by Pastor Mike McVey
First United Methodist Church, Fairfield
ACS Chaplain – U.S. Coast Guard Base Galveston
I have been in the ministry for more than 10 years and I want to share with you a common issue I have found within every congregation I have served. Now, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that this situation, or attitude, is found within most of our congregation across our area. What I have found, within our churches, is a deep and hesitant fear of a particular action. An embarrassing attitude toward the prospect of a certain task that all of us are called to participate in. Can you guess what it is?
It is the fear or embarrassment of asking questions.
Somewhere along the walk in our faith we got it in our heads that to ask questions about scripture, Jesus, God, the Trinity, would somehow make us look weak or lacking in faith. We instead bottle our questions up within us and simply ignore those nagging feelings or desire for more information. As a minister of the Gospel, I think its time we get a grip and stop this damaging mentality.
Christianity is one of the only religions in which its followers are CALLED to ask questions. In the letter of 1st John, it states, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Now what does this mean? It means that as Christians we should always be willing to ask the tough questions, or the simple ones, that we may gain in the knowledge of Christ. The act of not asking questions can lead to others being misled by false prophets.
If our faith is the same today as it was ten years ago, then I’m afraid we are wasting God’s time. We as members of Christ’s Holy church are required to be growing in our trust, knowledge, and connection with Jesus every day. To do any less is to fail in our responsibilities as Christians.
You want to make your Pastor’s day, call them up and ask if you can set up an appointment. Tell them you have some questions about the Bible and would like their opinion. Then, go and sit and discuss the Gospel together. I guarantee you will make their day! Perhaps you both will answer questions that you have long struggled with, and if not, then you rest in the faith of an all-knowing God.
If you don’t have a pastor and still have a question about faith, Christianity, the Bible, God, Jesus, or the church; then please feel free to email me! I would be happy to sit down with you and walk with you in a journey of faith. Perhaps your question is one that I have as well!
To my brothers and sisters of the Christian church, let us never grow weary in pursuing the knowledge of Christ. There is too much at stake in this world, too many lost souls for us to become complacent. Too many broken people to just ignore our calling to grow in our faith.
Don’t be afraid to ask, and then be prepared to listen (that’s another story).
Never stop seeking my friends.
(P.S. If you would like contact or receive Pastor Mike’s weekly newsletter simply email him at pastormike@fumcfairfield.org)
