It can be hard to know what to say when talking about faith. Regarding Christianity, some hard questions can make you think deeply and give you different answers.
“Hard Questions to Ask a Christian” is a good way to learn more about how complicated Christianity is.
Remember that asking questions with an open heart and a curious mind to learn is important instead of arguing.
This article provides a list of hard questions for a Christian, with the reason for the difficulty.
Why are some Questions difficult for Christians to answer?
Some questions are difficult for Christians to answer because they touch on deep beliefs, personal experiences, or topics that have varied interpretations in the Bible.
Everyone’s journey with faith is unique so that answers can differ from person to person.
On the other hand, everyone’s relationship with their faith is deeply personal.
A question that one Christian finds easy to answer based on their experiences and understanding might be challenging for another.
Hard Questions To Ask a Christian
No. | Question | Reason for Difficulty |
---|---|---|
1 | Why does a loving God allow suffering? | Theodicy; grappling with the existence of evil in a created good world. |
2 | How can Jesus be both God and man? | Christology; Understanding the dual nature of Jesus is complex. |
3 | Why trust the Bible over other religious texts? | Comparative theology: defining the unique authority of one text. |
4 | Why are there denominational differences in Christianity? | Historical and theological differences leading to multiple branches. |
5 | How does predestination align with free will? | Balancing divine sovereignty with human choice. |
6 | Why is faith necessary? Why not provide undeniable proof? | The nature of faith and evidence in the context of a relationship with God. |
7 | Why are some biblical stories similar to earlier pagan myths? | Comparative mythology; understanding origins and influences. |
8 | How can a finite human sin incur infinite punishment? | The nature of sin, eternity, and divine justice. |
9 | Why did God command violence in the Old Testament? | Moral concerns over divine commands in historical contexts. |
10 | Why are there apparent contradictions in the Bible? | Interpretation, textual transmission, and historical context. |
11 | Why is the concept of the Trinity not explicitly mentioned in the Bible? | Trinitarian theology; understanding implicit versus explicit scriptural teachings. |
12 | Why does God seem different in the Old Testament vs. the New Testament? | Interpretation of divine characteristics and actions across testaments. |
13 | How do Christians reconcile evolution with Genesis? | Science and faith; interpreting the Creation account. |
14 | Why did Jesus need to die for humanity’s sins? | Atonement theories; understanding the necessity of the crucifixion. |
15 | How can God be omniscient and humans still have free will? | Balancing divine knowledge with human agency. |
No. | Question | Reason for Difficulty |
---|---|---|
16 | Why are there books mentioned in the Bible that aren’t included in it? | Canon formation; understanding why certain texts were excluded. |
17 | What is the Christian perspective on other religions? | Interfaith dialogue; affirming Christian beliefs while respecting others. |
18 | Why do innocent children suffer? | Moral concerns over seemingly unjust suffering. |
19 | How does Christianity reconcile Hell with a loving God? | Theological interpretations of Hell and divine love. |
20 | Why has Christianity been associated with historical atrocities (e.g., Crusades)? | Historical analysis; understanding religion’s role in political and social contexts. |
21 | Why is there no direct mention of some modern moral issues in the Bible? | Cultural contexts; applying ancient texts to modern scenarios. |
22 | Why did God not prevent the fall of Adam and Eve? | Free will, divine foreknowledge, and the origin of sin. |
23 | Why does God need prayer if He’s omniscient? | The nature of prayer, divine knowledge, and human relationship with God. |
24 | Why were women’s roles limited in the Bible? | Cultural context; gender roles in ancient societies versus modern interpretations. |
25 | How can God be omnipotent, yet there is evil? | Reconciling divine power with the existence of evil. |
26 | How do Christians justify Old Testament laws that seem outdated? | Covenant theology; understanding the transition from Old to New Testament. |
27 | What happens to those who’ve never heard of Jesus? | Salvation outside the explicit knowledge of Christ. |
28 | If Christians are saved by faith, do actions matter? | Faith and works; understanding their roles in salvation. |
29 | Why did Jesus speak in parables instead of clearly? | Teaching methods; the role and purpose of parables. |
30 | How is the concept of the Trinity not polytheism? | Trinitarian theology; understanding God’s triune nature. |
31 | Why did Jesus wait three days to resurrect? | Symbolism, prophecy, and theological significance of the timeframe. |
32 | How can modern science fit into the biblical worldview? | Faith and science; reconciling scientific discoveries with scripture. |
