Baseless Questions

“I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.” ― Oscar Wilde

In highschool I faced the issue of being asked question after question about my faith. As I would start an answer, I would be asked another question. This effect produced a lot of doubt. It also always kept me defensive and unsure of how to handle objections. I did not look at how Jesus handled this. When I was being asked questions, the people asking me the questions did not really want answers. They wanted to challenge my faith. They did not want to know that my faith had answers to their objections. When the pharisees and others asked Jesus questions, He knew they did not truly want an answer. Many times, just like with us, these doubters wanted to trap Him. For instance, my atheist friends would want to ask me, “Am I going to Hell?” They wanted to trap me. They wanted me to say ‘yes.’ They wanted to point out that I was intolerant and cruel ‘for wanting them to go to Hell’ or the like. The world does not want to be reminded of sin, or told their ideals or cleverness is vanity at best. When we walk in the way of Christ and act like Him, the world is reminded of these things. One way they easily challenge Christians is by asking questions to trap you or make you stumble. If someone wants to make you stumble, you can ignore them. You can also say that, “if you really want me to answer your questions, you can meet me at such and such place and time.” If you do want to talk to them, make them understand that they must be willing to give you respect and that they truly want an answer. If you get asked a trap question, Jesus would ask a question in return. If I am asked “Am I going to Hell?” I would respond with, “What does your heart tell you?” or maybe “If that is where you choose to be.” If they really want an answer, explain that Hell is separation from God while Heaven is eternity with Him. If you do not want to be with God, you will not have to be with Him. He will separate you from Him and every good attribute that would remind you of Him. That is why Hell is so bad. There is no presence of God or His attributes. There is no goodness, love, mercy, or grace in Hell. It is an eternal punishment, but it is a punishment that people choose.