I want to take that word and apply it to a generation that is not quite there with their faith in Christ. They are on the 1 yard line of faith in God. But, if they do not settle the faith question, they may end up losing it all. Jesus said in Luke 9:18-20, “Who do you say that I am?” Answering this question will complete your faith. This is the question of our generation. Maybe this will help.
This generation in The Teen Decade (2013-2019) does not have a faith problem. You talk on the phone without seeing the other person, type or Skype on the computer/internet and don’t see the other person, text incessantly to someone you cannot see, or even drive on the highway and trust the other driver coming right at you isn’t going to cross the dotted line and run into you.
This generation in The Teen Decade (2013-2019) has a faith in God problem. For many reasons. But, maybe because Christianity places claims on our lives that can be uncomfortable. And that can be a deal-breaker. But, whatever is shaking your confidence in a God who created you and has a plan for your life, there is a path to faith in God. You can know that God is who He said He is.
Almost. Not fully there. Like the last play of the 2015 Super Bowl game. Did you think that Seattle won? That the Patriots lost? How do we know really? Know that there is a God. And that He is who He says He is? There are many ways that lead to an answer to this question. Let's take a look at 5 ways to bring this generation to complete faith:
The First Avenue to Christian Faith is History
We cannot scientifically prove that Jesus or Napoleon lived, but
historical record proves it. History and faith are connected by record
and relationship that is processional and trustworthy. For instance, do
you think that our cynical society is the first generation to question
Christianity? Hear me, if Christianity was a hoax, it would not have
lasted beyond the current minds that lived in the first century through
third centuries. The historical record was passed from the 'living circle' of people around Christ and on to us today.
The Second Avenue to Christian Faith is Geography
When the bible states that a river, or a mountain, or a
city exists, we can actually see it today on an atlas or map. Or, better yet, we can visit it. If the bible didn’t
lie about these things, why would it lie about Christ, His teachings, or
the miracles? Don’t you think that if the records of bible writers
pertaining to geography were fake, that it wouldn’t have lasted one
decade? The bible is a factual representation of geography in the purest sense.
The Third Avenue to Christian Faith is Morality
The message of God and the bible is not a fairy tale. It is real. How do we prove that? All of creation works under a system of order and structure. The
struggle for right and wrong and good and evil didn’t originate with
George Washington. History traces morality straight to the bible and not
The Declaration of Independence. Your pastor or mom and dad didn’t make
this up to punish you or keep you from having fun. Christianity is the
root of morality and it began with Genesis and not some pop icon or
philosophy teacher at your school. Faith needs a set of mores or standards to begin somewhere. Show me another original system that sits beside the bible and Christianity with integrity and authenticity.
The Fourth Characteristic of Christian Faith is The World’s Treatment of Christ
Pluralism, COEXIST, post-modernism, humanism, or relativism all
counter or rival or compare religion to the person of Jesus Christ. No other religious leader. Mohammed,
Sun Young Moon, Joseph Smith, or The Dahli Lama have never become the
lightning rod that Christ has been through history. No other
religious organization bases its belief system upon the death and
resurrection of its author. No other religious organization bases its belief system upon the claims that Christ and His kingdom
are central and exclusive. No other religious organization bases its belief system upon the story of human sin and forgiveness of that sin through the shedding of blood from the Innocent. If
Jesus wasn’t who He said He was, why is everyone so upset by Him? There is a crisis in our generation. That we are serving a God we do not know.
From my observation over the last 30 years, much of this generation has had an external faith. Our American and western faith is something we put on like a glove, hat, coat, or glasses. And then we take it off when it is convenient. But, that is furthest away from the reality of Christianity. Christianity is internal and becomes who we are and not simply what we do. It affects our actions and our lifestyle. It is personal. And I know that if you will seek Him you will find Him. For to know Him is to serve Him.
Almost. Back to the question of this blog. How do you know there is a God? Can you know for sure? I know this, that God will reveal Himself to you if you will seek Him. You might say that would be a prophetic avenue to which God could prove His kingdom to you. But, let me give you one more characteristic.
The Final Avenue to the Christian Faith is Personal
We can talk history, geography, morality, and Christ to the hardest
person. And I would get an argument. There may be an argument to the
previous avenues. But, there is no argument to the personal experience
of a sincere person. Not even someone others might say is 'sincerely
wrong'. Wrong is in the eye of the beholder at that point and only
eternity will be the judge. What I know to be absolutely true is that nothing else
changed my life. You cannot look me in the eye and tell me that I
haven’t experienced God/Christ first hand. Athletics, alcohol, money,
fame, knowledge, music, or my family didn’t change my life. I could tell
you of several times in my life where God revealed Himself to me. And
changed my life. I have felt Him intellectually and with my emotions.Listen, this generation in The Teen Decade (2013-2019) doesn't have a faith problem. This generation in The Teen Decade (2013-2019) has a faith in God problem.
Finally, I'm not sure what is keeping you from complete faith in God. Some will try to use evil, or disease, or
poverty/injustice, or doubt, or some argument that we cannot see God in
order to debate Christianity with you some day. What are you going to
say to them? Is this your faith and is He your God? Almost is not enough. It wasn't in the 2015 Super Bowl game and it never is. Jesus said in Luke
9:18-20, “Who do you say that I am?” Answering this question will complete your faith. This is the question of our generation.
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