Questions from the Kids…

They asked me to meet with the kids at church and answer their questions.  No problem.  I figure with a college degree and two graduate degrees; I can handle what the kids throw at me.  Can anyone see the humble train coming down the track for me?  

Question:  Why are there bad people?

Answer: “All of you kids are bad people.”  Their little faces were shocked when I said this.  One little boy instantly protested, “I’m not bad, except when I lie.”  And there it is.  I told them all of us are bad, myself included.  Being bad is called “sin” and it is such a big deal, Christians believe God sent Jesus to die in our place so we could be forgiven.  I am sure I will get some protests from parents about their sweet darlings, but I guarantee by the time their children hit age 12, every Mom and Dad believes in original sin. 

Question:  Who is God’s Father?

Answer:  I was so tempted to reply Vito Corleone, but I realized most of them never saw “The Godfather.”  I tried to explain God does not have a father because God always has been and always will be.  He has no beginning.  If you think about it, it makes sense: it would take an infinite being to create a finite creation.  One little girl held her head and said, “Whoa.”  I know.  Realizing how infinite God is will make your head hurt.   

Question:  How old is God?

Answer:  See above.   

Question:  Why does God make me have nightmares?

Answer:  God does not make you have nightmares.  I told them nightmares happen because we are afraid, and at night, our brains bring up our fears.  “Give your fear to God,” I said.  “Every night when you go to sleep, ask God to hold your fears until you wake up.”  As I heard myself say those words, I thought I should take my own advice. 

Question: Is Jesus more powerful than The Avengers?

Answer:  I know you see movies and video games and they seem real, but they are not.  They are pretend.  Jesus is real.  So yes, Jesus is more powerful than The Avengers. 

Question:  Is Jesus an angel?

Answer:  No.  Jesus is the son of God.  A lot of adults misunderstand this too.  Angels are messengers.  Jesus is Savior, King, Leader, Maker of Heaven and Earth.  Jesus is better than an angel. 

Question:  What did you want to be when you were a kid?

Answer:  I wanted to be a pastor.  I know, this makes me strange.  From the time I was a little boy, I wanted to pastor a church.  God put into my soul at a very young age a calling.  I am one of those blessed people is doing exactly what I was made to do. 

Question:  What happens when you die?

Answer:  You meet God.  If you follow Jesus on earth, you get to be with Jesus after you die.  But God does not make you be with him.  If you want to be away from him, he lets you.  You go to hell (Lots of wide-eyed reactions).  I try another to give a word picture: “If God made you be with him, that would not be fair, would it?  God gives you a choice to be his friend or not.”  Head nods.  I think I get through. 

Question:  Why did God make people who do not have arms or legs?

Answer: “Well, I see our time is about up.”  For little people, these are serious questions.  I tell them the world is broken, so it is not the way God wants it to be.  Jesus came to make the world better, but everything is not put right yet.  That is why people are born without arms and legs.  But I go on to tell them some people do not have arms and legs because of war.  War is bad.  We need to love people, so no one has to lose their arms and legs.  Nods from the crowd.  Funny how kids get this, even when politicians do not. 

Question:  Do you have children?  Were they ever little?

Answer:  Yes, I have three children.  They are all now adults, but they all grew up in this church and had classes in this very room.  They learned to love Jesus and I hope all of you learn to love Jesus too. 

And the best question of the day:

Question: Why does God make me hurt when I poop?

Answer:  I do not think God makes you hurt when you poop, but you might need to change your diet.  Talk to your Mom.