Katy, my daughter blogged earlier this week and hit the proverbial nail on the head when it comes to our generation today. In fact, what she writes about is one of the reasons I wrote my book. Before I share what she wrote…take a look at a piece of an article that laments the problem with trying to keep our younger generation involved in church. This ties right into Katy’s blog post.
Here’s a snippet of the article by Drew Dyck, (he is managing editor of Leadership Journal and author of Generation Ex-Christian), entitled “Red Bull Gospel.”
A few years ago I volunteered at an event put on by a national youth ministry. The evening was fun but grueling. We bobbed for apples, captured flags, and raced eggs across the floor using only our noses. The games culminated with a frigid indignity: I laid on my back and let three giggling teenagers make an ice cream sundae on my face.
As I toweled chocolate syrup from my chin, a leader ordered the teens into a semicircle. It was time for the devotional, which included a gospel presentation—but it was a gospel presentation that made me want to stand up and scream. “Being a Christian isn’t hard,” he told the group. “You won’t lose your friends or be unpopular at school. Nothing will change. Your life will be the same, just better.”
Maybe his words would have slipped by me if they hadn’t been such blatant reversals of Jesus’ own warnings about the offensiveness of his message or the inevitable hardships of following him. I glanced at the teens. One was flicking Doritos chips at a friend. Others whispered to each other or stared at the floor. None of them seemed to be listening. And why should they? I wondered. Who cares about something that involves no adventure, no sacrifice, and no risk?
Unfortunately what I witnessed that night is hardly unique. Often ministries, especially youth ministries, are heavy on fun and light on faith. It’s fired up entertainment and watered down gospel.
I agree with Dyck…but, it goes deeper than that I believe. The truth is that it’s not the Church’s job to raise young adult “Christ-follower’s.” It’s the parents’ jobs (principally fathers, Eph. 6:4). The Church comes alongside and can help, but the RESPONSIBILITY is on the parents’ shoulders. Buy my book if you want to see why this Scriptural mandate must be followed to raise Christ-Centered children. The mandate is to the parents not the Church to steward children.
Now comes Katy’s post…
Take a look…
This world needs a generation with a lasting purpose behind it. It needs a generation that serves God’s kingdom as faithfully as many serve the world’s. God’s Kingdom, however, is full of joy. You don’t come there looking for purpose… it is laid before you by the One that created the Universe. You don’t come looking for a name… it is woven into the tapestry of time. You don’t come to get anything, but to give, and yet you are given more than you could ever want or need.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Teenagers who serve God’s Kingdom look differently from the “typical teen.” They live with a purpose in the depths of their hearts that is greater than money or popularity. They live without the desire to hide that they are a follower of the Most High. They shock adults with their attitudes that are so unlike the world’s. They love those that others don’t. Money is not the desire of their hearts. They live to serve the One that served them in the greatest way.
We need a generation that would be willing to put down the rectangle gods (screens of TVs, ipods, cell phones, etc) and serve. We need a generation that has a purpose greater than this world’s. It may look strange to the “American dream pursuers.” A glimpse of this lasting purpose may be a mom staying home even though she could make lots of money. It could be a 16 year old girl blessing a 5 year old’s heart by talking to her for a few minutes. It could be a sweet old lady helping fix a meal for a sick family. It could be a dad who shows tough love. It looks strange to everyone else. But then, that is how it is supposed to look.
God has laid His plans before us. Don’t think it is too late to live for something greater than this world. And teenagers, we can prove that we aren’t incapable of being strong Christians. We can let God’s light shine through our lives by living for Jesus. Not just “saying”… but “living.” This world needs to see some Christian young people whose lives aren’t watered down by everything under the sun… a generation with purpose.
1 Timothy 4:12
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
Katy, I couldn’t have said it better myself! 🙂
Click here for more blog posts from a my 17-year-old daughter, Katy.
NOTE: To all my faithful and dear readers, I’m going to take a week off from blogging and let the ole brain rest. I’m going to take some time to refuel the tanks. It’s been a long pull the last several months. I love you all! See you in about a week! 🙂