Much like the Greeks of Jesus' time, our culture is obsessed with wisdom. Or rather, the appearance thereof. If the secular world could make 2 + 2 = 7 look intelligent, I guarantee the equation could be found in every school in the Western world. This obsession with the appearance of wisdom produces a number of quotes such as the one found in the header image. "I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned." Smart. Snappy. Entirely self refuting.
Long before Feynman was born, the Apostle Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, wrote "Test all things, hold on to that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21), acknowledging the wisdom in the "question everything" mentality. However, the second half of the verse also highlights the folly. "Hold on to that which is good".
The goal of questioning everything should be the pursuit of truth. Even if ignorance is bliss, questioning the right answer, once it has indeed been found, ceases to be rational, and instead becomes pure folly. In fact, the irony is Feynman's original statement is itself an answer that neither he, nor other atheists and agnostics who use it, would ever dare to question. Is it really better to have questions without answers than answers we don't question? I dare say no. Forfeiting truth for the dopamine release that comes with mystery is certainly not an honest attitude. I make no apology in this: 2 + 2 = 4 is an answer that should never be questioned.
This illustrates the superiority of God's word. Whereas the Bible describes the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom as a good thing, man made philosophies ultimately demand we set knowledge and wisdom aside in favor of our idols. In Feynman's atheistic philosophy, the appearance of truth seeking is valued, but ignorance is ultimately preferable to knowledge. However, the word of God exhorts us, be babes in regard to malice, but in understanding, be mature. In understanding, be mature!
And so what can be said of Feynman's philosophy? Ultimately, he cheated himself. He had great earthly knowledge, but he died without knowing His Creator. He now has an answer he cannot question. Is there a God? Yes, Richard. Yes there is. And he has now met Him, and He has questioned him, and Feynman could not answer. Every thought, every word, every deed, He has examined in great detail. And unfortunately, for Richard Feynman, there was only one just course of action. An eternity in the lake of fire.
This, of course, is not God's preference. Hell was not designed for man, but for the devil and his angels. Nevertheless, all men sin, and fall short of the glory of God, earning for ourselves the just wage: Death. Yet, in His boundless love, God has prepared a gift for all men willing to receive it: Eternal life. Though sin demands death, who receives that punishment is open for debate. 2,000 years ago, the Son of God became flesh, being born to a virgin named Mary. Yet, He never lost the innocence of His youth, as all men do. Rather, He lived a life free of sin, never once earning the wrath of God. Yet, He received it, being crucified at the hands of Jew and Gentile alike. There, He died, and declared "it is finished".
He did not stay dead. On the third day, Jesus stood up, almost completely healed, and walked out of His tomb, after which He appeared to many witnesses. His disciples, His other friends, a crowd of 500 people, and most amazingly, He first appeared to a woman, a cultural no-no at that time. This, He did so that all who repent of their sin, confess Him as Lord, and believe in their heart that He rose from the dead will be saved. Through Jesus, we can not only be forgiven for our sins, but also inherit eternal life, a reward none of us deserve. That is God's most beautiful answer to the most terrifying of questions.
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