"America's Next Top Disciple is Barbie!"

If you weren't in church on Sunday, you really missed it. Barbie beat out wrestler TNT, James Bond and a host of other celebrities to be crowned "America's Next Top Disciple." If you don't know what I am talking about, let me fill you in. This past Sunday was "Youth Sunday," and kids did it all - from ushering to reading to giving the message. In fact about 15 junior and senior high kids put on a skit based upon the Nicene Creed, something they have been studying this semester in Sunday School. I have to tell you, they blew me away. Why?  Because they took a different tactic than most. They held up the truths of the Creed which are based upon scripture, against the misinformation of our day. They took on the false teachings of the Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Islam and the whole bunch, and they did it respectfully, gracefully and decisively.  Hats off to Clint and Christy Klepp and all the adults who are leading our older youth. They are doing a great job.

Our kids shared with us an important truth. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Those are some very provocative words in our pluralist culture.   Christianity is unglued among all the world religions because it is based upon what Jesus did, not what he said. The power and majesty and grace and truth of Christianity is based upon the fact that Jesus was and is God becoming one of us through the incarnation.  He died on the cross sinless so he could take our sin upon himself and die in our place. And by being risen from the dead, he destroyed the power of death and sin over those who call upon him as Lord and Savior. Christianity is unique because God does for us what we could never do for ourselves through the keeping of laws, as the followers of Islam and Judaism believe.

On Sunday, our children reminded us through our Creed what we believe. To believe something to be true automatically means that you have to accept that other beliefs are not true with a capital "T." They may contain some truth and wisdom, but they cannot save. There is only one name under heaven and earth by which a man can be saved, and that name is Jesus.

Take some time this Holy Week to reflect upon what you believe and who you trust in.  The creeds found in the prayer book are a great place to start. Thanks, kids, for getting us back to basics.