Ask the Significant & Fundamental Questions

I like to ask questions. Ever since I was a child I have always had some sort of question. There was always something I was pondering about. There is a long and deep thought process that can be quite dangerous sometimes, as it can overcome the physical realm of life and put me into some sort of imaginary chamber where the scenes play out.

But over time I wonder if I have lost some of that sense of imagination and amazement. Fortunately, I have found a source that suggests that I should keep that sense of wonder. Not only does Christ repeatedly tell us to ask and that we would receive, as I have read some of Ron Paul's books, there is a specific theme that sticks out like a soar thumb: "begin posing significant and fundamental questions" (The Revolution, Ron Paul). He also says it this way, "start asking serious questions once again."

For some reason much of my studying has subconsciously been about overcoming the non-substance problem. For example, if you are burned out at work, and I mean, you're not just tired from working hard, but you are demoralized, there is a good chance that you have run up against this non-substance problem. The "non-substance" problem is this: people want something just for the sake of wanting something, and not because it can affect real and positive momentum to yourself and others.

I love this quote from Dr. Paul, in reference to congress:

And no wonder the news networks would rather focus on $400 haircuts than matters of substance. There are no matters of substance[!]

I took the liberty to add an exclamation mark at the end, to help illustrate the point.

In the universities, for many years, there was a problem where professors would do research just for research sake (and probably for a pay raise), and students would ultimately be neglected.

There is problems in the work place, where companies want to "build to a billion", and effectively throw people under the bus along the way.

Or people want to add in software features, just because they look and sound nice.

It seems to me, that the responsibility of each person, is to take a look at their situations, and begin asking serious questions. Not to the intent that we can harm and destroy one another, or harm ourselves, or prove someone wrong. But to the intent that each person can stand on their own two feet within the virtues that he or she has obtained, and share that light with others. The questions that we could ask are those which help lift ourselves to a higher plane of thinking, and a higher level of dedication to Providence.

I don't like rocking-the-boat too much, or causing contention. Yet, there is a part of my spirit that feels just that. I suspect that I am discovering a good balance between standing for truth and virtue, but also ensuring my dialogue is civilized and persuasive. Ideally, a person may be interested to hear or say such a thing, as they can find a way to express themselves, but not be totally overpowered by others. Having a civil dialogue and also a search for truth, these surely would go hand in hand for true substance within a human soul.

I often ponder about Christ, when he cleansed the temple, overturned the tables of the money changers, and brought a whip with him. Was he angry? Was he being civil? If Christ is our example, is there times when we are justified to do the same? For a quick view and depiction of that scene from the the holy week, go here:

Cleansing the Temple

I wasn't there to experience Jesus cleansing the temple, so I don't have the best judgment as to what the actual crimes of the money-changers were. But I think the principle stands; Christ stood for truth and virtue, and we ought to as well. Although, if we were to enter a venue with a whip and turn tables over, we may be arrested and imprisoned. I cannot recommend this. I don't think the goal is imprisonment, rather, standing for truth, and persuading others to follow. We see Christ do something that we as Christians do not typically do. Who is going to say, "It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves" (Matthew 21:16)?

Some questions may not have immediate answers. Or the answers may come in time. Especially when dealing with this caliber of change, such as cleansing the ancient temple. I do believe in persuasion, and not coercion. Persuasion builds and edifies. Coercion corrodes and demoralizes.

I have heard that Roman orators often used a dramatic reading voice. And maybe that is just what is needed. Not so much the drama, but the principle of the delivery. It's not about hurting others, but drawing a point to reveal a truth. How does one civilly animate a question to draw out truth? I reckon that nothing other than true charity could have any effect. When "the greatest prophet," John the Baptist, saw the Pharisees and Sadducees coming, he said "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" (Matthew 3) Did he call them snakes in a manner that was to turn them away forever? Or, did he liken their actions to snakes, out of love? Could someone be the "greatest prophet," if they had not love for their fellowmen? Did he use his words as a rhetorical device, that was well calculated?

In the Book of Mormon we learn of a way to deal with people asking us serious questions. During a time of war, Captain Moroni was deeply concerned about why he hadn't received more soldiers. He wrote to the governor, "we desire to know the cause of this exceedingly great neglect; yea, we desire to know the cause of your thoughtless state" (Alma 60:6). Moroni continued to point a finger at the governor: you "sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor," you "have withheld your provisions," you "have neglected them." And he goes on. But there is this key phrase towards the end of his epistle: "I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for the honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country" (Alma 60:36).

Understandably, due to the loss of life, Moroni was serious. But amidst all his verbal arrows, he takes the opportunity to state his real goal, that this is for goodness, not for his own rise to power. I like that he puts a context on what he is doing. Providing context may be a method to help our delivery and questions become more effective.

Then the response from the governor, Pahoran, is quite impressive. Pahoran chose not to be offended: "I do not joy in your great afflictions, yea, it grieves my soul" (Alma 61:2). And he explains the troubles they were having, why he hadn't sent more help. And then he writes, "you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart" (Alma 61:9). He understood the questions of Moroni. There was a reciprocal relationship. He could take criticism, because he knew what Moroni was doing. Moroni could send the criticism, because he loved his nation and also Pahoran.

It may be, that the deeper our relationships run, the better questions we can ask and also give an answer for. Part of our civil dialogue may be that we just need to have a drawn out conversation. Eventually in that conversation one or both parties strike a chord, and are able to move forward.

So we see that the following principles may aid us in asking and discovering our questions:

• Seek for matters of substance
• Provide context
• Improve the relationship

Our exemplars often were very serious in their journeys. But I suspect that not at any point were they totally devoid of charity and love of God. So our serious questions should be coupled with the good desires within us. We often may need to correct our language to fit our situation, but making a stand can still be possible. And asking the serious and foundational questions, whether at work or play, can possibly be the tool we need to move forward.

Act!

Now it's your turn. What situations are causing the most pain? What is the real resolution to that problem? What questions do you need to be asking to make positive momentum? Who do you need to ask them to? When are you going to do that? Find those things which Providence has aligned for you, and take another step!

Valete!

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