Tonight after the DVD we started by asking the kids to think about how many different way there are to get to the kitchen from inside the church building. Since there are eleven rooms in the building, there are eleven ways to get to the kitchen. But then we came up with more because there are shortcuts from each of these rooms, or multiple paths that can be taken from each of them before entering the kitchen. Each room could potentially cut through the nursery in either direction or the yellow room, for example. We eventually gave up counting the different ways that we could take to get there because there were so many! We all had our own guesses.Next, we talked about how there can only be one way to God, unlike the number of ways there are to get to the kitchen. Each youth was given a chart of the world's religions and their beliefs (43 of them anyway). Only one believes that Jesus is the only way through which you can truly know God and someday get to heaven...Christianity. Some didn't even believe in a God or place called heaven!
We talked about how it is not narrow-minded to insist that Jesus is the only way to really know God and be assured of heaven. Simply put, because Jesus said it and then demonstrated it when he sacrificed Himself on the cross for our sins. We looked at:
John 14:5-6
John 10:9-10
Acts 4:12
Revelation 21:27
Jesus didn't say, "I am ONE way or ONE door". He said, "I am THE way and THE door".
We talked about why some people today insist that all religions are equally valid...or logical, correct. Maybe it makes them feel more tolerant, kind towards others. Maybe it makes them feel better about what they believe because it's not Christianity.
We asked the kids how they would respond to someone saying to them, "Since you only believe in Christianity and one way to salvation and heaven, then you must be intolerant or unwilling to accept the opinions of others". What does it mean to be tolerant? Is it okay to say we're not willing to accept the opinions about others' beliefs as true? Does that make us stiff-necked or arrogant people?
Some people think that what you believe about your faith should not be talked about in public places, like at work, school, social gatherings, etc... For example, you cannot pray in school anymore, though you can have quiet times and moments of silence. Some schools have even omitted "under God" from their Pledge of Allegiance. People can also be fired from their jobs for sharing their Christian views and beliefs with co-workers. We asked the kids what they thought about this.
Then we opened a discussion with the kids about how they came to be Christians. Is it how they are being raised? Is it because their parents are Christians? Is it because something happened to them and they experienced God at work in their lives as a result? Is it because of the church they go to...or extracurricular activities at their church? Was it their choice?
Overall, we had a very good discussion. We are simply amazed by the openness, honesty, insight, and depth of understanding these youth have when discussing issues of this magnitude.
