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contributed by Rev. John Odhner

Most of us have had the experience of trying to answer questions that people ask about our church. Many of us have found that our experience of the New Church is so personal, so powerful, and so deep that it is difficult to put into words. We also may feel that there is so much that we still don't know that we are not sure whether we have the right answer. Perhaps you have felt the embarrassment of not knowing what to say, or of having explained things poorly. This does not need to be the case. With a little time and practice we can learn how to answer questions more easily and effectively. I'm going to suggest three ways to respond when people ask you about your faith.

Give a Direct Answer

The first thing that comes to mind when someone asks a question is to give a simple answer as well as we can. For example:

Question: Who is Emmanuel Swedenborg?

Answer: A scientist and philosopher from the 1700's who wrote many books about God, the Bible and life after death.

This is a fine answer, and it may be exactly the kind of information the person is looking for. It can be helpful to think through answers to common questions ahead of time, so that you will have an easier time.

Question: What is the name of your church?

Answer: The New Church at La Crescenta.

Question: What is new about it?

Answer: It's new because we have new teachings about the deeper meaning of the Bible and about life after death.

Answering questions this way can be very good, but there is another way that can be even better.

Answer a Question with a Question

Sometimes people do not know what questions to ask. The question may be rather vague, or you may not understand the person's point of view. For example, if someone asks, "Do you believe in the Bible?" You could easily answer, "Yes." But you might be able to give a better answer if you knew the person's thinking. Perhaps your friend takes everything in the Bible literally, and wants to be assured that you do as well. Or perhaps your friend finds many things in the Bible difficult to believe and wants to know if you have similar doubts.

Question: Do you believe in the Bible?

Answer: I find my faith become stronger as I understand more. Do you read the Bible much?

Question: What does your church teach?

Answer: Do you want to hear about God, the Bible or life after death?

Question: Do you believe in hell?

Answer: That depends on what you mean by hell. Have you ever been in hell?

By answering a question with a question, you can keep the conversation going, learn more about the person you're talking to, show interest in the other person, and be prepared to give a better answer.

Answer a Question with an Experience

The most important part of the church is the effect it has on our lives. The teachings of the church help us become closer to God, kinder to others, wiser, happier and more useful. Very often, this is the part of the church that people are most interested in, but they may not know how to ask about that. Sometimes the best answer is one that tells about your own experience with the church, what you like about the church or what it has done for you.

Question: What does your church teach about heaven?

Answer: I have found that having a clear picture of heaven is very comforting to me. It helps me know my purpose in life.

Question: What do you believe about the Trinity?

Answer: I feel closer to God when I think of God as one Person.

Question: Have you been born again?

Answer: Sometimes I feel that God has made me a brand-new person, and other times I feel like I'm a mess and need to start all over. For me it's an ongoing process. I need continual renewal.

One of the advantages of answering with your own experience is that it shows how the teachings affect your life. By sharing your experience you can share not only the truth but also the goodness that goes with the truth. Another advantage is that it makes argument less likely. For example, if you say, "There is marriage after death," someone may tell you that you are wrong because they believe otherwise. But suppose you say, "Thinking that marriage can continue after death has given me hope and comfort and has strengthened my marriage." Who can argue with that?

Doing All Three

These three ways of answering questions are not mutually exclusive. Once you understand these options, you can use two or three at the same time.

Question: How is your church different from others?

Answer: Our church teaches that God is one Person, not three. I' much happier with a concept of God that makes sense to me. Do you think it's important to understand God?

Question: Do you believe that the world was created in six days?

Answer: I think "Let there be light," is about the light of spiritual awareness coming into my inner darkness. For me, the Bible really comes alive when I see that it's all about my relationship with God. Has the creation story had an impact on your life?

When someone asks you about your church, it is often because they care about you and what you think. In fact, that question is a precious gift. Furthermore, I often find that the questions people ask me are tools the Lord uses to help me grow in faith. My hope is that you can receive with gratitude to questions that come your way, and respond in a way that honors those who ask.