I wonder if it's ok to question?

In the process of learning, don't we ask questions?

Can we learn without questioning?

Is there any question that we can't ask?

My research has shown me that it's not ok to ask.

"They warned the rebellious to close their ears to Lucifer's deceptive reasonings, and advised him and all who had been affected by him to go to God and confess their wrong for even admitting a thought of questioning His authority"
--The Story of Redemption (1947), page 16, paragraph 1
Chapter Title: 1: The Fall of Lucifer

Buy why is it wrong to question? Does this limit my freedom?

Any helpful thoughts, quotes, or ideas on this topic would be greatly appreciated.

I would have to say that there are some things that we are not to question. What questioning did you have in mind?

What can we not question?

Why can't we ask?

It is not His will for you to question His Love. But if you do have questions ... he will answer your every concern.

According to the passage listed, it's not ok to question God's authority.

So, I don't get the chance to see if there's any other possibility.

I'm not allowed to use this wonderful brain God has given me.

It's wrong to even think the thought, much less ask the question, per the listed quote.

It's different to say "God, you are not the authority!", but quite another thing to ask "God, are you the highest authority?"

Why can't I ask God this question?

It is not His will for you to question His Authority. But if you do have questions ... he will answer your every concern.

According to the passage, you can't even ask the question, so how can all my questions be answered?

I'm still confused.

Bruno I'm not sure what research you have done that says that you can't question. As far as I know God says that we should always study and check things out for ourselfs.

pk

So, in the quote above, the angels were told to go to God, and ask for forgiveness for even questioning the authority of God.

Thus, you are not allowed (read, it's wrong, you shouldn't do it, God does not want you to do) to ask that question.

PK, I thought the same thing. But the angels were wrong for questioning the authority of God. They asked "God, are you the greatest authority? Are you the "top dog"? Are you really the king of the hill?"

And for this questioning, they were wrong, and had to ask for forgiveness, thus they sinned, no?

Are you saying that you believe that it is God's will for you to question His authority?

Are you saying it is 'right' to do so?

God will answer your questions. But it is His will that you believe in His authority.

If you are not In Him .... I doubt you will hear the answer.

Are you proposing that it was 'right' to question the authority of God? What is your issue with His authority?

We may doubt ... but as EGW says ... doubting is sin. But God forgives and answers our doubting questions.

All sin and come short of the Glory of God.

Are you trying for perfection on this earth?

I believe that God wants us to ask questions, and to get answers.

I don't know why God would limit what I can ask.

I do believe in His authority, but can't I question it?

I believe in gravity, but can't I question it?

I'm not saying it was right or wrong, but it's written that it was wrong of the angels to question. Why?

Why is doubting a sin?

Where is that listed in the bible?

Is not doubting one of the 10 commandments?

Is doubting the same as asking?

Not trying for perfection, that's not possible on this earth. Sin has forever made us imperfect, until God restores us to perfection in Heaven.

But how does asking a question make me a doubter?

How does asking about "who's in charge" make me a sinner?

That's what seems to be implied by the responses so far.

IMHO, forgive me please if I'm way off base, just very confused at the moment.

Yes, you can ask questions. As you pointed out already, that is how we learn. No questions means no learning.

The whole reason God gave us the Bible was to learn the answers to our questions about God. Who is He? What is He like? Does He love us? How has He shown His love?

The important thing is that we be sincere in our questioning and not simply be asking questions in order to create or perpetuate doubt and rebellion against God.

Another thing that's important to remember is that God has not provided answers to all of our questions. There are questions that simply can't be answered. So we have to be content with what God has chosen to reveal to us. As it is, there is more in revelation than anyone has been able to learn, so we have plenty to keep us busy without turning to the things that no one knows the answers to.

Yes and Yes




He doesn't. He answers every question. See previous quote.



Yes



Yes



It is not His will. But I think that you must have some idea that you have to be perfect. We WILL sin. We WILL doubt. We WIll question. But God is lovingly there for us. He picks us up and patiently answers our EVERY question.

