Interview With Jon Noyes (Part 1)
From apparent conflicts between the Bible and science to questions of identity and sexuality, navigating high school is harder than ever, including for teens attempting to stand strong in—or figure out—their faith. In the first of Know Why’s “Back to School” series, returning guest Jon Noyes addresses common questions teens are asking about faith. The Stand to Reason apologist equips teens, parents, and others to “wrestle well” with hard topics including identity, science, and loving LGBTQ+ friends while standing firm in truth. In Part 2 next week, Jon will address the important topics of mental health and suicide.
Existential Questions
In his years working as an apologist, Jon has seen the kinds of questions that young people ask change overtime.
“There’s been a shift that seems to have gone from these formal arguments for the existence of God to questions of meaning and purpose and identity,” he told Know Why. “It’s gone from an intellectual pursuit to more of an existential pursuit.”
The questions of meaning, purpose, and identity are important. “How you answer that question, ‘Who am I?’ or ‘Where do I come from?’ is going to answer a lot of other questions,” he said.
Wrestling Well
As students begin the school year, they may encounter scientific arguments against the existence of God or against what they’ve been told the Bible teaches. Rather than backing away from these hard questions and challenges, Jon said Christians should embrace them. That means that Christians parents may need to read hard books on science and faith to help their kids answer the hard questions, he said.
He also noted that Christians believe what they believe because it’s true. Faith and science aren’t opposed as many believe, but understanding requires exploration.
“We shouldn’t be afraid of digging into the really difficult issues,” Jon told Know Why. “I think it’s important to encourage our students to wrestle, but wrestle well.”
Love and Truth
One issue many young people wrestle with today is the question of sexuality. For Christians, it can be hard to hold a belief system that is so counter-cultural. Jon shares an illustration from his own life to show that friendship between people of different lifestyles and beliefs is possible, even while standing firm in what the Bible teaches.
“If we’re not inviting these people in, how are they going to hear the gospel?”
Be sure to listen next week for Part 2.
More Resources
- Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries that Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe by Stephen Meyer
- Darwin’s Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design by Stephen Meyer
- The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important That Happens in Between by Greg Kokul
- Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Kokul
- Stand to Reason