Don't you just love children. Who else can stand and interrogate a parent, maintaining a constant bombardment of penetrating questioning using only one word?
"Why?"
It's as though the question is on an audio loop in their brain. The same question keeps on coming. "Why?", "Why do I have to go to bed?" "Why do I have to eat broccoli?" It's a pity the "Why?" question is left behind with the Lego and the toys because it would be a great question to take with us into ministry.
Come with me as we approach the local church down the street. Even as the property comes into view the question can be posed. Here we have the church notice board. Why are the activities described in such confusing terms like "Divine Service', "Holy Communion' and "Family Service'? What do these terms mean to the general community (I assume that regulars do not need to be told) and if I'm a single person will I fit in to a "family' meeting? Why are the meetings held at these specific advertised times? What planning process determined these times and who were they meant to assist? When will this be reviewed so that the best times for the meetings will always be chosen?
As we move to the door and go inside we should ask, "Why do Christian/Church meetings require us to sit on wooden benches, sometimes called pews, which more often appear to have been donated by a chiropractor trying to drum up business? Has anyone ever asked a seating consultant about the shape and size of seating which would be most conducive for listening to a longish talk?
Why is it that the Bible Reading is now only projected on to a screen by overhead projector or Power Point? Why was the decision taken to remove the printed word from the hands of those present?
Why is the giving from the members going into certain areas of expenditure? Have decisions been taken on the basis of ministry, maintenance or custom?
Helpful "why?" questions can be considered around curriculum issues like the preaching program, the bible studies, prayer meetings and training courses.
It is far more helpful asking "Why are we doing " ?" than asking "What are we doing?" The questions that elicit purpose are more helpful than the questions looking for a description. Of course it is possible for the "why?" question to be posed by the malcontent, the cynical and the self-righteous. I'm ignoring them. My concern is for keen, evangelistically minded Christians to be on the regular lookout as to how to improve what they do and not to lose sight of the big picture.
Behind all of this are even bigger questions. They relate to the theological and biblical reasons for Christian gatherings. Try these for size at your next BBQ. Does God want us to meet together and if so, why? What does He want us to do when we get there, and why? These questions must be worked through as we plan church-type meetings. To fail to do so will lead us down the path of unprincipled pragmatism and fickle fashion. Worse still, our gatherings can end up in a time warp with ever limited appeal to newcomers and a diminishing expression of God's purposes.
Don't fail to ask "Why?" " but do so with a loving and a teachable heart.