It is not His will.

It is Ellen White



It is sin. But not all sins are specifically listed in the 10 but I am sure you could rationalize it to fit somewhere if you tried.



Depends

What are your main questions you are looking to have answered?

We "ask questions" all the time-- in fact the more we ask the more we learn AS LONG AS we are BUILDING with our questions and not simply in an idle game of tearing down. It does not matter if you are Martin Luther, John Wesley or William Miller -- always good to ask questions in an effort to BUILD knowledge.

But that is not to be confused with "playing with the devil". In the case above that is exactly what is going on -- and as we all learned in Gen 3 the moment Eve started talkinga back to the Serpent -- it was "game over".

Anybody that thinks they can match wits with Satan and win - has not been paying attention.

in Christ,

Bob

I'm not looking for the answer to the question, I already know the answer.

But the angels were wrong for asking the question, even though they knew the answer. So it's not for a lack of answer that they were wrong, it was in the act of questioning they were wrong, at least as far as I understand that passage.

I believe the angels were sincere in asking. I don't think they were just making waves. I mean, they were on the brink of loosing their admittance to Heaven, so it was a pretty valid question, I think.

Read the chapter.

I've read the entire book.

Is that to say it's not ok to ask questions to which we have no answers?

That's what I read in this statement.


And from the other posts what I'm hearing is: It's ok to ask questions. It's ok to ask questions that God doesn't want us to ask. It's a sin to ask, but that's ok, because God will forgive us for sinning.

OK, that's good to read the Story of Redemption. Have you read the first chapter of Patriarchs and Prophets, which deals with the same issue, and also the chapter in the Great Controversy, pp. 492-504? It is called "The Origin of Evil." Those chapters will give more detail and perhaps answer more of your questions.

Yeah, it's Ok to ask them, that's how you find out there are no answers.

So, you are telling me that it's just fine to sin against God, knowing that He will forgive me?

Because that's what it sounds like.

So, it stands to reason that it's ok to do anything, anything at all, sin however you like, just as long as you ask for forgiveness.

I don't think that's right. I think you guys are just pulling my leg, and making fun of me.

No.



I don't think it stands to reason at all.

However, God will forgive any sin if we are truly repentant of it and turn to Him in faith and ask His forgiveness.



I agree with you-- it isn't. I'm sorry you got the wrong impression.

I'm still not sure I understand.

The angels that aligned with satan were told by God's angels that they should ask God's forgiveness for even thinking of questioning God's authority. If one needs to ask forgiveness from God, then one must have sinned, no?

And we should not knowingly sin.

If it was wrong of the angels to question God's authority, then it must be wrong for us to ask that same question, no?

And if we can't ask, then how do we have freewill?

If we ask, we sin, and if we don't ask, or can't, aren't allowed, etc, etc,.... then we aren't really able to ask any question, right?

Stick to your Bible, what other humans think or say is always open to question. What you believe is between you and God, no one else. By the way, a certain author often spoke about having an 'experiential' knowledge of God. I will let you look up the definition and come to your own understanding of what that means w/o trying to influence you first!

We're obviously not angels, though, and it makes a big difference that we have never even seen God or heard him speak. Our only way of finding out these things is by asking questions and studying. So in my opinion, if we ask sincerely and honestly with a desire to learn truth, it is not not a sin to ask questions of the kind you are talking about.

As you read further about the issue, you'll find that many of the angels who had for a time sympathized with Lucifer returned to loyalty to God when they saw that Lucifer was wrong. He was wrong because he was in rebellion against the One who had given Him life. He was not merely seeking to know truth. He was motivated by jealousy and a desire to replace Christ. See especially Great Controversy, pp. 495-497.

Ok - so given that the chapter you are talking about is speaking of a point just BEFORE those very same angels who are questioning God - are about to engage in violent revolt against God...

And given that the angels speaking to them and urging them back into the fold - ALSO had the same chance to be duped by Lucifer as those angels they are counselling...

