Alex McFarland - The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask about Christianity: & How to Answer Them Confidently

Why does God allow suffering? Does the Bible contradict itself? If were honest, its not only our kids who ask these tough questions. Sometimes, its us! We could all benefit from reading Alex McFarlands excellent book, which brings clarity to these faith-challenging issues.

J IM D ALY

President, Focus on the Family

Todays generation of young people have adamant and insistent questions about Christianity... This is why Im so excited about Alex McFarlands new book. Rather than tiptoe around sticky, uncomfortable questions, Alex welcomes them with forthright enthusiasm. He genuinely likes young people; he gets their lingo, knows what irks them, and taps into their passion for honesty and integrity.... I highly recommend this book!

J ONI E ARECKSON T ADA

Joni and Friends International Disability Center

Every parent has been asked one of those questions that seemingly causes time to stand still. Your mind goes numb, blood rushes to your feet, your palms get sweaty, and all you can think to say is Go ask your ____. As a Christian parent desiring to give godly counsel to your kids, [you need to] arm yourself with biblically based materials. My friend Alex McFarland has written a book that should be one of the anchor books of every parents library.

M IKE C ALHOUN

Executive Assistant to the President, Word of Life Fellowship Inc.

Author of Where Was God When: Real Answers to Hard Questions

Alex McFarland has written a winner!... This book should be owned and taught by every youth pastor and parent!

M ICHAEL R. L ICONA

Associate Professor of Theology, Houston Baptist University

Kids have questions. If they are not answered, they turn into doubts. If left unattended, they produce doubters. This is why the Bible commands us: Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person (Colossians 4:6, ESV ).... If you are looking for a book that puts the cookies on the bottom shelf and that will even have parents putting their hands in the cookie jar, then this is it.

D R. N ORMAN G EISLER

Professor of Apologetics, Veritas Seminary

Alex McFarland has written this outstanding book to answer these questions and should guide many of the youth to ground their faith in Jesus Christ.

E LMER L. T OWNS

Cofounder, Liberty University

I can still recall my high school speech teacher smugly inviting one of his pet students to give a controversial oration that attempted to convince the class that Jesus never really died on the cross, but was instead drugged until he revived in his tomb. As a new believer, I struggled with this oration. I was pretty sure the students claims about Christ were false, but I was ill prepared to offer any defense. Oh, how I wish I had been brought up with a book like this one.

B OB W ALISZEWSKI

Director, Plugged In (pluggedin.com)

Id like to see this profoundly important book make its way into the home of every Christian family. Kids have tough questions about their faith, and Alex shows how parents can provide answers in a theologically accurate, relational, and fun way.

J EFF M YERS, P H D

President, Summit Ministries

Through Alexs books and lectures, he has literally obeyed Simon Peters admonition to be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15, NKJV ). Let me urge parents and grandparents alike to secure a copy and begin using it.

D R. H. L. W ILLMINGTON

Founder and Dean, Willmington School of the Bible

The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask about Christianity

2013 by Alex McFarland

ISBN: 978-1-58997-678-8

A Focus on the Family book published by

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188

Focus on the Family and the accompanying logo and design are federally registered trademarks of Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995.

TYNDALE and Tyndales quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide (www.zondervan.com).

Scripture quotations marked ( ESV ) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, ( ESV ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked ( HCSB) have been taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB , and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked ( KJV ) are taken from the King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked ( NASB ) are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org).

Scripture quotations marked ( NI r V ) are taken from the New International Readers Version. Copyright 1996, 1998 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of Biblica.

Scripture quotations marked ( NKJV ) are taken from the New King James Version, (NKJV ). Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Italics in scripture quotations indicate authors added emphasis.

Peoples names and certain details of their stories have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. However, the facts of what happened and the underlying principles have been conveyed as accurately as possible.

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Editor: Marianne Hering

Cover design by Dan Farrell

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available at www.loc.gov/help/contact-general.html.

ISBN 978-1-62405-188-3 (ePub); ISBN 978-1-62405-189-0 (Kindle); ISBN 978-1-62405-187-6 (Apple)

Build: 2013-06-27 09:04:31

This book is dedicated to all godly adults

who take time away from their busy grown-up world

to invest themselves in the life of a child.

INTRODUCTION

Theology Lessons on the Front Steps

[Children] are like wet cement. Any word that falls on them makes an impact.

Dr. Haim Ginott, Between Parent and Child

When my niece Allie was five, she was always asking me imaginative questions about God. One day she arranged a pastoral Q-and-A session for me. I waited on the front steps of her house while she gathered several of her friends. An impromptu study group gathered around, and Allie announced, My uncle is a preacher, and he can tell you what kinds of ice cream there will be in heaven.