Questions of Faith

A few years ago, there was a television ad for Google's Pixel Phone that imprinted on my brain. Which, of course, is exactly what advertising attempts to do. It began like this: “when you change a period to a question mark, it changes everything.” And then they gave some examples, in rapid succession:

• The earth is flat. The earth is flat?
• We’re lost. We’re lost? 
• Cars need drivers. Cars need drivers? 
• Smartphones can’t get any smarter. Smartphones can’t get any smarter?

When you change a period to a question mark, it changes everything.

What happens when we apply this insight to our faith, and begin to change periods into question marks. This pandemic is the end of the Church. This pandemic is the end of the Church? 

My experience teaches me that questions lead to deeper faith. Perhaps the patron saint of this truth is St. Thomas, whom we often misremember as a doubter, when he was really just that guy who was willing to ask the hard questions. Certitude truncates faith and certitude is an equal opportunity offender: there are versions on both the left and the right. When someone knows something, for sure, they stop listening. Period. They close themselves down. Period.

This is always a problem for Christian community. Statements get debated. Questions get explored. So when we change periods to question marks, it changes everything. We begin to wonder what we might not be seeing or what we do not know and we are free to wonder what others have to offer us to help with our blind spots. Our neighbor is no longer a threat, but a gift to us. It reminds us that we need one another, and we are in this together.

We are blessed by our diversity. We are blessed by our diversity?

Some days it may not feel like that, because it’s hard work. Division and mistrust permeate the dominant culture in which we live. But we dare to proclaim a deeper truth, that in Christ there is no east nor west; in Christ no south or north. Just one great fellowship of love, throughout the whole wide earth. We dare to believe and even to insist that everyone be treated with dignity and respect. Though we are many, we are one.

When you change a period to a question mark, it changes everything. Even as this pandemic continues, we dare to ask: what does the Lord require of us? (See Micah 6:8) And then to allow that question to lead us into doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.