Do you have questions about God, faith, life? I'm guessing we all do. And, more than that, how do you like it when people ask you questions about such things?
Bradley Jersak says in 'A More Christlike God' (pp.15-18), "On the ground, in the lives of real people, these questions are not mere recreational thought experiments. There is a critical life-and-death relevance about them. They matter deeply. They're intensely personal. And they're not interested in a nuanced apologetics debate."
He shares an exchange he had with a student he calls "Jess" after giving a series of talks at a private Christian high school where he proposed that if God is real, then to call him God, he must be good, and the perfection of that goodness is seen in Jesus.
She started...
"I am fifteen years old. I rejected Christianity when I was twelve. But what you're saying makes sense to me. But I have questions. A lot of questions." Her eyes were serious, waiting for me to flinch.
"Good," I said. "Questions are good. Fire away!"
The teenager's questions are the same ones I've been hearing for years. I've needed to work through them myself, and usually treat them with a thorough, Bible-based response. But here was a teen with ten minutes and a heap of pain. Behind her questions were untold stories that were about to leak out. You might be alarmed by the frankness and substance of my answers, but the urgency of her situation warranted it. I hope you will stick with me as I explain how I could possibly say these things as the book unfolds. For now, here's a glimpse of our dialogue.
Jess: Why does Jesus seem so loving and God so mean?
Brad: God is not mean. He's exactly like Jesus. And Jesus is not mean.
Jess: Then why does God send people to hell to burn them forever and ever?
Brad: He doesn't. That would be silly. The God who is love, who is like Jesus, would never do that, would he? That would make not sense, would it?
Jess: No. But my Grandma was not a Christian and she died and now some of my family cries and cries because they say she's in hell? [Ah, the story peaks out.]
Brad: Well, I can maybe imagine someone who was truly wicked perishing. Like Hitler. But would you say your Grandma was wicked?
Jess: [Tears.] No.
Brad: But Jesus shows us exactly what God is like, do you think you could leave your Grandma in his caring hands?
Jess: [No hesitation.] Yes. [In prayer, she puts her Grandma in his hands. Peace.].
Jess: [A flash of anger.] But why does God command people to commit genocide in the Old Testament? Why would he kill all those people, including their children? And then the 32 virgins that the priests kept for themselves. What do you suppose they did with them? [Oh dear. She's been reading Numbers 31!].
Brad: Sex slaves?
Jess: Yeah.
Brad: If God were like Jesus, would he do that?
Jess: No.
Brad: Well of course not. Because God is exactly like Jesus.
Jess: Then why does it say he did?
Brad: You tell me.
Jess: Because they didn't know what God is really like? They just described him based on what they thought?
Brad: Sure. But can you imagine the Father in the Prodigal Son story, or the Father that Jesus prayed to, doing that?
Jess: No.
Brad: Well, then I guess he didn't. [Peace.}.
Jess: [More tears.] I still have a lot of questions. God is the creator of everything and he's in control of everything and causes everything to happen for a purpose, so ...
Brad: No.
Jess: Huh?
Brad: Like rape? God causes rape? Rape is for a purpose?
Jess: No!
Brad: No! Rape is just evil. There's no lesson. That's not how God teaches lessons. And he doesn't do control. That's why terrible things happen. But we wouldn't want him to control us. Would you?
Jess: [Shakes her head no.]
Brad: So he never causes evil and he doesn't use control to prevent us from doing evil. But he does care. He loves and cares and wants to come heal those who've been hurt by evil.
Jess: I have three relatives who were molested, but I wasn't. I couldn't understand because people always say God is in control and everything happens for a reason. [Ah, there's the story again.]
Brad: So no, God didn't cause that in any way. But if God were like Jesus, would you be able to put your relatives in his care? Just like you did with your Grandma?
Jess: Yes. [No hesitation. She does it. Peace. More tears.]
Brad: Can you see them there? [She's nodding.] How are they? [More nodding.]
Brad: What are these tears? Why are you crying?
Jess: Because I believe you.
Brad: So if God were like Jesus, could you put yourself in his hands, just like you did with your Grandma and your relatives?
Jess: Yes [No hesitation. And she does.]
I love this back-and-forth. And if you're still reading, I'd guess it raised a few questions in your own mind. The book does a pretty good job of addressing such things. I'd recommend it (again).
Questions are good. I admit that sometimes I don't like being ASKED them, and I need to keep all this in mind when I am. They're not only good, but they are important too!
Wouldn't it be nice if we were less afraid to ask, and respond to, one another's questions on the important things in life (even if we don't have the answers)?
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