Steve Jobs, Back to School, and Why Doubt Belongs in Your Youth Group Curriculum
As a young boy, Steve Jobs attended a Lutheran church with his parents. At age 13, he asked the pastor, "If I raise my finger, will God know which one I'm going to raise even before I do it?"
The pastor answered, "Yes, God knows everything."
Jobs then pulled out a Life magazine cover depicting starving children in Biafra and asked his pastor, "Does God know about this and what's going to happen to those children?"
The well-intentioned pastor answered, "Steve, I know you don't understand, but yes, God knows about that."
Jobs declared that he didn't want to worship such a God, walked out of the church, and never went back.
As we at the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) learned from studying 500 youth-group graduates during their first three years in college, Jobs's story is far from unique. In our Sticky Faith research, geared to help young people develop a Christian faith that lasts, a common narrative emerged: When young people asked tough questions about God at church, often during elementary or middle school, they were told by well-meaning church leaders and teachers, "We don't ask those sorts of questions about God here." While they rarely storm out of the church like Jobs did, they end up believing that the church is not big enough to handle their tough questions, and thus neither is God.
According to our research at FYI, this suppression of doubt can sabotage a young person's faith. Contrary to what many of us might believe, students who feel the most free to express doubt and discuss their personal problems actually exhibit more internal and external faith indicators in high school and college. Doubt in and of itself isn't toxic. It's unexpressed doubt that becomes toxic.
Giving young people of all ages the chance to share their deepest thoughts is important as we approach fall. Elementary and middle school students returning to school inevitably face new questions, ranging from why would God put me in classes where I have no friends to why God would make me this way (for young adolescents, "this way" covers the gamut of learning disabilities to acne).
For high school and college students, the questions become more provocative and challenging. The doubts of the students in our Sticky Faith research tended to cluster into four types of concerns (listed in no particular order):
- … Does God exist?
- … Is Christianity true/the only way to God?
- … Am I living the life God wants?
- … Does God love me?
Interestingly, the first two types of responses focus on classic questions of apologetics. The second two questions are much more personal and individual. The polarity in these four responses has convicted me, as a mom and church leader, that as students head to school, I need to create space for both types of questions.
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Stevie Sessions
The doubts of the students in our Sticky Faith research tended to cluster into four types of concerns (listed in no particular order):
Norman Longo
But apologetics has been available to churches for quite some time seeking to respond to expressions of doubt. Perhaps the real question is, how are church leaders embracing the ministry of apologetics?
Celine Stiltner
While they rarely storm out of the church like Jobs did, they end up believing that the church is not big enough to handle their tough questions, and thus neither is God.
Katrina, Bible Games Blogger
This blog post couldn't come at a more timely period of my life. Recently, it seems as though all of my students are coming up with those really hard to answer questionsand most of the time, I have no idea what to say. You've some really great insight into a difficult situation, and I'm sure it will help me the next time I'm asked one of those tough questions. Thank you!
K C Toh
Wait a minute, Kara. I hope you are not trying to say that Jobs' Lutheran pastor gave him the wrong answer, and because of that he was justified in not believing in God, shame on the pastor. Jobs came to his pastor prepared for a showdown. Does God know which finger? Yes. Does God know the children in Biafra will die very painful and terrible deaths? Yes. I don't want to worship such a God. Although Jobs dressed his showdown as questions, he did not ask questions which would let himself know God better as one comment says. He had designed a God in his mind. This God shall have blue hair, white teeth, be 6' 2" tall, hang out with Steve Ciarca (of Circuit Cellar fame) like to read XINU is not Unix book, prefer the 6502 architecture rather than Z80, and then he came with his definition of who God should be to his poor pastor, and this pastor did not make his checklist at question 2. So the Lutheran pastor's God is not the god Jobs had designed, and the pastor is to blame that he is not Christian. It is not like his pastor answered "Steve, scholars have debated for centuries over why a perfect God allows suffering. You are not even a graduate and you have not even read through the Bible once. How do you expect me, a Christian scholar, to engage you on such a complex problem?" (Which incidentally is what a Christian scholar told me why he cannot discuss what the Bible says about baptism with me). Such a response should turn Jobs off but again if he had not wanted to be confrontational, he could still have asked his questions elsewhere until he finds someone to have a longer discussion with, or decides yes, I have to try and find out more about God. This is completely different from what Mahatma Ghandi was subject to, being prevented from entering a church. Even then, Ghandi could have tried to engage someone other than a mere doorkeeper. Jobs' pastor did not turn him away but left it open for more discussion, from the answer he gave. So whilst I agree with those who say it was not the pastor's fault, I also honestly do not know what the proper answer to Jobs should be that would have ensured Jobs' continued engagement. I also agree with those who say head knowledge alone cannot answer Jobs, and that if Jobs had head knowledge alone he would have unquestioning faith in Jesus, but to be sure, the answer lies in Jesus and not doctrine or apologetics. Well said that Jobs had to led to know Jesus. After all, Jobs did not ask more nasty questions. Like if 3000 souls were added to the kingdom, what happened to the bodies? KC
doreen beisel
My church has no youth group
Grady Walton
I feel bad for Steve Jobs and hope he found the way back to God. Sadly, by walking away at such an early age he limited his life experiences to the mundane. Sure, his dreams were exquisite and his achievements changed the lives of millions. But he missed out on the joy and fulfillment that each of us can experience by reaching out to touch even a small portion of the mystery of God. Some folks just can't deal with not having answers to the tough questions. Others embrace the mysteries that make life exciting. And lets not forget that we are smack dab in the middle of a great struggle between good and evil.
robert Boe
Lutherans are still going to our grandpas church.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcLd8ruZou0
robert Boe
God does know about the starving people in the world . He also knows its the worlds fault not his....
Linda
Steve Jobs pastor did nothing wrong, he knew the answer to Jobs question and gave an accurate answer.
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