Young adult questions

This past Thursday I was a guest speaker at the young adult gathering at Hickory Grove. Using a college lecture approach we tackled some tough questions. The questions they wanted to cover were:

1. Why do bad things happen (to good people) ?
2. What happens to unsaved people (after death)?
3. How do I know God’s will?
4. Is the bible authoritative?

I was able to cover 1 and 2. We briefly covered 3. I wanted to take a moment and recap what we covered, as well as provide some scriptural references from the conversation.

1.) Why do bad things happen (to good people) ? Short answer is: sin. The more complex answer is that our question is a bit flawed (when we add the “good people” portion). The Bible is very clear, no one is good.

Romans 3: 11-12 “None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”

This doesn’t sit very well with us. I can remember thinking things like “what about babies, or mother Teresa?” Or what about (fill in your favorite pastor)? Paul is clear, we’re not good. So our presupposition of “good people” hurts us before we ever get to the question. As Americans we tend to be at a disadvantage. Our pulpits are flooded with health, wealth, and prosperity. Our prayers are often “God bless my ______” (instead of the way Jesus taught us to pray “your kingdom come, your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.” So the reality is that until Jesus comes back for his church evil will still be here, because sin is still here.

Notable Scriptures:

• Pain is real and should be expected:
• Psalm 23:4 “yea, that I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
• Psalm 42 “why are you downcast, O my soul?”
• 1 Peter 5:10 “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
• Romans 5:3 “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,”

2.)What happens to unsaved people (after death)?

This one isn’t very fun. God’s word is clear that Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. Hell is the alternative. We believe Hell is a real physical place, but is also a place where we are separated from God. For a fantastic article on this CLICK HERE.

This opens the dialogue to some very tough questions like: what about children, mentally disabled, or the unreached?

These are all difficult, but we do see in scripture where God goes to great length to save someone, and that he cares about children. Topics like “age of accountability” along with “how can they be judged if they’ve never heard?”

The tough news is that Romans 3 says “all” are guilty. The sin of Adam has infected us all. The the harsh side of the spectrum scholars would say they’d still need to be accountable for the sin nature (not a very pleasant thought). The other side would argue that God being a just God wouldn’t hold them accountable for the inability to repent. Mike Bergman (a writer for SBC voices.com) says:

“But what about those who cannot hear and respond? Those such as infants and those who suffer from severe mental handicaps, etc.? Are they still guilty? Yes. But since God is fair and just, and since they are absolutely incapable of hearing and responding to the Gospel and seeing his power in nature, then I posit that God will not hold them culpable for their guilt.”

I would have to agree with Mr. Bergman. While no one is free of guilt because we’re all born sinners, that doesn’t change that fact that God is the judge. Which means he gets to exercise judgement. King David had the same hope in his story of lament (2 Samuel 12)

Those who have never heard: Dealing with unreached adults is another subject all tougher. Each person has knowledge of God:

Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”

We all have a sense of that we’re not alone, because God has created us this way. Today the Holy Spirit speak to everyone. The comfort I can find in nations that aren’t Christian is the story of the Ethiopian eunuch. In Acts 8 God goes through great lengths to make sure an Ethiopian receives Christ. The mission of the church will be completed. If we don’t be witnesses for God even the rocks will cry out (Luke 19:40). While I trust that God is sovereign, and that his will is going to be done I can’t stand by and do nothing. I believe billions of people are lost, dying, and going to Hell. This is the stuff that keeps me up at night. This is why I do what I do. I’m not saying I’m perfect (or even close), but I don’t want to leave this world the way I found it. I want to take as many people to Heaven with me. I hope you’ll join me on that mission.

Thanks for being a part of our young adult ministry. I hope you’ll dig into the Bible deeper. My prayer is that you’ll follow Jesus even in the hard times. It will be worth it!

 

On Mission,

Matt Beers