“Let’s go Meet Him with Me”

These two friends began this conversation while they were eating breakfast in the cafeteria.

The 16 year-old girl student: I have heard in the Bible that Jesus died for sinners. I guess that I am a sinner.
Therefore, Jesus died for me.

The 15 year-old boy classmate: We are children, not sinners. What is a sinner, anyway?

The 16 year-old girl student: Hmmm… The best way to explain it is when you lie to your parents and cheat on a quiz or an exam. These are not cool things to do the Bible says.

The 15 year-old boy classmate: What if the Bible isn’t true and Jesus never lived or died?

The 16 year-old girl student: I am still a sinner and remain one. The other day I just lied to my parents about hanging out with Samantha and Sydney at the mall. We actually hid in my room. I closed the door. She didn’t even notice that.

You know something, Chase.

The 15 year-old boy classmate: What is it, Amber?

The 16 year-old girl student: I still need to be delivered from the bad things I’ve done. Plus, I want to change and be a good girl to all my friends. My mom does not like it when I don’t tell the truth. Dad is upset when I tell lies or when I am mean to my little brother and the dog.

The pastor also says that it’s not good to lie and die as a sinner. This word bothers me a lot. I also wonder if my dog also sins when he does not do what I tell him to do. Is he going to die too?

The 16 year-old boy classmate: My dog listens to me most of the time, but I have no idea if he could sin like we humans do. But dogs can be annoying sometimes. My puppy is a nice and good dog. I do not believe he can sin like we humans do. Do you know something? I’ve been thinking about this for a long time:
What if sin is a human invention? Do you understand this… like it’s not real. It’s a fake thing like the Superman and the Spiderman.

The 15 year-old girl student: Let me think for a minute about these things…

Can I share with you what’s on my mind now?

The 16 year-old boy classmate: I am listening, but you need to hurry. The bell is going to ring in five minutes.

Although the word sin has its origin in human languages, like English, the reality of sin in human relationships and societies, expressed through acts of human violence, suffering, war, hatred, lack of compassion, exploitation, abuse, poverty, etc, continues to haunt the world and negatively transforms life itself in the world. Does that make sense to you?

The 15 year-old girl student: It’s going to be less than a minute. I want you to listen to me carefully.

The 16 year-old boy classmate: Hmm…this is a complex saying. It is hard to understand. What’s your point, Amber?

The 15 year-old girl student: Hmm… the bell is going to ring in two minutes. Hurry up and finish eating your food. I don’t want us to be late to Ms. Myers’ class. You know she will tell our parents if we don’t get to class on time.

Come with me and let’s go put the left over food in the trash can. I can tell you what the pastor says about your question. Is that okay with you, Chase?

The 16 year-old boy classmate: I don’t care. You can tell me.

The 15 year-old girl student: First of all, the pastor says last Sunday that all people need freedom, and even kids like us need God and freedom.

Chase: You and I need deliverance too. He also tells us that all human relationships need restoration and peace.

I just can’t believe the pastor also says that all of us, including the church youths, also need redemption because kids can’t be good on their own. They need to befriend Jesus so he can teach them all good things .

The 16 year-old boy classmate: We live in a free country. We already have freedom and rights as youths. Can you talk to Jesus, Amber?

The 15 year-old girl student: You are asking too many questions. We’re going to be late to class.

To answer your question quickly: I do, but I don’t know if he hears me all the time. But I whisper to him sometimes, especially before I go to bed at night and before I dress to school in the morning

The 16 year-old boy classmate: That’s super cool, Amber! Have you ever seen Jesus?

The 15 year-old girl student: Why do you like to ask hard questions? I am not even good at answering your questions. You keep asking them anyway. This is my last response. We are going to get in trouble with the Language Arts teacher. She is going to be upset and call our parents.

Okay, Chase I guess I’ll answer the last one My youth pastor says on Wednesday night that every person can see Jesus in another person. He also says to my youth group that everybody is a mirror of God.

Let’s go, Chase! No more questions for the day! My head hurts.

The 16 year-old boy classmate: Will Jesus be my friend too just like we are best of friends?

The 15 year-old girl student: Maybe. Come and see! I will show you how.