I'm not kidding about a Flat Earth Society! Google it right now and see what I'm talking about. I heard about it on NPR the other day so I went checking. Can you believe that a Flat Earth Society exists in the 21st Century? The crazy thing is that they have all these Physics and scientific explanations for their belief. I thought the website was a joke at first, but no, there are over 3000 people who believe this.
In spite of overwhelming proof, photographs, and testimony from people who have actually orbited the earth, they still don't believe. How can they be so stupid?
But lets not be too quick to condemn them when we often have these big blind spots in our own lives. I see students who have been taught Truth for years, yet graduate from high school and walk away from Jesus. I realize at this point there may be some who would argue that my belief in Jesus is as bad as the Flat Earth people but this is not the blog to deal with that. If your presupposition is that we can't know truth, you may want to just stop reading at this point.
Over 70% of students who grow up attending church disengage from their faith in their 20's. That's an alarming statistic, especially for one who has dedicated his entire life to pastoring students. How can students know the truth and then turn away and believe empty lies? How can life how purpose and meaning apart from God? The narrative of God's interaction with humans found in Scripture is amazing! Someone couldn't just make up these stuff. It's too paradoxical, supernatural, and amazing.
As a pastor to students, in a few days I'll be facing a situation that I've been anxious about for a long time. My oldest child is officially old enough to attend our student ministry and hear her dad talk every Wednesday night about God and faith. I think I've been so anxious about it because I know that I must live what I preach-24 hours a day. She sees the real me. I don't want to be another two-faced preacher who is a joke to his family. I want her to know that the things I talk about are an overflow of my relationship with God. Sure, she will see me make plenty of mistakes, but I want her to know I'm real.
I personally think two big reasons students are walking away from God are:
1. Low expectations for teenagers.
2. Parents who don't live out their faith.
There is so much more which could be said. But it's after 5:00, so I'm heading home to live out my faith. I think my children need that more than this blog needs more thoughts on this subject tonight. I need to walk to the "edge" of the world with my children and show them that there is nothing to fear!
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8
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