Beth is an Atheist. She doesn't have beliefs in religion. I am not sure where the edges of her beliefs are, but she is sure that she doesn't want to be baptized. Our new church baptizes people as adults. The church that we now go to has a Sunday night concert for junior high and high school kids. Beth did want to go to that, it is more loud music...Christian music, but loud music...than preaching. When Maggie decided to join the Bible study, Beth said "No", it was not for her. That is OK with me. She should only go if it is something that she wants to do. At the Sunday night concerts, one of the girls started talking to Beth and invited her to the Bible study. Beth's is separate from Maggie's, they are grouped by grade. Beth said that she would try it out. The first time that Beth went, I asked her to observe a little and not start out by telling them that they are all wrong. The friend said that it was OK if Beth was an atheist and the welcomed discussion and other points of view. Beth wasn't happy after the first time that she went. She said that they were all wrong about everything, but she hadn't said much because I had asked her to observe.
Beth decided to go back a second time. She was beginning to get to know the kids. The second week she did join into the discussion. She didn't come out any happier. About two weeks ago she came out of Bible study and said that she was never going back. She is a teenager so she didn't tell me any more than that. I didn't ask why. I said that it was OK and I trusted her judgement. The next week she went back, not mentioning the prior week. When Beth was done she said that the kids had been happy to see that she had decided to come back. The next day one of the kids texted Beth and said, could she be Beth's texting buddy and send her Bible verses every day and Beth could text her and tell her why each verse was all wrong and the girl said that it was OK with her to debate about the verses. Beth thought that this sounded fun. The friend is following through and sending the Bible verses. Beth texts her right back with how they are wrong. Last week Beth came out from Bible study and said that they had had a forty-five minute discussion where they had debated about Christianity, Beth had said how it was wrong. Beth said that she thought that she had won.
Last Sunday at the church concert one of the kids from her Bible study introduced her to a boy who had been an Atheist and was now a Christian. They talked for a while. He said that he had read a book that had really helped him to become a Christian. I don't know the name of the book. I will share it when Beth finds out the title. The boy asked Beth if he brought in the book , would she read it? She said yes. Maybe he will have the book next week. I am hoping that little by little God is working in Beth's heart, through all of these people so that Beth can become a believer.
1 comment:
Be careful to not be too insistent.She will develop her own beliefs in her own time, and the best thing to do is to just set a good example, be loving and accepting. We are all on our own paths, and even if hers is different than what you want for her, she needs you. Much love!
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