship that is either top-down or side-by-side. It is also important to see how side-by-side questions are (4) especially popular in today's culture which is often described as moving from modernity to post-modernity.

In a book which gives an alphabet for Christians living in today's post-modern culture there is one entry for Q:

Quest-ions: Questions are now quests, not conquests. If a question can't become a quest (vision guest, grail quest, hope quest) it's not worth asking. A quest implies a question that launches the askers on a journey. Modern leadership involved answering questions. Authority flowed to the certain, convincing, clear, simple and firm. In contrast, post-modern leaders ask at least as many questions as they answer. Authority flows to the stimulating, challenging, provocative, mysterious and intruiging.


Now we must be careful about over-simplifying issues of culture but it's interesting to see this analysis fits so well the contemporary search for authenticity, as people seem to yearn for real spiritual experience that gives space for them to grow in understanding.

Now, to these four general points about questions that affect our approach to the gospel questions there are three specific issues that only relate to Jesus' questions. I wonder if you can guess what these three are?

1 comment:

wsuriano said...

Do you find that, at least with respect to side-by-side questions, Christ asks good questions because he's a good listener?