Apologetics to youth
Walking down the hallway on my way to grad class last week, I passed by another classroom where a philosophy prof was teaching. The very words I heard when I walked by were “…and if I said these things at a Christian university, they would throw me out.” He then went on to ‘professionally’ rebuke prominent Midwest institutions like Anderson, Huntington, and Taylor (from which I graduated) and praise the state college’s philosophy department. THEY did not have a hidden agenda, or close themselves off from ‘finding’ truth in all its forms. As I listened outside the doorway, trying to learn what he stated that would have ‘fired’ him (which I never did), God spoke. “Evil is already gathering on the battlefield I chose for you. Where are you, and your forces?”
The story behind that, and the input I need from my friends here!
This all started one weekend I came home during college. I went to church on Sunday…and was bored. In Sunday School. I was not learning anything. I rarely learned anything new on following visits. I realized I was being ‘spoiled’ by my theology professors, having deep discussions almost daily on biblical concepts. Sunday Schools are more…a friendly low-key community. However, I felt closer to God in the world of long studies and tests than with the local church community!
I grew so frustrated, because of my needs. In debates with my classmates, I knew I needed more in-depth training and knowledge of the Bible. But when I came home, all I was fed was the ‘party line’ and not offered other possible explanations. As I was brooding on my way out the door one day, thinking on this, I passed a group of cheery teens, not much younger than myself. Then God drove this thought into my mind: I was frustrated, yes. But I was attending a Christian college. Even with disagreement, fundamentally my classmates and I shared certain core values. This would NOT be the truth at a state school, where these teens could be heading. I myself was not ready for intellectually and convincingly defending my faith, and I had a ‘safety net’ of sorts. Then in striking blazing words I thought, “They are NOT ready for what they face in college.” Ideas like: there is no truth. All truth paths lead to God. There is no God. God is this, God is that.
I had NOT encountered a Sunday School / small group that taught basic apologetics as a theme. Granted, a pastor could be the only person ‘qualified’ to do so. And as this weighed on my heart, I felt that God had burdened ME with this concept for a reason. But I was no teacher. I had no experience. I was currently a business major, and would be taking grad schoolwork in library science. Yes, I could FIND the information easily. But PRESENTING it, encouraging and inspiring younger students to seek Jesus in new ways…
And yet, I saw possible lesson on what I wanted to teach. Near the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, talk on the theories when a soul enters a body. Talk about the TRUE signs (there are three, btw) signaling the end times. Talk about the different ideas of what Hell IS. How the Resurrection can be proved as a historical fact. Free will vs. predestination. How can a human heart be corrupt yet have God’s image? Apparent contradiction in the Bible. What the Eden curses for the serpent, man, and woman meant in greater context. So many things that could prepare the new generation to fight the worldly ideologies (who have educated, STRONG proponents) they would grapple with for the coming years.
Which leads me to today. I know I need further education myself before I can begin teaching apologetics. But making relationships with the youth…THAT I can do. But what is the best way? Write my church’s youth director and tell him everything? Or just be a volunteer and bring up the teaching later? And when I do help, what is the best training for me? Lead a small accountability group, and/or a book study?
I am just…so scared…that my younger brothers and sisters could fall away because they were told a ‘fact,’ and they did not have a better counter-argument.
Quotes from Ultimate Spider-Man #16: Deadpool:
[Shadowcat pulls Spidey out of constricting rings by making him intangible. His shirt is left with the rings.]
-Spider-Man: You phased me!
-Shadowcat: You’re welcome.
-Spider-Man: I didn’t know you could phase other people.
-Shadowcat: If I grab and focus.
-Spider-Man: That was COMPLETELY freaky.
-Shadowcat: I know.
-Spider-Man: And now I have no shirt.
-Shadowcat: Bonus for me.
-Spider-Man: (And what do we have tonight for the fledgling young Spider-Man who has taken to talking to himself? Nothing out of the ordinary-- Just a guy running like a maniac through a side street of Manhattan. Either running FROM something or TO something, but still, middle of the night, running. Not good. Oh, and there’s this other guy chasing the first guy… With the guns and the chasing… And the shooting. So here we go again with that whole “with great power must also come some idiot shooting at my head!”)
-Spider-Man: (I hate these moral conundrums. That’s what this IS, right? A moral conundrum. I am completely immersed in conundrum. I dress up like this specifically to beat up bad guys and a cop I know points to a bad guy who needs a beating… And yet…this feels wrong. But why DO I have to wait ‘til the crime happens to stick my nose in? Why NOT jump in there and stop it BEFORE it goes down? Why wait ‘til someone gets hurt? *Guys comes crashing through a bar window.* You know, like that guy… Well, at least the conundrum’s over…)
[While Punisher is raining gunfire down on them.]
