Has your faith ever been tested? Have you ever dealt with a line of reasoning that brought into question your faith in Christ & belief in God? If you have, you know it is one of the most troubling things you can will experience.
In college I encountered a challenge to my faith that caused me to doubt everything I believed & had been taught. I almost became an agnostic, if not an atheist (In the span of a few hours). It happened in a religion class at the University of Southern Mississippi… taught by a Southern Baptist Minister.
I tell you about this for several reasons: 1) Know what you believe and why. 2) God will answer when you cry out. 3) Be diligent to disciple your family. 4) Be diligently discerning every time anyone (!) speaks about faith, Christ, and salvation. Here is what happened…
God saved me when I was 10. I was brought up in church. I read the Bible often & considered myself well versed. At USM scholarship athletes were allowed to take one elective… I chose a religion class taught by a Southern Baptist Minister/Professor.
I got to the class early to get a good seat. I was excited & looking forward to it! I expected what I’d grown up with, but more in depth. I was naïve.
The only part of class I remember comes from the 1st day. The professor said (To the best of my memory {Paraphrased}):
“I have a problem with what the Bible presents, that I am held accountable & responsible for a man’s action… who supposedly lived thousands of years ago. I’m held responsible for what he did. It is not right or fair for God to punish ME because Adam ate an apple…”
To the best of my memory the professor spent time explaining his point & working out the implications… all of which was totally new to me. Not only that, what he said made sense! I found myself questioning everything I had been taught about God, Jesus, & salvation. As a result, I was more troubled in my spirit than I had ever been… and it scared me (Understatement!!).
I didn’t (Couldn’t) think of anything else the rest of the morning. All I wanted to do was get back to my dorm room & get my Bible. I didn’t know anything else to do (No cell phones. Long distance cost too much). As soon as I could I got my Bible, said a quick prayer asking for God’s help. Then I began reading. I don’t know where I started or how long I read, but at some point I came to Romans 5. Then the following passage grabbed my heart… (Ro 5:12-18)
Just as sin came into the world thru one man (With these two words I slowed down in my reading!), & death through sin, & so death spread to all men because all sinned… 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God & the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace & the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all… so one act of righteousness leads to justification & life for all…
It happened! GOD HIMSELF answered my plea! HE gave ME a direct answer to a specific situation! Talk about the proverbial weight being lifted… it had! The events of that day are as clear in my mind as the events surrounding my salvation… & I thank God for both of them.
I’m not the only one that happens to. There were other students in the class that morning. Some weren’t Christians… & said so. I’m sure there were other Christians besides me, & I’ve wondered how the professor’s comments weighed on their heart? And it probably will happen to YOUR children and grand-children. So we must prepare them the best we can…
I don’t know if experience will be of any encouragement or help, but at least a reason to pray for your family as they encounter competing religions in the world so that they will not fall.