A Famine Not of Bread

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I’m sure you’ve heard this before: “There’s no such thing as a stupid question.”   It’s my experience that this is the kind of thing said at a question and answer session when nobody is asking questions.   It’s meant to encourage more interaction between the speaker and listeners.   And it’s been said so often that it’s become a truism—an “accepted fact of life.”   But is it true? No, there really are stupid questions—at least questions that have less merit than others.   Some people seem to ask questions just to gain attention.   Others people like to “play devil’s advocate” or “stir up the pot a bit.”   A few already know the answer but want to test the speaker or to prove their own expertise.   And some people just plain don’t think before they speak.   So, yes, there are stupid questions.   But have you ever noticed how a skillful teache...