Why Does God Ask Questions

Have you ever asked the question:

“Why does God ask questions?”

Genesis 3:9 says,

“Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him,
‘Where are you?’”.  

Two verses later God poses two more questions. In verse 11 God asks Adam,

“Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”

As we look thru the scriptures one of the interesting things we find is that God asks quite a few questions. In Genesis 3:9 God asks Adam, “Where are you?”. Later in verse 11 God asks how Adam found out he was naked and if Adam had done what he was told not to. Jesus was certainly no different than His Father. A quick scan of the Gospels shows us Jesus would oftentimes ask questions. In Matthew 7:9 Jesus asks, “What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?”. More prominently, Jesus posed a question from the cross. Mark 15:34 records the most important question ever asked:

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Let’s focus on this last question in order to answer our question. Why would God, In the person of Jesus, need to ask a question? Didn’t He know the plan? Didn’t Jesus know why the Father had forsaken Him? To answer this we have to realize that Jesus wasn’t the first person to ask the question. He was actually quoting from Psalm 22. It starts like this:

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? 

Why are You so far from helping Me, 

And from the words of My groaning?

O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; 

And in the night season, and am not silent.

But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.

Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them.

They cried to You, and were delivered; 

They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

But I am a worm, and no man; 

A reproach of men, and despised by the people.

All those who see Me ridicule Me; 

They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

"He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!"

Psalm 22 is actually a prophecy. It describes in amazingly accurate detail how the Messiah would be treated. It was written from a human experience, but with a recognizably prophetic purpose. When Jesus quoted this Psalm from the cross he was actually teaching. Any Jew who was listening should have recognized the Psalm and realized that the scriptures had described this very event hundreds of years before. They should have immediately understood, even if they had never met Jesus before, they were witnessing the persecution of God’s Anointed. Jesus wasn’t asking questions to find out the answer. He was asking questions to reveal the truth. That was the purpose of God’s questions in Genesis. That is the purpose of any question God asks. God’s questions aren’t for His education. They are for ours.

What question has God posed to you lately?

Can Apes Read Minds?

     Science (true science) is the systematic study of the world through observation and experimentation. It is essentially the human condition's logical attempt to find truth; and I love it. After all, the truth shall set you free (John 8:32).

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'”

     The problem I face comes from the growing trend that MOST people who practice science, particularly as a profession, don't do it very well. Case in point would be a recent study on primate cognitive abilities. The study was designed to find evidence in support of the current evolutionary model rather than the truth.  The result, as summarized in this Science magazine article written by Virginia Morell, is one of the worst examples of science I have ever seen. Yet, it is hailed as groundbreaking. 

     The article states that “evolutionary anthropologists” have determined chimpanzees, bonobos, and orangutans are able to understand when someone else holds a false belief. This is an ability previously only ascribed to humans. The study seeks to prove that we share this ability with apes. This shared ability would then further support the theory of common ancestry between apes and humans (the current modern evolutionary model). This pseudo-empathy was tested by having a man place a rock in a box while an ape watched. Then, under ape observation, another man in a monkey (ape-like) costume would hide the rock in a different box before “changing his mind,” and absconding with the rock altogether. When the rocks original owner (not the guy in the monkey costume) returned, eye tracking technology reported that of the apes stared at the box they saw the human place the rock in. This behavior was interpreted to mean that the apes knew the rock's original owner held a false belief.

Absurdity abounds. That being said, let us come now to the rat killing:

1. Bias is shown firstly by the fact that the study is being carried out by “evolutionary anthropologists.” We have a problem when the person who is attempting to prove a theory actually constructs their identity based upon that theory. Let me put it this way: Is a self identified, “Bigfoot Hunter” ever going to come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as Bigfoot?

2. The ape staring at the last object it saw an individual interact with is hardly evidence of cognitive application of empathy. It could be that, or it could just be the ape held spacial association between that man and the last place the ape saw the man go.

3. While 57% does constitute a majority response, it isn't consistent enough to show a uniformed or predictable behavior that should be considered as conclusive evidence of an abstract emotional construct.

4. Even if the behavior was observed throughout 100% of the trials, the assertive leap attributing it to the ape realizing the man had a false-belief is too far to be logical. It is in fact, an act of faith not inference.

5. A man in a monkey suit. Really?

     Please understand, the issue does not lie quite in how the study was presented in Ms. Morell's article. She did a fine job of presenting dissenting opinions. The problem lies in the general state of scientific study. This study was designed to prove a theory, not test it. That is where we are at. Modern “scientists” seek only to further their chosen faith (evolution). Real science, unbiased study of the world around us in pursuit of the truth, will always point back to the One True God (Romans 1). Maybe that's why scientists have abandoned science. Perhaps we should start calling them “apologists”.

“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. “
                    - 1 Timothy 4:6,7

To Those Who Doubt

I was recently cruising social media when I ran across this question as it was posed to a friend of mine (real friend, not the social media kind) who happens to be a pastor.  I have shortened the original question to help keep it on point. I corrected some spelling and grammatical errors.  However, I left the majority in an effort not to alienate the quote entirely from its original voice.  The question was posed as such:

Don’t think I’m trying to [be] the devil or anything, lol, but scripture was written by ordinary men, picked through by men, and organized and rearranged by men.  … Books have been added.  Books have been taken out, by men [whose] motives may be questionable.  I don’t know how to ask what I’m thinking without sounding like a terrible doubting Thomas.  But, you see where I’m going with this.

I want to first point out that Ms. Jane Smith, regardless of what she wants to sound like, is doubting. She doubts that the Bible is in fact the Word of God.  I understand.  Her doubts are quite common. The question which she states is one that has been put forward many times before.  In answer to this question I now submit the following:

To those who doubt God’s Word,

There is no logical or empirical argument that can convince you that the Bible is the inerrant and living Word of God.  Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying.  The Bible is logical.  The Bible is supported by empirical evidence.  When you test what the Bible (truly) says, with (truly) open eyes, you will see that it is true (Romans 1:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:21).  But someone cannot be logically or empirically argued to faith (1 Corinthians 2:10-16).  Furthermore, the sad part about all this is that unless you believe the Word of God you can’t have true faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 10:17).  After all, the Bible says that Jesus is the Word (John 1:1-5, 14).  And without faith in Christ Jesus we have no forgiveness of our sin (Acts 4:12).

So I urge you.  Find a body of believers who teach sound doctrine, will build you up, and encourage you forward as you seek God’s truth.  Then, test God’s word.  See if it is true.  But, most importantly, pray that God would give you His understanding.  An intellectual knowledge of God and the Bible does not save.  For by grace we have been saved through faith, and that (faith) is not of ourselves.  It is the gift of God.  It does not come by our works, be they physical, spiritual, or mental (Ephesians 2:8).

Yours is Christ,