So this blog entry has been a VERY long time in the making. I have started it a number of times but until now have simply not found time to finish it - perhaps indicative of the term I had! Oxford terms are generally fairly chaotic, but last term seemed to fly by with very little time off, relaxation or sleep! I had hoped to finish writing this over my easter break but somehow that turned out to be as mad as term. Having said all that my penultimate term here in Oxford was been wonderful albeit a tad stressful and exhausting at times!
Towards the beginning of last term (when I initially started writing this!) I was struck by how uncomfortable I was encouraging people to ask questions about God. It didn’t take me long to identify why I find the concept difficult. Fear. Fear that I won’t be able to answer them, fear that they’ll never come back, and ultimately fear of rejection. I was reminded of this during our university main event week half way through the term. Main event weeks are put on by University Christian Unions all over the country and aim to give students the chance to hear and respond to the Gospel. In Oxford, the week generally consists of lunchtime apologetic-style talks and evening bible based talks and usually runs along a theme. This year our theme was “Love Like This” and we had a couple of great speakers come to give the talks. The events are usually well attended (possibly in part due to the large amounts of free food available!) and offer individuals a great space to ask questions about Christianity. Despite having been involved in three main event weeks over my time at university, I have never been persistent in inviting those around me. For some reason I end up telling myself it’s sufficient to just let them know that I am going and then expect them to ask to come. I finished the week feeling slightly defaulted and frustrated that I hadn’t been brave enough to really tell my friends how important my faith is to me and beg them to investigate it for themselves. Thankfully God’s grace is amazing and he is at work even when I don’t help!
As many people reading this will know I have a massive passion for Children’s Ministry and giving children the opportunity to meet with God. I was recently made aware of a really cool piece of research published by the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) in 2011 which has since become known as “Sticky Faith”. They followed over 500 high school seniors through three years of college in an attempt to gain a deeper understanding of which childhood experiences, especially regarding church, are associated with children who stick with their faith into university. They summarise their results into four areas, one of which they deem “Sticky Questions”. They found that giving children time and space to ask questions about christianity when they’re young is essential to help children stick with their faith during the transition to college. Children need an opportunity to ask the big questions: Why should I follow God’s ways? Why is there suffering in the world? How does the cross take away my sins? Is the Bible true?
If we don’t give them the chance to ask these questions as children, they are bound to seek the answers elsewhere later in life, and possibly even look back and see the church as glossing over the difficult questions or even as deceptive. Whether or not specifically involved with Children’s Ministry, as a member of the church family I believe we have a responsibility to help nurture the children around us as they navigate their faith. Over the past couple of months God has really opened my eyes to how easy it can be to focus on the ‘nice’ bits of the bible and passages which are easier to understand. I mean lets face it, very few sunday school leaders would choose to run a session on the genocide of the Old Testament would they!? But on reflection, I think my tendency to stick to the neat, easy parts of the Bible is actually a result of my unwillingness to ask these questions myself. If I am not willing to delve deep and find satisfactory answers to these questions, how can I expect the children I am working with to do so?
Perhaps my biggest realisation recently has been that it’s TOTALLY okay to have questions, in fact it’s a good thing! After all, I wouldn’t buy a television from someone without checking it out first, so why would I want to base my entire life on something that wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny? God doesn’t call us to mindless believe in him, he says he’s there to be found and invites us to seek. When it comes to inviting those around me to question, I find myself wanting to defend God’s actions - willing them to believe in him; but ultimately I should leave it to God. He will (and does!) do a much better job at answering these questions than I ever can! So if you’re reading this and haven’t seriously considered investigating Christianity, I challenge you to. Grab a Bible and start by reading one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) - I would massively recommend getting hold of an Uncover Gospel because they have loads of questions, answers and video links throughout to help you work your way through it. If you have a Christian friend tell them you want to ask questions and they should (hopefully!) help you do it! If you really investigate Christianity with an open heart, I believe that you will not be disappointed.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7: 7-8
Some Links
Great post! I believe the opposite of faith isn't doubt, but certainty.
ReplyDeleteI also believe God is big enough to handle our questions - and our doubts.