The Questions that Challenge us

We live in a complex and confusing world. If you are puzzled by the number of creeds and the level of unbelief in our world today, do not blame yourself. We all have questions.

Many people challenge us with arguments that question our religion, going right to the point of whether Christ is the Saviour of the world. Emmanuel Ngara looks at some of them to set the focus for his upcoming columns.

You are in good company, as there are many like you and me who are confused about what to believe and what not to believe; who ask themselves whether there is a church that can claim to be an authentic Christian church; who even go to the extent of asking themselves: is religion necessary in our age where everything is driven by science and technology?

What would be wrong is to stop asking these questions and either give up going to church; or adopt the attitude that says, well, I was brought up in this church, I will just go to church to fulfil family expectations, or I will go to church whenever I feel like it.

If you are to be a disciple or apostle of Jesus in the modern world, you need to be prepared to answer many difficult questions, both for yourself and for others.

To the issue of whether religion is necessary in the modern science and technology-driven age, you may wish to begin by asking yourself what the Church teaches about the purpose of human life?

Is science the answer to all questions to which humanity needs to have answers? In any case, is science its own creator? What or who is there beyond science and religion?

Very well, you may ask, assuming that there is a Supreme Being whom Christianity and other religions call God, how am I expected to believe that Christianity is the one and true religion? What of traditional African religions? What of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam? Who is greater, Jesus or the Prophet Mohammed? Considering the fact that Islam seems to be on the march to become the universal religion of the world, how can Christians claim that Jesus is the Saviour of the world?

In any case, you might add, Christianity itself is so hopelessly divided today: Which of its thousands of churches and sects can claim to be “the authentic church of Christ?” We have prophets today who, through what we are told are miracles and wonders, are purporting to be the true representatives of Christ. Shall we follow these and desert the leaders of the so-called mainline churches? Why did the mainline churches get so hopelessly divided in the first place?

And, you might add, if the leaders of these mainline churches are true followers of Jesus, why are they not able to perform the miracles that the prophets of the new churches are said to be able to perform? After all, the Gospel of Mark quotes Jesus as saying: “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well” (Mk 16: 17-20). Is this not proof enough that the new prophets who are said to perform miracles and wonders in the name of Jesus are the true representatives of Christ in our time?

These are the questions, especially from young people, that challenge us as Christians.

We may not be able to answer all these and other questions to everyone’s satisfaction, but in this series I will try and suggest ways of developing Christian leaders who will be able to hold their own when confronted with such issues and difficult questions.

While I will express my opinions on the matter, I will be grateful to those readers who may wish to make a contribution to the debate on developing strong Christian leaders for the Church of our time.