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Have you ever had a child (or student) ask you this question? You tell them to do something – or ask – and their response is
Why?
Now, I’m all for learning and inquisitive minds. It is beautiful and wonderful to have kids want to learn and see their curiosity thrive…
however.
This question can be one of the most annoying things to hear after saying something to a child.
But it’s not usually when they’re actually being inquisitive and want to understand something. It’s to get out of something, to delay it, to be defiant, to prove you don’t know what you’re talking about, or to – dare I say it? – intentionally be annoying.
And so it is with those who question the Church.
When people ask “Why?” of the Church’s teachings, the question you need to ask yourself before answering, is, “Why?”
Why are they asking? Are they asking to truly seek an answer? Are they asking because they want to understand?
Or are they asking to prove themselves right and you/the Church wrong? Are they actually open to hearing the Truth?
Is there an answer you could give that could actually satisfy them? Or is the only thing that will satisfy them is being proven right? Like with a child, no matter what answer you give, they’ll just keep on asking, “Why?”
I’ve had people ask why the Church has certain teachings. And it seems like no matter what answer I give, they don’t seem to budge. Of course, that could very well be because I didn’t allow the Spirit to speak through me and I answered poorly – or horribly… I have a tendency to get defensive when being asked, and I either shut down or get too animated or upset (I don’t think I’d make a good apologist).
Asking why isn’t a bad thing – it can lead to the Truth, it can lead to understanding. I’m not saying if a person asks why that they have to now be ready to convert, but that they are ready to understand. Otherwise, you’re just another annoying little child.
