...is my soon-to-be teen son, don't you know. I wanted him to do a devotional with me this morning and he just wouldn't have it.
"Mitch, you will not eat until we're done."
"But mom, I don't want to. I want to read the newspaper instead."
"You will not eat until we're done. "
"I'll do it after. Just let me have a break first."
"You will not eat until we're done."
"But mom..."
"YOU. WILL. NOT. EAT. UNTIL. YOU'RE. DONE!"
"Why do I have to do this? I don't even believe in God!"
"Ok...I'm not going to force you to believe in God. That will do neither of us any good. So...care to tell me how it is you came to this conclusion? Was it a rational decision or an emotional one?"
"Aaaaah, mmmmooommmmm...."
"What facts did you consider, or is this a choice you're making based on wishful thinking?"
"Fine then. If God were real, He wouldn't let so and so do this or that. He would stop them."
"But God is just. If He intervenes on your behalf He'll have to intervene on everyone else's behalf...and what will that mean for you who wrongs others? Could it be then that God doesn't stop that person because He loves you too much? But let me ask you a question. Is it wrong for that person to do that thing to you?"
"Yeah."
"Why is it wrong?"
"Because it hurts me."
"Is it wrong to hurt people?"
"Yeah."
"Why is it wrong to hurt people?"
"Because we shouldn't hurt people."
"So...it's wrong to hurt people because hurting people is wrong??? But why is it wrong to hurt people?"
...uh....erm.... Oh, would you just leave me alone?!"
"Typical atheist." I told him. "I had that exact conversation with an atheist only is was about rape in the Bible that God never sanctioned. It ended the same way... something along the lines of 'Shut up, you stupid Christian.'" (He's giggling at this point).
Jesus would call this kicking against the pricks.
"I was just trying to get you worked up." says he.
Yeah, I know I could have talked about the suffering of the saints and how Jesus even warned us that suffering was not only possible, but iminent, but we weren't discussing Christianity. We were discussing the existence, or rather, non-existence of God, and this "God doesn't exist because if He did He wouldn't allow evil" is an incoherent argument. If there wasn't a God, evil wouldn't exist either...so what are you yapping about in the first place??
I think the biggest problem we have when it comes to our children is that we spend too much time telling them what to think, and not enough time teaching them how to think. Not that I'm anyone to talk. None of my kids are grown yet, but it's just something I've observed from my own childhood and others I know.
I was thankful though because this sparked a good conversation.
Anyway, I went online to try to find some resources to answer some of his questions, and I came across this video. Produced by a Muslim, but very interesting as long as you correct the "millions of years" statement and the citing of a Qur'an passage.
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Wow! I remember all of that! I remember also when I was told that I was to become a grandmother...I remember thinking and saying "This can't be! I'm much too young! I'm not ready to be a grandmother!" As the months went on and I seized every opportunity to feel the kicks I began to get excited and very anxious to see this little miracle that God had blessed me with. The first time I laid eyes on the most perfect baby (mine were perfect too)...and then they became teenagers just like Mitchel. I remember the awe that I felt as I held you so close to my heart for the first time ( and I've kept you there ever since). Being a grandparent is the most wonderful gift! I made so many mistakes as a parent. God gave me those beautiful and perfect children and I took them for granted many times and certainly wasn't the kind of parent always, that I know God wanted me to be. He TRUSTED me with their little lives and many times I didn't deserve that trust. I made many mistakes along the way being a single parent mother. Most of it was lack of knowing anything different or not knowing how to do the job better...and also some selfishness I'm sure. But the point is, that when I was blessed with my first grandchild God gave me a second chance to "do it right". Every one of those grandchildren are so very precious to my heart and I love them so very much. I am so very proud of them...and I'm so very proud of my own children. I truly have been blessed with "many special gifts" and I thank God every day for these precious bundles.
Love, Grandma!
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