Why Steve Jobs Left the Church

Steve Jobs lived as an innovator and died as a legend. He kept to himself and enjoyed his privacy. Recently I read an article about Steve Jobs’ faith. I was very surprised by what I read…
Steve Jobs was a Zen Buddhist.
But he didn’t start that way.
As an child, Steve Jobs’ family attended a Lutheran church. And as a teenage boy, Steve Jobs asked his pastor if God knew about the children starving to death around the world. His pastor responded, “Yes, God knows everything.”¹ And as a teenager, Steve Jobs responded to such a callous answer by leaving the Church and never looking back.² He then sought spirituality on his own for the rest of his life.
How would you respond to this question from a 13 year old?
How do you answer that question that you yourself have probably thought about?
One man gave a too simplistic answer to a legitimate question, crushing a young man’s teetering faith. Inherently in our faith, you and I possess a responsibility to ask good questions in order to give really solid answers to the world around us. As Christians, we are “little Christs” representing God in the world. Let us always be aware of the magnitude of our role here on earth.
Imagine what our world would be like if a dreamer like Steve Jobs had remained in the church, living his life sold out for Christ!
Having a simplistic understanding of “God is in heaven; He loves the world; and Jesus is the answer to everything” is irresponsible. While those things are good, we cannot fool ourselves that these things are the only things we need to know. Get into your Bible. Ask others older and wiser in the faith tough questions. By delving into the tough issues, you will see God in a new and deeper way.
Let’s not turn away the next Steve Jobs due to our lack of understanding about our own faith!
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” – 1 Peter 3:15
¹ Daniel Burke, The Huffington Post ² Ibid
Read more from David Dorn at The Pursuit Blog.
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