-Spider-Man: So… who makes YOUR costumes?
-Daredevil: Shut up.
[to Moon Knight]
-Spider-Man: And didn’t I tell YOU not to wear white after Labor Day? I swear I told you that!
Arjayen
The story behind that, and the input I need from my friends here!
This all started one weekend I came home during college. I went to church on Sunday…and was bored. In Sunday School. I was not learning anything. I rarely learned anything new on following visits. I realized I was being ‘spoiled’ by my theology professors, having deep discussions almost daily on biblical concepts. Sunday Schools are more…a friendly low-key community. However, I felt closer to God in the world of long studies and tests than with the local church community!
I grew so frustrated, because of my needs. In debates with my classmates, I knew I needed more in-depth training and knowledge of the Bible. But when I came home, all I was fed was the ‘party line’ and not offered other possible explanations. As I was brooding on my way out the door one day, thinking on this, I passed a group of cheery teens, not much younger than myself. Then God drove this thought into my mind: I was frustrated, yes. But I was attending a Christian college. Even with disagreement, fundamentally my classmates and I shared certain core values. This would NOT be the truth at a state school, where these teens could be heading. I myself was not ready for intellectually and convincingly defending my faith, and I had a ‘safety net’ of sorts. Then in striking blazing words I thought, “They are NOT ready for what they face in college.” Ideas like: there is no truth. All truth paths lead to God. There is no God. God is this, God is that.
I had NOT encountered a Sunday School / small group that taught basic apologetics as a theme. Granted, a pastor could be the only person ‘qualified’ to do so. And as this weighed on my heart, I felt that God had burdened ME with this concept for a reason. But I was no teacher. I had no experience. I was currently a business major, and would be taking grad schoolwork in library science. Yes, I could FIND the information easily. But PRESENTING it, encouraging and inspiring younger students to seek Jesus in new ways…
And yet, I saw possible lesson on what I wanted to teach. Near the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, talk on the theories when a soul enters a body. Talk about the TRUE signs (there are three, btw) signaling the end times. Talk about the different ideas of what Hell IS. How the Resurrection can be proved as a historical fact. Free will vs. predestination. How can a human heart be corrupt yet have God’s image? Apparent contradiction in the Bible. What the Eden curses for the serpent, man, and woman meant in greater context. So many things that could prepare the new generation to fight the worldly ideologies (who have educated, STRONG proponents) they would grapple with for the coming years.
Which leads me to today. I know I need further education myself before I can begin teaching apologetics. But making relationships with the youth…THAT I can do. But what is the best way? Write my church’s youth director and tell him everything? Or just be a volunteer and bring up the teaching later? And when I do help, what is the best training for me? Lead a small accountability group, and/or a book study?
I am just…so scared…that my younger brothers and sisters could fall away because they were told a ‘fact,’ and they did not have a better counter-argument.
Quotes from Ultimate Spider-Man #16: Deadpool:
[Shadowcat pulls Spidey out of constricting rings by making him intangible. His shirt is left with the rings.]
-Spider-Man: You phased me!
-Shadowcat: You’re welcome.
-Spider-Man: I didn’t know you could phase other people.
-Shadowcat: If I grab and focus.
-Spider-Man: That was COMPLETELY freaky.
-Shadowcat: I know.
-Spider-Man: And now I have no shirt.
-Shadowcat: Bonus for me.
-Spider-Man: (And what do we have tonight for the fledgling young Spider-Man who has taken to talking to himself? Nothing out of the ordinary-- Just a guy running like a maniac through a side street of Manhattan. Either running FROM something or TO something, but still, middle of the night, running. Not good. Oh, and there’s this other guy chasing the first guy… With the guns and the chasing… And the shooting. So here we go again with that whole “with great power must also come some idiot shooting at my head!”)
-Spider-Man: (I hate these moral conundrums. That’s what this IS, right? A moral conundrum. I am completely immersed in conundrum. I dress up like this specifically to beat up bad guys and a cop I know points to a bad guy who needs a beating… And yet…this feels wrong. But why DO I have to wait ‘til the crime happens to stick my nose in? Why NOT jump in there and stop it BEFORE it goes down? Why wait ‘til someone gets hurt? *Guys comes crashing through a bar window.* You know, like that guy… Well, at least the conundrum’s over…)
[While Punisher is raining gunfire down on them.]
-Spider-Man: So… who makes YOUR costumes?
-Daredevil: Shut up.
[to Moon Knight]
-Spider-Man: And didn’t I tell YOU not to wear white after Labor Day? I swear I told you that!
Arjayen