33 | Why doesn’t God intervene more often in the world’s problems? | Divine intervention, human agency, and the problem of evil. |
34 | What is the meaning of the Book of Revelation? | Eschatology; interpreting the symbolic and prophetic nature of the text. |
35 | Why do some Christians oppose same-sex relationships? | Interpretation of specific Bible verses and cultural perspectives. |
Hard Questions To Ask a Christian
No. | Question | Reason for Difficulty |
---|---|---|
36 | Why do some Christians see the Bible as inerrant, while others don’t? | Varied approaches to biblical interpretation and inspiration. |
37 | Why are some books in the Catholic Bible not in Protestant Bibles? | Historical and theological decisions regarding the canon. |
38 | How do Christians view the End Times? | Eschatology; diverse interpretations of biblical prophecies. |
39 | If God is love, why is there a concept of wrath or judgment? | Reconciling divine love with ideas of justice and righteousness. |
40 | Why were certain figures in the Bible polygamous? | Cultural contexts; changes in marital norms over time. |
41 | How do Christians reconcile natural disasters with God’s goodness? | Theodicy; understanding “acts of God” in a world with suffering. |
42 | Why does the Bible use so much symbolic language? | Literary styles and the conveying of deeper spiritual truths. |
43 | How do Christians define “soul” and “spirit”? | Complex theological concepts about human nature and immortality. |
44 | Why did Jesus need to be baptized? | Theological significance and Jesus’s role as a model for humanity. |
45 | Why are there varied accounts of Jesus’s life in the Gospels? | Different authors, audiences, and theological emphases. |
46 | What is the “unpardonable sin” mentioned in the Bible? | Interpretation of a complex theological idea in the New Testament. |
47 | How do Christians view the Old Testament’s dietary laws? | Covenant theology and the transition from Old to New Testament practices. |
48 | Why does the Bible have so many translations? | Linguistic, cultural, and theological factors affecting translation. |
49 | How do Christians view miracles in a scientific age? | Reconciling supernatural beliefs with empirical evidence. |
50 | Why did early Christian councils debate Jesus’s divinity? | Historical and theological debates on Christology. |
51 | How do Christians explain suffering caused by believers (e.g., Inquisitions)? | Analyzing human actions in light of faith principles. |
52 | Why do some prophecies in the Bible seem unfulfilled? | Eschatology and differing interpretations of prophetic timelines. |
53 | How do Christians reconcile Jesus’s teachings of peace with “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword”? | Complex interpretation of Jesus’s teachings and intent. |
54 | Why aren’t women allowed leadership roles in some Christian denominations? | Interpretations of specific Bible verses and church traditions. |
55 | How do Christians reconcile the love commandment with instances of God’s wrath in the Bible? | Balancing divine love with notions of justice and holiness. |
No. | Question | Reason for Difficulty |
---|---|---|
56 | How do Christians approach apparent “lost years” of Jesus’s life? | Lack of biblical account on Jesus’s early adulthood. |
57 | Why did God accept Abel’s offering but reject Cain’s? | Interpretation of divine preference and human intention. |
58 | Why is the concept of original sin so central, when it’s not explicitly detailed in Genesis? | Doctrine development based on interpretation. |
59 | How should Christians interpret the “Song of Solomon”? | Navigating the book’s erotic content within a sacred context. |
60 | Why was the Bible used historically to justify slavery? | Misuse and selective interpretation of scriptures. |
61 | If all sins are equal in God’s eyes, why are some deemed worse by the church? | Cultural and historical influences on sin’s perception. |
62 | How can a loving God order the extermination of entire nations in the Old Testament? | Moral concerns and historical interpretation of divine command. |
63 | Why did Jesus curse the fig tree for being fruitless out of season? | Symbolic interpretations and understanding Jesus’s intentions. |
64 | How do Christians reconcile faith healing with modern medicine? | The relationship between faith, divine healing, and science. |
65 | Why was the concept of purgatory developed, and why don’t all Christians believe in it? | Theological differences and scriptural interpretations. |
66 | If God is unchanging, why does He seem regretful in certain Old Testament passages? | Understanding anthropomorphic language and divine emotions. |
67 | How do Christians view the role of Mary? | Variance in veneration and understanding of Mary across denominations. |
68 | How do Christians justify tithing in a modern economy? | Biblical commands and their applications in modern contexts. |
69 | Why are there different versions of the Lord’s Prayer? | Historical transmission and varying textual traditions. |
70 | How do Christians approach the concept of reincarnation found in some early Christian texts? | Canonical scripture and interpretation of early Christian beliefs. |
