“Why do some people seem to enjoy criticizing their pastor? I’m in a civic organization with a couple of friends from another church, and it seems like all they talk about is their pastor’s shortcomings. Should I say something to them about this? ”
“I know the elections are still many months away, but I’m already tired of all the name-calling and the overblown rhetoric. I’ve decided just to shut my mind to it all. I don’t think God really cares about politics anyway, does He?”
“I don’t understand why some of the kindest and most Christ-like people I know are also the ones with the most troubles. Life just doesn’t seem fair sometimes. If God really cared about us, wouldn’t He reward us when we’re good? ”
“I believe in God, but to be honest I don’t think about Him very much. I suppose you’ll say I shouldn’t be like this, but what difference does it honestly make? I’m happy the way I am.”
“I was rummaging through my desk the other day, and I ran across the list of New Year’s resolutions that I’d made this year. I had to laugh, because I haven’t kept a single one of them. Why do we have such a hard time becoming better?”
“How can we know if Heaven exists? Maybe it’s just an idea people dreamed up so they’d have something to look forward to when they die. Or maybe we’ll have to wait until we die to find out if there’s anything afterward.”
“How many sins can you list that God won’t ever forgive? I worry about this, because I know I’ve not been a very good person, and some of the things I’ve done are probably on that list.”
“I’m in prison, and I’m fed up with people here who claim they’ve gotten religion. They’re just trying to impress the parole board and get out earlier. I suppose you’ll say I need God, and maybe I do, but I don’t want anything to do with phony religion.”
“My mother died recently after suffering for years with cancer. The hardest part has been having people tell me what a blessing it was that she died, since she’d suffered so much. Well, maybe so, but don’t they realize how much I miss her? Hardly anyone ever expresses any concern for my loss.”
“My parents got divorced several months ago, and I feel confused. I love them both, but they don’t love each other and that makes it very hard for me, especially when they trash each other and try to get me on their side. How can I deal with this? I’m only 14.”
“Where did Satan come from? Has he always existed, like God has? And why didn’t God do away with him once it became clear that he was always going to cause trouble? After all, God is stronger than the devil, isn’t He? ”
“We visited Europe this summer, and we were shocked at how few people actually attend church there. It was inspiring to visit some of the great cathedrals, but it depressed us to see them almost empty on Sunday. Could the same thing happen over here?”