And Given that 2 chapters later you also read where Satan admits that had he not duped those Angels as he did -- they would not have fallen ...

Just what part of this 20-20-hind-sight scenario is at all mystifying?

in Christ,

Bob

Hmmmmmmmmm

I kinda figured you weren't looking for the answer. You have made up your mind and you just wanted to debate and proclaim your agenda.

Hmmmmmmmmm

And that makes them different from.........?

Yes. I had originally thought that he was serious when he said the following:



Now I know what he considers 'helpful' is only that which agrees with HIM.

philosophy = a set of questions that cannot be answered

religion = a set of answers that cannot be questioned



aldona

I disagree. And I don't think we have to agree with each other for me to find something helpful, useful, or for your wisdom to be appreciated.

I may not agree with what my doctor orders for me, but I still find it useful information.

I might not agree with what the auto mechanic says is wrong with my car, but I still appreciate the fact the he spent his time looking into the situation.

And I don't have to be swayed from my position, just because you make some valid points.

When you make the assumption that the only way your info is helpful, useful, or appreciated, is when I agree with your view point, then that margenalizes me and my view point.

I may or may not have made my mind up before asking the question, doesn't really matter either way. You clearly already had your mind made up when answering the question I posed, so how are we any different?

....very interesting....
Redwood....response....?

I am sticking with that answer -

Here are some of the the different negative shades of meaning that Webster gives for "question" - 1) a subject or point of debate or a proposition to be voted on in a meeting.

Of course we can vote to accept His authority or not in our lives, but do you really think His authority to rule is open to debate & vote?

2) objection, dispute; room for doubt or objection.

Do you object or dispute His authority to rule?

3) doubt, dispute.

Again, do you have doubts or want to dispute His authority to rule?

Gerry

Gerry,

No, I don't dispute or object to His authority to rule.

But that's not what I asked.

I asked "Is it ok to question God's authority?"

I'm not saying, nor implying, nor am I trying to dispute, weather or not God has the authority to rule.

What I am asking, is why it's wrong to do so? See the difference. I'm not asking the question, but actually asking why "asking" that question is wrong. I say it's "wrong" based on the evidence listed per the Story of Redemption.

While I don't have to ask the question, I wonder why we CAN'T ask the question. I know it seems kind of strange, but, I think it's important to understand with regards to our having "free will".

We had free will to eat of the tree of knowledge, even though it was against His will. But in this case, it seems that we aren't even allowed to ask, so it would be like not being able to eat of the tree, because His will is agasint it.

We are not allowed to question His authority, becuase He does not want us to. So, it would seem that I can't ask any question that I want(even though I'm told I can)? The evidence that leads me to this conclusion is that the angels did it, and they were removed from heaven, forever! They don't get a second chance, they can't ask forgiveness, they are eternally doomed, right?

So Gerry, it's not that I'm questioning God's authority. I'm just asking why we can't question it. As I've stated, I know what will happen if I do this, by reason of cause and effect, I'll be eternally doomed, just like those who did it before me.

So, it seems that there are some questions you can ask, and it's ok, even if you do or don't get an answer. But, if you ask certain questions, you will be out the door, on the other side, with no hope of re-entry.

And I'm still looking to discuss this matter. I'd still like to hear your point of view. I'd still like to know how you rationalize this question. I don't think this is about trying to persuade someone to your own point of view, it's just a question asked. We all have our own way of seeing things, and isn't that ok?

Getting Gerry to voice his opinion is a very difficult task.

Not according to Romans 9



Even in it's most watered down diluted form -- this text would not allow questioning "God's AUTHORITY".

The creatED does not question the CreatOR.




Bible said so --



That makes no sense.

Free will to blow yourself up is not the kind of free will we are looking for. The example you give is that Adam and Eve are allowed to question and then doom their entire race to fiery hell and get themselves booted out of Eden and removed from ever having access to the tree of life THEREFORE we should be able to what?? Question God and ALSO roast in hell with equal satisfaction?

