Pinnacle’s Confirmation Class begins this month and as a part of the registration and orientation process, I have asked 8th grade students, their parents, and mentors to write down their questions about God and faith. It is a good list of honest, fresh and deeply faithful questions that people from different generations are asking. It is a good chance to hear the questions of the young people among us, while also affirming that asking questions and searching for answers is a part of the life-long task of faith. Faith isn't just about cerbral acceptance of certain religious truths. Authentic faith is alive, it's interactive. A living faith makes requests, it holds to hope, it expresses deep longings, joys, fears, and doubts. A living faith embraces mystery, and asks questions. A livng faith is alive becuase it is rooted in relationship with the God who is both mystery and the One who holds all our days.
Here is a sample of what’s being asked this year:
- What are sacraments?
- How is worship planned?
- Who chooses the songs we sing in worship and why do we choose them?
- Who is John Calvin?
- Why was there a Reformation?
- Why are we confirmed in 8th grade and not any other grade?
- What does Confirmation mean?
- How do we know God is with us?
- How am I supposed to pray?
- Can God be trusted?
- Why do we have long sermons?
- Why do we have the passing of the peace?
- Why are we sprinkled in water and not dunked when baptized?
- How is being Presbyterian different from other denominations?
- Are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all God?
- How do I know God really listens to my prayers?
- Why does God let good people suffer?
- How do I know that Christianity is the one true religion?
- How does God know what is going on with everyone at once?
- How is Christianity unique?
- Can I still believe in God if I believe in aspects of other religions?
- Is it anti-Christian to believe in reincarnation?
- Is it wrong to question the Bible?
