My eldest son said today at lunch that he is no longer a Christian. As if it were no big deal. As if it were something like being a vegetarian, something that won’t impact his life long term.
I called him in and asked him why he said such a thing. He said because it was true. He said because he had asked God for a sign and God hadn’t given him one.
I told him that if he had a sign, he wouldn’t need faith. He asked why he needed to have faith. I didn’t know what to say. I told him because God wanted it. He asked why God wanted us to have faith. I said I didn’t know.
I gave him a book and asked him to read the introduction of it. It’s Lee Strobel’s The Case for Faith. I’m going to ask him to read a chapter a day and discuss it. He doesn’t value my opinion, so I am hoping that someone else’s opinion will at least cause him to think.
If you pray, I would appreciate your prayers for my eldest son. And for me for wisdom and patience.
Sounds like you’re taking the right approach. I’ve not read any of Strobel’s stuff, but I’ve heard good things.
Such an approach (having the child read a book like Strobel’s and discussing with him/her) would be a good thing to do even if the child weren’t struggling with faith (though I suppose we all struggle with it to some degree, making this sort of activity an even better idea).
I’ll pray for your son (and for you).