Your question makes no sense.

OBVIOUSLY we can ALSO engage in various acts of rebellion and get the same end result as they did!! That point has never been controverted.

in Christ,

Bob

, so it would be like not being able to eat of the tree, because His will is agasint it.

We are not allowed to question His authority, becuase He does not want us to. So, it would seem that I can't ask any question that I want(even though I'm told I can)? The evidence that leads me to this conclusion is that the angels did it, and they were removed from heaven, forever! They don't get a second chance, they can't ask forgiveness, they are eternally doomed, right?

[/quote]

Part of it is correct -- they are now eternally doomed -- all their chances are used up.

You seem to have skipped over the "details" in the post above.

in Christ,

Bob

Let the Bible answer that...

"Test all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thess. 5:21).

It would seem there are others who would disagree with you.

But I do believe that we should be able to question anything, and everything, just as the bible teaches. For otherwise, how can we know?

I would have never become an Adventist if I would not questioned.

I define cults, not on what they teach, but if they will not let members question.

I also believe that we can support our teachings from outside the Bible, we have no reason to fear questioning at all.

If you think about it, what would medicine be if MD's were not allowed to question?

We would be taking milk for ulcers. We would bleed the sick etc etc

Funny!

that was pretty funny

pk

Quote:

But I do believe that we should be able to question anything, and everything, just as the bible teaches. For otherwise, how can we know?

Hi, Bruno, I have just come across this forum, so am just picking up on what has been happening.

You asked about why it is not OK for you to ask questions. Yes, you may question anything you like, that is OK. I think that the answer to your question about the authority of God is answered in the Bible.

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word [refers to Jesus]and the Word was with God [God the Father} and the Word was God [Jesus Christ]. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that was made.

Here we have a picture of what we refer to as "the Godhead" or the "Trinity" (God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit). Right back in the ions of eternity we find that these three existed -- alone!

God is love! But without someone to love, it can be very lonely. And so the Godhead began the work of creation. We are not told what came first in the work of creation. We do know from the Spirit of Prophecy that before the creation of our world there were other worlds in existence and populated by people who have never sinned. But, which came first -- other worlds or the creation of the angels? I tend to think it would have been the angels -- but we don't know for sure.

The most beautiful of all the angels was Lucifer. He had a very exalted position. He was the special angel who stood right there by the throne of God. He was the most privileged angel in the whole of heaven.

Then Lucifer realised that the Godhead (the Trinity) were discussing the creation of Earth. Lucifer became jealous, because they hadn't included him in their "planning meetings". He, a created angel, considered himself as equal to God, his creator! He questioned his Creator's authority!

But he didn't keep his questioning to himself. He didn't think it through. He decided that he would cause a revolt in heaven. Doubtless you have already read the first chapter in the book "Patriarchs and Prophets". If you haven't, please do so.

God tried to work with Lucifer, and with the angels, and for a time Lucifer hesitated, but then his jealousy took over again, and eventually Lucifer and a third of the angels, who had sided with him in rebellion, were thrown out of heaven.

Lucifer had questioned God's authority out of jealousy. God was patient with him, allowing him to ask his questions, and allowed all of the angels time to decide which side they were on, but eventually He had to use His authority and send them out of heaven.

God invites our questions. You will find all of your answers in the Bible. Take your time. My favorite Bible is the "New International Version". It is a very good version, easy to read, and regarded as perhaps the most accurate modern version.

Begin at Genesis, and read it as a storybook. I always read with a pencil in my hand, and underline those passages that throw light on any questions I may have in my head. I also underline those verses which speak to my heart.

If you are in a hurry to get to the answers for your question, then read Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Ruth, both books of Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah. Don't skip Job -- he had LOTS of questions for God! God eventually answered him. Then read Isaiah, then skip to Matthew, John, Acts, and then right on through the New Testament to Revelation.

If I can help in any way, feel free to PM me.

May God bless you as you search the Scriptures for the truth about Him.

Beryl