71 | Why does the Apostle Paul’s tone and teachings seem different from Jesus’s? | Contextual differences in teachings and audience addressing. |
72 | What’s the Christian stance on paranormal activities? | Supernatural beliefs in the context of Christian doctrines. |
73 | Why are there varied views on the Rapture among Christians? | Eschatological interpretations and theological perspectives. |
74 | How do Christians reconcile the concept of eternal life with the finality of death? | Spiritual beliefs about the afterlife and resurrection. |
75 | Why does Christianity have so many sects and divisions? | Historical, doctrinal, and cultural reasons for denominational splits. |
Hard Questions To Ask a Christian
No. | Question | Reason for Difficulty |
---|---|---|
76 | Why is the concept of predestination debated among Christians? | Theological differences on human free will and divine sovereignty. |
77 | How do Christians reconcile violent imageries in the Book of Revelation? | Interpretations of apocalyptic literature and its symbolism. |
78 | How should Christians approach the concept of “holy wars” in today’s context? | Ethical implications of faith-driven conflicts in modern times. |
79 | Why do some Christians oppose the theory of evolution? | The reconciliation of biblical creation narratives with scientific evidence. |
80 | How do Christians view non-canonical gospels and texts? | Assessing the validity and teachings of non-canonical scriptures. |
81 | Why are some healing prayers unanswered? | Understanding divine will, faith, and the purpose of suffering. |
82 | How do Christians view wealth and prosperity in light of teachings on humility and poverty? | Interpretations of wealth in the context of biblical teachings. |
83 | How should Christians interpret the “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit”? | Grappling with an unforgivable sin in a faith centered on grace. |
84 | Why are there variations in Christian holidays across denominations? | Liturgical traditions, historical developments, and theological distinctions. |
85 | How can the Book of Job be reconciled with a loving God? | Theodicy; understanding suffering and divine testing in Job’s narrative. |
86 | Why does the Bible emphasize genealogies? | Cultural significance and understanding the lineage of key biblical figures. |
87 | How should Christians approach the contradictions or discrepancies in the Bible? | Harmonizing differing accounts and understanding textual development. |
88 | Why did early Christian councils exclude certain beliefs as heresies? | Theological boundaries and defining orthodoxy in early Christianity. |
89 | How can Christians be monotheistic if they pray to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? | Trinitarian theology and the oneness of God in three persons. |
90 | How do Christians view the role of angels and demons in today’s world? | Spiritual warfare, divine messengers, and the unseen realm. |
91 | How can Christians justify the violent conquests of the Israelites in the Old Testament? | Divine commands, historical contexts, and moral challenges. |
92 | Why do some Christians see salvation as predestined while others see it as a choice? | Theological debates on predestination versus Arminianism. |
93 | How should Christians approach texts in the Bible that seem culturally outdated? | Contextual interpretation and discerning timeless truths. |
94 | Why is the concept of the Sabbath observed differently among denominations? | Historical changes, interpretations of rest, and theological differences. |
95 | How do Christians understand and interpret the “end of the world” prophecies? | Eschatological beliefs and differing views on the apocalypse. |
FAQs on Challenging Questions for Christians:
Some Christians believe that the biblical account of creation in Genesis contradicts the theory of evolution. They hold that God created everything in its present form. Others reconcile faith with science, viewing evolution as a tool used by God.
Christians often point to sin, human free will, and the fall of Eden. While God allows suffering, it’s also seen as an avenue for growth, faith-testing, and demonstrating God’s love through compassion and help.
Many Christians view alleged contradictions as differences in perspective, context, or literary style. Some discrepancies can be attributed to the diverse backgrounds of biblical authors, while others require deep theological reflections to understand.
This is a complex issue. Some point to the historical context, where such actions were seen as divine judgment. Others see these accounts as allegorical or symbolic. It’s a topic with varied opinions within Christianity.
Conclusion
Asking hard questions about Christianity can lead to deep and varied answers.
Since everyone’s faith journey is unique, and the Bible can be interpreted differently, there might not always be one clear answer.
It’s essential to approach these questions with an open mind, respecting each person’s beliefs and experiences.
Awesome one; I hope this article answers your question.
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