Thou Shalt Not Ask Questions

One trend that has cropped up in certain churches, particularly those of fundamentalist or charismatic dispositions, that deeply disturbs me is the idea that to ask questions of church leadership is tantamount to rebelling against them. Additionally, these churches often teach strongly that those in authority at the church are appointed by God should not be questioned. The classic sections of scripture used to justify these beliefs are Psalm 105:15 (cf. 1 Chron. 16:22) and Romans 13.

There are many possible reasons as to why this idea has grown popular, but here are a two of the most plausible possibilities. The first reason people are told not to question is simply that church leadership does not want the people to question its teachings or practices. There could be many reasons for this but the most common is either the leadership is un-informed on a particular subject or that the leadership is teaching or doing something that is out-of-line. In either case, the strong discouragement to ask questions is dangerous because it removes the mechanism of correction within the church. It also teaches people to be entirely dependent on the minister for one’s opinions, beliefs, and practices. This is entirely un-Christian. Ministers and elders are appointed for our instruction, edification, and correction, not to dictate our lives. They are a supplement to the work that the Holy Spirit already does within us, not a replacement for it.

The other main strain of thought that contributes to this dangerous notion is that asking questions somehow indicates a lack of faith or disrupts the faith of others. Questioning leadership does not necessarily correlate to a lack of faith. In fact, if one is stable enough in one’s faith to engage in the psychologically taxing act of asking difficult questions, it is safe to say that person’s faith is probably stronger than another person who intentionally ignores difficult questions in order to preserve his/her faith. Ignoring difficult questions only preserves a faith which is blown about by every wind of doctrine and is intellectually dishonest. People who refuse to ask critical questions are those who are most often disturbed by claims controvert what they’ve been taught. Their subsequent reactions are often erratic and do greater damage than would have been done if questions were asked in the first place.

Questioning leadership does not necessarily disrupt the faith of others either if done correctly. In fact, many of the questions posed by brave, cordial inquisitors may be the same questions that others are afraid to ask. In other cases, the questions may simply provide clarification of the teachings and practices of the church. How then is questioning authority a dangerous thing if done in love for the edification of oneself and others?

I challenge those who believe that questioning authority is wrong to provide me with scriptural evidence that it is. In my readings of the Bible, I have found nothing to indicate that asking legitimate questions is wrong or that such a practice should be construed as an act of rebellion against church leadership. If one asks questions in an inflammatory manner with the expressed purpose of stirring up strife, confusion, and disobedience within the congregation, then questioning the leadership should be considered inappropriate behavior. However, if one asks questions for the purpose of clarifying his/her own understanding of a teaching, rooting out heresy, asking if certain church practices are ethical or effective, or discerning the wisest course of action, how can such questions be considered wrong?