Questions Answered

So I am totally stealing the theme and idea for this post from someone else on this site.  I read this person's blog and it got me to thinking about all the unanswered questions in life, and especially in faith.

Why are there so many questions about faith, worship, the Bible, God, etc. that we do not have a definitive answer to?  Occasionally there are questions like this that do have a fairly definitive answer, but that answer is person specific.  In other words, my answer to that question is going to be different than your answer to that question.  For example, the question "What is the best or appropriate way to worship God?"  My answer to that question is likely to be very different from your answer to that question.  My wife and I talked about that question a few weeks ago.  She and I grew up going to similar churches (Church of Christ) and had parents of very similar beliefs.  But our answers to that question are surprisingly different.

So what about those "unanswerable" questions? 
I am in a field of work that is at times diametrically opposed to the very thought of their being a God.  But, through my studies(both in college and of the Bible), I have come to the personal conclusion that every question has an answer.  Sometimes the answer is right in front of our face and we just need someone else to point it out to us.  Some of those questions are very easy to answer for me, but not necessarily for you.  Sometimes the answer is not what or where we expected it to be.  Here are some of the questions I am speaking of-
What is the meaning of life?
What should I do with my life?
What does God want from me in my life?
How do I truly live a good life?
What's the right way to worship God?
Does God truly exist?
Is my faith what it should be?
Why do good things happen to bad people?
Why do bad things happen to good people?

I believe the answers to questions such as these are not always or necessarily definitive "statement of fact" answers.  Some of them may be.  But the very fact, that you ask one of these questions, or the fact that someone else may ask you one of these questions, lends to my theory that the answers are not always definitive.  Do I believe God exists?  Absolutely!  Are there times when I have, or have had, a sliver of doubt about that answer creep into my head?  Absolutely!  So what is the true answer to questions such as these?  I believe the true answer is in continually asking the question.  What is the meaning of life?  In searching for that meaning, you are by default adding meaning to your life.  And there is your answer.  When you stop searching, you stop answering that question.  I believe that is the answer to many of these questions, and questions similar to these.  The simple fact that you have thought about the question, and therefore are in some way searching for an answer, has answered your question.  "Is my faith what it should be?"  By searching for an answer to that question you are increasing your faith.  And therefore, sadly, the answer to that question for all of us is always "no".  But, by asking the question, and searching for the answer, you are in turn answering the question.  "No" is not the definitive answer, though.  The definitive answer is "no, but as I make sure of that answer I am increasing my faith".  The answer is in asking the question.

To put this all in better wording, it is like the old axiom "It is the journey you enjoy, not the destination."  It is the search for the answer that is the definitive answer, not reaching some meaningless conclusion.  Call it a philosophical catch 22.  When you stop looking for the answer is when you have the wrong answer.