Mohler on Two Ways to Question God

Are we allowed to question God? Albert Mohler's answer is "yes and no". He recently blogged about this age-old question when a caller to his radio program lamented the death of his young child. The caller is a believer, and wants to be an obedient follower of Christ. Then he asked Mohler "But, can we question God?"

Here are Mohler's answer, which I found practically useful:

It seems to me that the answer is both yes and no. Beginning with the biblical affirmation that God is omnipotent and omniscient, sovereign and ever-reigning, we start with the understanding that whatever comes to pass does so by the express command, ordination, or permission of the Father. Thus, the Creator is at all times responsible for his creation -- and for his creatures.

So, is it legitimate to question God?

Perhaps we should consider how God has revealed himself to us as Father. Considering a human father for a moment, we can recognize two different ways of questioning his ways. The first way would be to rest secure in his love and fatherly care, but to express confusion over his ways. Even the most faithful and trusting children wonder about their parents at times. What are they up to? Why did they make that decision rather than the other? What was the purpose of that action? As close as children are to parents, parents often perplex children by acting like adults. In this mode of questioning, the child never questions the father's love and faithful disposition, but does admit confusion -- and perhaps even disappointment.

The other way of questioning a human father is to question his character, his faithfulness, or the authenticity of his love. This is an altogether different mode of questioning. In this second pattern of questioning, the child questions the father's heart, not merely his actions and ways.

Now, move from considering these two different modes of questioning a human father to a parallel set of approaches to questioning our heavenly Father. It is not unfaithful to admit and to articulate a sense of perplexity and pain in observing the ways of God. There are times when we cannot offer an explanation of God's ways. At times, we cannot even detect any possibility of a purpose. We can admit this to ourselves, to our brothers and sisters in Christ, and to our heavenly Father.

The other mode of questioning God, on the other hand, constitutes sin and implies unbelief. We cannot remain faithful and question God's own faithfulness. His love for those who are in Christ is beyond question. His character is a constant and his love never fails. He is not loving and gracious toward believers at one moment, only to turn into a malevolent deity the next. He never changes.

In this light, it would be sin to question God in this second sense -- the sense in which we might question whether God really loves us, or if He is really faithful to his promises. This is not the questioning worthy of a believer, but of an unbeliever.

Personally I have lots of questions to ask God. Things within my family, issues at work, challenges in the church, and a myriad of problems in this evil-ridden world. Now I know however that it is legitimate to question God just like a child who is both confused and curious to understand his parents. It's like saying, "Heavenly Father, I know you are sovereign and loving, but I am dumbfounded at the fact that such and such occured. What are you up to really? Why did you that? Isn't there a better way to get your will done in and through my life?"

I think such questioning does not put God in the dock. Or in the interview room. It merely reflects our intimate conversation punctuated by a belief that no matter what, He reigns supreme and no matter how, He cannot love us more and will not love us less.