Yesterday I showed a laser disc about "The Great Quake of '89" to my earth science students. They were shocked by how big DVDs used to be. They were also shocked that Diane Sawyer used to look young. They were also shocked by the devastation caused by an earthquake twenty years ago.
One girl in sixth period was particularly outraged.
"Why don't they tell us about this?!" she yelled as soon as the film was over. "Why have I never heard about this? I had no idea this happened"
"Well, we're learning about it today," I offered.
"No!" she continued, "Why have I never heard that this happened? People died when that highway collapsed (Highway 880 in Oakland). Do people know about this?"
We had a class discussion about current plans to redesign the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle. We talked about the lessons we can learn from the past and apply to our own lives. We talked about devastation caused by earthquakes of lesser magnitude in third-world countries. We talked about the massive loss of life caused by recent earthquakes in China and Pakistan.
Then the bell rang and they left. A few hours later, I went home.The girl's outrage at not knowing about "the Great Quake of '89" has been haunting me, though, with a deeper sense of urgency.
Realistically, the San Francisco earthquake of 1989 has little sway over the course of history. But, the truth of the Gospel has a huge impact on history, on life past and present. What if people were outraged about not hearing about, not knowing the truth of the Gospel?
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 explains the importance of Truth and passing Truth on to our children:
"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the Lord is one!
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you sit down and when you rise up.
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
My junior high science students consider 1989 to be ancient history. They know about 9/11 from watching the World Trade Center movie. How will they hear about a carpenter who lived in the Middle East 2000 years ago? Who will convince them this truth is life-changing, eternally relevant?
I wonder.
What if I meet these same students one day at the gates of Heaven, still asking the same question? "Why don't they tell us about this?! Why have I never heard about this? I had no idea this happened."
We have a lot to learn from the hearts of children.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
I was messing around with YouTube one day and came upon a panel of old, church-y looking men who were being asked about the emergent church and the vast population of "seekers". The host asked the panel if the traditional church had neglected to reach out to the "seekers" and I was blown away by one of the old guys' answer. He said,"There is no such thing as a seeker. HE is here. He makes himself obvious. If you are a true seeker, you WILL find HIM quickly." Isn't that interesting? It rang true to me.
ReplyDelete