This summer in One28, we’re seeking to answer the question, “Why do we believe this?” or “Why do we do this?” I am excited about this series,  and  as I contemplated the idea, I was struck by the fact that the very act of asking “why” is a big part of our worship as believers in Christ. In his first epistle, Peter likened believers to “newborn babes,” calling them to “desire the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (2:2). At the close of his second epistle, he instructed believers to “grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (3:18). Paul states that he counted “all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8a). Repeatedly we are called and reminded to grow into the likeness of Christ, and that this growth occurs as we apply ourselves to knowing Him more. This happens as we ask questions, and the question “why” is of vital importance because it helps us to move beyond the mere acceptance of things we’ve been taught to personal conviction about these truths.

So there is a sense in which the question “why” keeps us seeking after the inexhaustible knowledge of God. But part of the proper worship of God is to make sure that what we believe about Him is indeed true, and the knowledge of God comes from His word which is not only true, but is the truth against which all things must be measured (John 17:17). Therefore, we want students to learn how to search the Scriptures for themselves, asking the question, “Why do we believe this?” or “Why do we do this?” Acts 17:11 commends the Bereans because they “were more noble minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so” (emphasis mine). When we think of the Reformers, we are grateful that they were bold enough to question why the church was teaching things that were not in accord with Scripture. And isn’t this precisely what our Lord Jesus did as a pattern for us all in His frequent questioning of the traditional practices which the Jewish leaders had elevated to the place that belongs only to Scripture (e.g. Matt. 15:3; Luke 12:57)? The church has been guarded from error from the very beginning, and whenever false teaching has crept in, God has always raised up those who, like their Lord, were relentless in the quest for truth.

Of course, there have always been those who are led off into error because they ask “why” with a wrong a heart attitude. Instead of sanctified curiosity, they approach everything they hear with self-righteous suspicion. They know enough to be dangerous and they are arrogant enough to believe that their particular take on that knowledge is superior to what the church has believed and taught for centuries. Therefore, when we ask “why” we need to check our motives carefully to be cautious of any theological novelty. But we also need not be afraid to humbly challenge things that we are taught which, through careful study, at least appear to be out of sync with Scripture.

With all this in mind, we must remember that asking “why” is only part of our worship. Worship is technically our response to what we have come to know about God. To know Him and what His will is for us and then to ignore it, or outright refuse to respond to it with the proper attitudes and actions is a mockery of worship! Jesus affirmed this when He asked, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). Our prayer for our students is that they are spurred on to humbly ask questions and to learn how to find answers in God’s word, and then ultimately, to apply what they learn to their hearts and lives in order to truly “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” not only this summer, but for the rest of their lives.