With the sun setting in my eyes as I pulled up to the light, radio blasting my son’s favorite “Booster Seat Song” my son and I enjoyed the cool summer air on the drive home from daycare.
The song, “Watching You” by Rodney Atkins is a song about what it means to be a father of a little boy and mentions a “booster seat” in the first verses.
As a father, we are the first line of example setting for little boys, and often the fielder of tough questions.
My little buddy asked me to turn down the music because he had a “qwueshtin” for me.
“Where did God come from?”
For the record, I love apologetics (reasoned arguments for the existence of God and Christ) and I have studied it to some degree so that I can answer this question; but this was a different thing…
How do I bring it down to a 3 year old level?
“‘Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” Mark 10: 14 – 15
Critics of the Christian faith look at this section of scripture and say;
“See, you’re supposed to be naive like a child who doesn’t understand complex things. Anyone who grows up comes to realize that Christianity can’t possibly be true.”
My rebuttal to that is;
“Have you ever spent time with a Child?”
Children ask the most profound questions in the most sincere way.
The difference is attitude.
Children don’t typically ask these large questions seeking to mock you, judge you, or beat you intellectually. They are asking because they sincerely want to know.
My son wasn’t making a point – He was investigating with an earnest desire for the truth.
Compare that with the times I’ve been asked the same question by atheists. Those conversations ultimately lead elsewhere because their goal wasn’t to seek truth, but to defeat me.
Are you open minded and sincerely seeking truth?
Truth by nature is exclusive. Once you label something as true, by nature, the opposites are false.
Given that, it’s good to approach truth with a critical eye – a healthy sense of skepticism and humility to let the facts lead you rather than to lead the facts.
But, if your first thought is to reject new ideas, defend without listening, or just to win your way… you might be more closed minded than you think.
An open mind considers, appreciates, and allows for the opportunity without initial rejection. It seeks truth for truth sake and does not dismiss truth to suit it’s beliefs.
