Two ways to respond when you’re asked a tough Bible question
What if someone asks you, "What's the deal with all the parables Jesus told? Why didn't he just come out and say what he meant?"
How would you answer?
Or what if you get even more perplexing questions about why you believe Jesus is the only way to God, or where the word "Trinity" is in the Bible?
If you're a Christian, you will likely get questions like this. Especially if you're a leader and in a position of authority.
Let me show you how I go about giving quick responses, even when I'm not confident I can completely satisfy the asker.
I usually start by simply complimenting them on their query. If it seems like they're a deep thinker or care about spiritual things, I'll acknowledge that.
Then, if they seem open, I'll probe into why they asked the question in the first place.
I've found this approach often reduces people's defensiveness and can minimize any agenda they may bring. When I don't get all flustered and defensive myself, a real two-sided conversation can happen.
Second, if I remember a verse fragment that I believe answers their question, I'll whip out my Bible app and do a keyword search. I thank God for the quick-access Bible in my pocket!
Here's an example. If someone asks why Jesus used so many parables, you can type "why parables" in your Bible app. It should lead to Matthew 13:10, where we read, "The disciples came to him and asked, 'Why do you speak to the people in parables?'"
The next verse begins with Jesus' reply: "Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them." Keep reading the passage yourself to see how he unpacks this.
Finally, if you get a question that can't be handled by these quick techniques – and you most likely will – you always have the fallback response of "Hmm. Let me get back to you."
Then, not only will you get a chance to revisit a conversation with this person, but you may learn something yourself. Happens to me all the time!
Still learning,
Tom Harper
Founder, BiblicalLeadership.com
LinkedIn profile | My books
 | Tom Harper is publisher of BiblicalLeadership.com and executive chairman of Networld Media Group, a business-to-business publisher and event producer. He has written five books, including Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership (DeepWater Books, 2019) as well as the Christian business fable Through Colored Glasses and its sequel Inner Threat (DeepWater, 2022). Learn More » |
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