One of the refreshing emphases common throughout the Emerging Church today is the value being placed on asking the right questions, instead of being compelled to provide the right answers.

I love questions. And I appreciate this greater emphasis on valuing the right questions.

Thanks to Andii at Nouslife, I came across a brief and well-articulated example -- at The Dying Church -- of asking the "right questions." Go check it out -it's very helpful. I'm convinced that the right questions help us to focus our attention and energies in the right direction. The right questions often remind us of the theological tensions of our faith -- the both/and realities that challenge and mystify us. I thank God for such questions.

But in the emerging community of faith of which I'm a part, I'm discovering that more and more people are as hungry for answers as they are for the right questions. Now, I'm not suggesting that the need is for answers to the "right questions," but rather a valuing of both questions -- in some instances -- and answers in others.

The challenge for those of us in emerging churches or those simply desiring to reach the postmodern culture -- is to discern when the right question is what's most needed (resisting, if necessary, the urge to provide answers), and when answers should be wisely and humbly offered.

If you too have found yourself wondering about the valuing of questions and/or answers, I'd love to hear about it.