Posted by
Doctor Bart on Sunday, May 25, 2008 11:37:11 AM
It was an interesting evening Friday night, six of the ten who had committed to come actually showed up, which for high school seniors is a pretty good turnout. It was awkward for me and I was a little uncomfortable. I have long said that I am not a gifted small group or discussion leader. I am much more comfortable behind a pulpit than I am in front of a small group. My son said he noticed the nerves, but did not think anyone else did.
The words definitely did not flow as I would have liked, and places where I thought discussion would develop did not materialize as planned. Nevertheless the response was positive. I was able to make the main point I wanted to make, namely that the secular world divides thought into two realms. The first realm is universal knowledge/scientific fact, the second is personal opinion/religious beliefs. By relegating issues of faith to the realm of mere opinion the Christian perspective is easily dismissed by secularists.
As Christians we need to show that the existence of God and spiritual truth are not matters of mere opinion but actually are universal truth binding to all men. Whenever we are told something is “just our opinion” we are put on notice that what we need to argue is the basis for truth itself. We need to remind people that the evidence for the existence of God is overwhelming, and that he has clearly revealed himself.
I then challenged the kids to be on guard for the “division of realms” in their own lives. It is far too easy to view God’s truth as relative, and to discard that with which we don’t agree. We need to accept God’s truth as readily and as firmly as we do the truth that 2+2=4, E=mc2, and the law of gravity.
They all said they want to come back next week, so I am encouraged. It will be a busy weekend, as I am leading the “Truth Group” on Saturday and preaching in Fullerton Sunday night. I am energized by the knowledge that I am doing God’s work in a tangible way.