How do they know if they have not been taught?

A profound statement coming from an exhausted and fearless youth as we "debriefed" our lock in and our youth group.  Our conversation was around kids' perception of Christianity, God and who He is and the relationship that we can have with Him.

Several of our young people proclaim to not believe in God and usually list various discrepancies between God's people and God.  I encouraged him to focus on the fact that they still continue to come even though they do not believe.  They feel comfortable and at home.

I made the comment (my husband's actually) that people expect the Jesus of their perceptions and their viewpoints and not the Jesus of scripture.  Not the true God.

This young man then said in his nonchalant manner,  "Well, how do they know the real God and who He is if they have not been taught?  How do they know about the real God if they have never heard the truth?"

 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Romans 10:14

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"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him." Acts 6:38

Are we investing our lives into relationships of teaching, reaching, preaching, coaching, loving and serving?  

How will they know unless they hear?  

I would encourage each of us to find that one person to invest in this year.  To teach.  To love.  To lead.  So they will know.