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10/17/17            Will            about 45

Though my window for neighborhood outreach is getting smaller as the days get shorter (after work and before dark), I’ve had some good conversations on my neighbors’ front steps.  Yesterday, a man named Will answered his door and cheerfully agreed to answer my question about his beliefs in life after death.  He was interrupted, however, by his daughter, in her early teens, who had heard my question from inside their living room and poked her head around the side of the door, volunteering her own answer.

 

Her father agreed to allow her give her perspective, and the look on his face was one of curiosity at what his daughter might answer.  It was obvious they really hadn’t talked about this before.  He had a look of surprise on his face as she told us about her belief in reincarnation. 

After his daughter explained her beliefs in more detail, she wanted to know what her father believed.  He really couldn’t say much more than that he thought we would all be rewarded for our good behavior here on earth.

I understand from the Bible that God’s gracious gift of salvation comes through faith in Jesus, not through our own good works, but I didn’t want to just blatantly correct a father in front of his daughter.  I found some common ground in our belief in God and that we all understand there is a spiritual dimension in addition to the physical.  I found out Will does attend church (though I’m not sure how often), and as I reminded him of basic Christian doctrine in regards to our sin, our need for forgiveness and God’s gift of the Savior, he agreed to all the important beliefs he hears at church but failed to mention with regards to his own faith.

I wonder how things could have been different, had Will actively conversed with his daughter about the Gospel as she grew up, reading her Bible stories and praying with her, or even helping teach Sunday school at church.  Not only would she have a solid understanding of the Gospel, but Will would too because those who teach others end up with a far deeper grasp of their own beliefs. 

I explained to him how it is our human tendency to constantly drift toward faith in our own goodness and efforts rather than faith in Jesus.  We need not just the constant reminder of Gospel truths on Sunday mornings, but the greater faith that comes from getting out of our comfort zones and putting the faith we do have into action. 

 

Parents, can you explain the Gospel to your children?  Do you?  Do you read from the Bible and pray with them?  Are you encouraging church involvement through your own example?  Or do you really want them to depend on their own imaginations or on what pop culture will teach them by default?