TCTC - 4 (final)

This will be the final entry based on TCTC. The speaker was John Stonestreet from Summit Ministries. They focus on training students in worldviews that are prevalent in today’s society and refocusing students onto a Christian worldview. Now, though I am not a big apologetics guy because I have seen such “defenses” used to belittle other’s belief systems, this presentation was thoughtful and well done. The following are a few quotes that stuck out to me:

“Life is not about pursuing feelings. Life is about pursuing faith.”
In a culture that puts feelings (i.e. what feels good to me) at the pinnacle of life, the Bible teaches that the pursuit of faith takes precedence. No doubt feelings are bound up in faith, but faith goes beyond feelings to truths that are, at times, outside of feelings. There is no, “I live this way because it feels good” or “Each person should follow his or her conscience.” Faith and truth exist for us to discover and pursue.

"Why do we have an understanding of right and wrong?"
This question is designed to get you to consider a Maker who has instilled within you a system of morality outside of human laws and rules. It is intriguing to consider. Why do people understand that certain thing are just wrong whether a parent or policeman is standing there? Perhaps it is ingrained in our psyche by God or perhaps it is culturally conditioned. I don’t think it can be clearly figured out, especially since it is probably both.

"Can your worldview handle suffering?"
I felt this question somewhat manipulated. John said that other worldviews cannot “handle” suffering, but he presented it in such a way as to say they have no answer. This is not exactly true. Other worldviews do have an answer to suffering. It may not suffice for the hurting person, but they have an answer nonetheless. Either way, he brought up a good point. In regard to this question of theodicy (view of suffering), Christians regularly take a beating and seem unable to adequately answer the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” But the alternatives offered by other worldviews seem even more lacking.

All in all, John engaged the students, caused them to question things they encounter, and made many of them reevaluate how they are living. I could not have asked for anything more. He was a refreshing change to the normal entertaining and emotionally manipulating teen speakers I run across. I pray that God continues to bless his efforts and that of his organization as they attempt to proclaim the truth and train students to properly defend their faiths.