Our Task

The title intrigued me . . . An Agnostic Talks to Her Children About God.  Nurit Deutsch shares her experience of doing just that in the New York Times. She admits there is confusion in her self-description as a “religious Jew, married to a rabbi and active in her congregation . . . a research psychologist of religion and an agnostic.” Her honesty throughout the article is refreshing. She is forced to wrestle with questions from her own children. “Mommy, where did God hatch from?” “I told [my friend] maybe she came from a monkey but I sure didn’t. Wasn’t I right, Mommy?” And the question that challenged her the most, “Mom, do you believe in God?” Depending on your perspective, you may see this mom as excellently equipped to speak to this issue as a researcher of religion or as woefully ill-prepared as an agnostic.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am directed to be prepared to both respond to and initiate such conversations with my children. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) It is our task to address the mundane, silly, serious, probing questions that our children will have concerning the great questions of our existence: Who is God and can I know Him?  How would you answer those questions and the ones with which this mom was confronted?

Ms. Deutsch closed her article with this comment from her daughter, “I would like to ask God if in the whole world there is someone who is only good?” As we celebrate this Christmas season, another Jewish mother comes to mind that gave birth to the answer to this young girl’s question. “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:30-33) There is One who is only good. Rejoice in His coming!