9/9/12 Leo, Jeff 16, 15
Two teens coming
down the sidewalk toward me agreed to answer an interesting question with great
curiosity about what this stranger might ask. My question about what comes next after we die
really got their imaginations going. Although
they know what their catholic high school religion class teaches about heaven
and hell, they both said that a belief in reincarnation seems far more
fun. They had that lighthearted belief
in any possibility that many teens have, and as they described their ideas
about reincarnation they became more animated, like they were describing their
favorite mutant superhero. How should I
begin to speak some biblical truth into their lives? Leo,17 and Jeff, 15, both agreed that
whatever the truth is about what comes next, it wouldn't be dependant on what
they believe. They understood they can't
create truth simply by wishing it into existence. "So whatever eternity has in store, it is
worth thinking about now, and definitely something you want to get right"
I told them. I talked about how the
Israelites had made a golden calf while Moses was away receiving the Ten
Commandments, something they were familiar with from their religion classes,
and how one of the commandments forbids idol worship. "The Israelites made their idea of God
into an idol they could worship, and that's exactly what we do when we make up
ideas about God that we are more comfortable with". I told them how I had started reading the
Bible daily when I was their age, and how over time I developed an
understanding of God based on the Bible rather than the opinions of others or
my own imagination. If anything, I hope
I left them with an example and a challenge to do likewise.
No comments:
Post a Comment