Cracks in the Ceiling

In flustered frustration Jake stormed into his room. He had just endured what he thought was a grueling three hour lecture debunking all that he held to be true. This was his first year of undergraduate studies in world religions. In his heart he knew he ought to have defended his faith but it felt as though reason had deserted him and words failed him. While fellow students contributed with jeering remarks and witty quips, he sat as helpless as a nestling that had fallen off the tree, unable to defend his faith in the presence of his skeptical professor and ‘highbrow’ classmates.

He tossed his dog-eared book on the table and lay on his bed looking intently at the cracks in the ceiling wondering why he had been so tongue tied. He was practically raised in the church. Jake, along with his brother, sisters and parents, was an active member of his church. The exemplary life of his parents egged him on to be the Christian that they desired him to be. Growing up, he faithfully attended Sunday school; He never missed a single youth group bible study session. To further bolster this Christian upbringing, inspite of acute financial constraints, his parents ensured that he and his siblings attended a private Christian school.

And now in the presence of these erudite academicians, who appeared to possess a ready answer for the volley of questions directed towards them, Jake felt powerless; And on certain few and far in between days when he did find his voice to deliver a spirited apology, all he could muster for a question like, “Okay, Jake, why does your ‘good’ God allow bad things to happen?” was a staller, “Well…uh.. hmm..”

Intently peering at the cracks in the ceiling, Jake began to mull over and question his very own faith. And the cracks began to widen.

The ‘Jake Scenario’ is not some stray exception to the rule; frighteningly it is becoming the rule with a few exceptions. After four-years in college the percentage of those who call themselves “born-again” falls by 41 percent. Furthermore, according to George Barna only 20 percent of students who were active participants in the life of the church as teenagers remain “spiritually active” (www.barna.org). A dark and despairing verdict indeed!

What has been the Christian response to this dire predicament? (I can’t speak for every Christian response, but only for that which I have seen.) The blame is often put on “faulty curriculum.” And there is livid and irate outburst against liberal professors. In talking about this issue there is no dismissing the findings that 72 percent of professors and instructors in colleges across the U.S. described themselves as liberals. ("College Faculties A Most Liberal Lot, Study Finds," By Howard Kurtz, Washington Post)

That being said I want to add that the woes of the aforementioned dire-predicament don’t solely rest on the percentage of liberal professors. There are a few other contributing factors that aid if not propel this steady decline of young people who call themselves Christians. One could be the reluctance on the part of adult Christians to foster in the minds of children a spirit of enquiry. Difficult questions are rarely discussed around our dinner table. And the Church in most cases is plagued by what John Stonestreet calls the “myth of adolescence,” that treats young people in a way that relegates to a footnote if not dismisses their capacity to think and be interested in profound topics. He further makes a harsh pronouncement when he says, “It is foolish to expect students to take Christianity and the world seriously if all they have been exposed to at youth groups is games, pizza and mindless mini-therapy lessons that may or may not come from Scripture.”

It is more than vital that we tell the rich narrative of God that all of Scripture relates and this grounding would stand them in good stead when the storms of doubts assail. And even when they are still very young it is imperative that we encourage them to ask difficult questions. It is essential that our children know and believe that their faith is reasonable and that they need not check out their intellect in their pursuit of faith. (And that means that we as adults need to think, talk and more importantly find answers for ourselves from Scripture.) Let not those tough questions be steered only along the lines of certain talking points, but let it also enable them to see the plethora of issues that plague the world today – human trafficking, international relations, emerging technologies to mention but a few. We cannot afford to live in the bubble of ignorance and apathy. And more importantly we need to encourage them to find the answers for themselves in the word of God, for He promises us that those who seek in earnestness will find. Next, it is vital that our children are exposed to non-Christian worldviews. So when they hear a liberal professor debunk their faith not only will they be able to defend their faith but also be able to assess his views as stemming from a certain other worldview.

I quite recently came across a one-year-college-level academic program called Insights – Intensive Study of Integrated Global History and Theology. It aims at precisely helping students heading out to college not only to understand their belief but also to understand the different worldviews out there. Its core elements include the Bible, History, Theology, Missions, Culture, Worldview, Religions, Philosophy and Ethics among others. It also enables students to earn college credits. On reading about the program from students who attended this course, I learnt that it enabled them to understand that “the kingdom of God is the theme and the story” they want to live.

It is absolutely vital that we engage our children in meaningful discussions about God and what we believe in; in order that they might find within the confines of a Christian setting scope for questions answered and doubts cleared. For that will definitely bolster their strength to stand up for their faith. In John 14:26 we read that the Spirit of God will enable us to remember what we have been told by God. A prerequisite is in us knowledge of the truth. And it cannot be stated enough that we ought to instill not only in ourselves but also in our children a sound knowledge of the truth so that when the time comes they will be reminded of what they have learnt and will be filled with wisdom and the right words by God even as they defend their faith.

'Apologie' for an Apostle

Brainerd and I have been reading a book these past couple of days. The author makes covert suggestions that the apostle Paul had a clandestine motive for preaching the message that he did. It must be added that the idea she is trying to purport is not even a novelty, but cud that popular media masticates to a pulp. We see countless instances where television documentaries and popular books vie for the attention of an audience who would concur with their undermining of traditionally held values and beliefs.

The author’s not so blatant claims aim at projecting Paul as being an ill-informed, self-contradicting, self-seeking, man who oft allowed the status quo to remain for fear of opposition. She says that the hellenistic Paul never fully understood the essence of the Torah (The Jewish bible, and the first five books of the Christian bible), hence he pitted the gospel of love against the religion of Laws. In addition to this she adds that Paul contradicts himself when he talks about the observance of the Law. Furthermore, she says that Paul fearing the discredit of the Romans abstained from addressing issues like slavery. Finally she delivers what surely would appear like a deathblow to the very germ of traditional Christian belief by suggesting that the Christian faith is but the creation of one man called Paul.

The author’s claims appear alluring till one delves deeper into Scripture. Paul might have been informed by the Greek translation of the Torah, but one must also add that he learned at the feet of Gamaliel, a Palestinian master of Jewish law. Paul doesn’t contradict himself when talking about the Law, rather all along he states the inadequacy of the law in providing salvation; It is vital that we understand that while the Christian faith subscribes to salvation through Christ, nowhere does it undermine the place of good works that the Law requires in the life of a saved human being.

In answering the final suggestions that the author makes regarding the self-seeking nature of Paul, I can only go back to his conversion, the life of hardship and imprisonment and his eventual martyrdom. Paul, an ardent persecutor of the church ,had his life-altering experience on the road to Damascus. His conversion was almost dream-like. Only days ago he participated in the execution of Stephen, one of the early Christian believers, and now he was on his way with letters from the high priest to the synagogues at Damascus authorizing him to bring bound any follower of what was then called the Way. Nothing save divine intervention could have brought about so great a change. So devout a person, could not have abandoned all that he held close to his heart just in order to create personal, posthumous fame. If fear of the Romans held sway in Paul’s life he wouldn’t have willingly allowed himself to stand trial and even face death in the hands of the Romans. In my opinion nothing authenticates the message more than a life so drastically transformed – from persecutor to persecuted!

In Paul we do have a member of “so great a cloud of witness.” May our conversion experience be as real if not as dramatic as Paul’s and may we be willing to be as fearless for the sake of Christ and His gospel.