"God calls us to question, because only then can we learn for ourselves. It's the truest foundation of faith. How easy it is to have the foundation of our beliefs shaken with a simple question, if we haven't asked ourselves those questions already."
Michael Spaulding
March 18, 2013--Facebook
I have understood, forever, that my faith can't save my children. They can't hang on to me and slide into heaven on my shirt tails. Probably what I "haven't" understood is that my beliefs can't be the skeleton of their faith either. They have to ask the questions and find the answers themselves. That is HARD on parents' hearts. But, we have to let them question and trust God--who loves them with such a pure, unconditional and overwhelming love.
Mike makes comments on facebook that make me re-examine my beliefs instead of just accepting the most prevalent Christian opinion. He makes me ask questions; and they're good ones. We may, still, not end up on the same page; but I also may not end up on the page where I started.
When our son, Mat, was in highschool he tried to convince me that our nation and government weren't perfect. (Yes, please laugh with me.) I'd barely passed history and current events in school, but in my forties I began reading--mostly antique history books that concentrated more on "character (s)" than events. I still read an occasional book that debates political issues today. I do this because Mat "questioned." And he was right to do so. I still don't "get" a lot of the political jargon and the connection between this and that, but I've moved off my page.
We can't accept "just because." We have to question, dig, and form our own beliefs. As a parent, we still need to guide. I don't think we need to encourage testing of every faith and experience. But we need to allow freedom to Ask the Questions.
Mike, a young man and a soldier, once again gives me pause. I hope he does the same for you. Thank you Mike, for your challenging comments and for staying connected. So glad you will be home with your family soon.
Ever-Ever-Growing,
Lonnie
