Pluralism and relativism are most deadly when they come
together in matters of faith. A few years ago, I met weekly with
a group of high school students at a local restaurant. None of
them were Christians, and it would be an understatement to say
that the group was diverse. All together, they had pierced every
pierceable body part, and had every shade of color in their hair.
We had a great time every Friday afternoon talking about issues
of faith, God, and the Bible. One day I asked them, “Who do
you think God is?” A young man with wild hair said, “I think
God is kind of like my granddad in Florida. He’s there, but I
never really see him.” Another quickly chimed in, “God is an evil
being who’s out to punish us and make our lives a living hell.”
The third took the opposite tact: “I don’t think God exists at all,”
she said. What would I hear next? “I believe God is everywhere
and in everything,” said another teen. “He’s the rocks. He’s the
trees. The universe is God. I am God, too.” At that point there
was an uncomfortable pause. Finally, another student offered his
opinion in a thoughtful tone. “You know what? You’re all right.
You all see God in a way that’s true for you, and it works for you.”
I expected the other students to either fall out of their seats
laughing or find some way to tell this young man that his conclusion
was silly. Each student said things that were totally antithetical
to one another. One said that God is an evil being who
wants to hurt us, another said that there is no God, and still
another that he is God. But rather than respond with incredulity,
everyone around the circle nodded their heads and said, “Yeah.
You know what? You’re right. We’re all right. Each one of us
sees the world from our own perspective, and we each have our
own truth.”
Pluralism offers us every imaginable set of concepts and faith
systems. Relativism persuades us that all concepts and systems
are equally true and equally valid—all at the same time. This
insidious combination has proved to be a devastating philosophical
one-two punch in the hearts and minds of our sons and
daughters.
Read More in “When They Turn Away: Drawing Your Adult Child Back to Christ” – http://amzn.to/g2MBiw