Youth in a Casual Christian World

This weekend I had a chance to lead the music for a Youth Retreat from Jubilee at McKinney Falls State park. Prior to getting there, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I haven't really had much interaction with the Youth at Jubilee, as I am usually just on stage playing in the morning services and not much else.

When I got up to sing, our Associate Pastor Matthew had just finished a good sermon on ascending the mountaintop, and sometimes having to release certain "burdens" to help with our climb. These burdens could be damaging friendships, anger or resentment, and any other number of things that youth find troublesome in their journey.

The atmosphere of being in a wooded area, outdoors made me think back to my Camp Egan church camp days. As a youth at First United Methodist, I truly had a great time. We did so many fun things, and I got to know some great people.

As an adult now, I look back on those experiences and remember them slightly differently. As a youth, I was always there for some fun activity. The focus was on the fun, and the devotionals at the end of the night were nice, but not the first thing that stood out.

The time of year in which I felt the most "God-connection" was Camp Egan. Being away from the world as it were, for a week with daily worship was an easier means of connecting. The night time worship--particularly the last one before leaving--was the one time that as a Methodist, I partially understood what Christianity was about. It was the first mention I heard of salvation. It was the only time we had altar calls. The music was emotional and the response was too. As I think back now, I realize the devotional times, the singing and fellowship were more important than any "fun" thing we ever did.

This weekend in front of the youth of Jubilee, I had a flood of memories come back to me. I found myself speaking before each song, not so much to introduce the song (though I did), but more because I felt like I had something to connect with them about. I wanted to make a difference in the short 30 minutes I had. I didn't say anything too profound. As I recall something about not dragging along friends who are holding you back from belief in Christ because later in life it will lead to much larger burdens/heartaches. I also sang a FUMY favorite, "Casual Christian," which seemed particularly relevant to a young group.

It is so easy to be a Casual/Carnal Christian at that age. The distraction of the opposite sex, the massive amount of entertainment available, and just school in general can really make Christianity tough. I know I didn't really focus fully until my college years, and even then, the distractions were many.

This generation of youth is going to be raised in a largely anti-Christian environment. The world doesn't tolerate our exclusivity (ironic) as Christians, and if we don't have some youth that are grounded in their faith, they will be sucked into that same vaccuum of good feelings and subjective truths.

How do we reach a generation that has more distractions than any previous generation? That's the question I found myself wondering. Is it an age thing? Would someone my age (closer to theirs) be more approachable than someone in their 30s or 40s? Is it a message thing? Does the message have to break through the distractions and really cut deep? It's probably a combo of all of these things. I don't know that I could even begin to figure it out. I do know we need to train them in Biblical Christianity and not the "fluffy Christianity" that is permeating churches and the world these days. We must teach the essentials of the Christian faith unabashedly.

As I stood up in front of them, singing old praise and worship songs from my First United Methodist youth days, I realized that what I had found important then was not the most important thing. It was never supposed to be about the fun, but about preparing youth to lead the world in Christ.

I feel like my class of youth fell short at that calling. I'm not sure if we were too distracted by the fun, or maybe just the Methodist liberalism, but I can count on two hands the number of youth I remember who are truly living for Christ--apart from worldly Christian views-- today. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's perception and there are actually more.

I looked at the Jubilee youth and told them how blessed they were to be youth in a church that taught salvation, and being born-again without trying to dodge around the concepts. They have a step ahead of what I had anyway.

I don't know what distracts them now, or how many of them really long to make a difference. I worry that without proper guidance, and proper focus on Christ and the Bible, we will simply have another generation of failed expectations. We will lose more to the kingdom of the world, and gain fewer for the kingdom of God. I pray that won't be the case.

In with the Old- In with the New

So, a common argument that has been needing some clarification for awhile is that of God's "Old Testament Nature." The mere fact that the secular world and some Christians still consider the "Old Testament" God and "New Testament" God different just shows how far our society has fallen. (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17).

When I hear someone say that God approved of, or condoned any number of acts of immorality in the Old Testament, I have to really resist the urge to call bologna on them. It has always been men who acted immoral, not God.

The popular theory among the secular world, based I'm sure on some "wise" man's opinion of an out of context verse of the Bible, is that God approved of incest, rape, polygamy, etc...

For Example, Abraham had sex with Hagar (not his wife) of his own accord because he had a lapse of faith in God's promise to give him a child. The family squabbles through his generations should certainly demonstrate that God never once said to Abraham, "go into your maidservant." Rather, it was Sarah (human) who encouraged this, and then promptly became jealous of Abraham giving attention to Hagar and Ishmael.

God's intention was always for Sarah to give birth, despite her age, but as we are want to do often, we get impatient and take matters into our own hands.

If you think God promotes rape, just look at the fact that due to a rape an entire tribe of Israel is exiled. It's what calls Israel back to its senses after the time when every man was letting subjective opinion guide actions (In those days there was no King in Israel and everyone did what was right in his own eyes; Judges 17:6). One man's view of good included raping strangers as hospitality. Clearly not condoned by God's absolute moral standard.

But what about God commanding the murdering of innocent women and children you ask? Let's look at a few things.
1) No one is technically "innocent" by God's standard

2) God is sovereign and holy and his decisions are not for us to put to judgment. Our politically correct society likes to impose our moral standard on God, when it is God's moral standard that should be imposed upon us.

3) God had given those nations ample time (hundreds if not thousands of years) to repent and turn to him. They were well aware of the "God" of the Hebrew people, and even feared him in some cases.
The Israelites were promised the land that these nations inhabited and God promised to drive out those who would be a burden to them. Let's look at it this way......

If God tells my family to pick up and move to a location that He knows has turned from him once and for all. A nation that is so evil they sacrifice their own children in fire and have lewd sexual acts as part of worship. A nation whose men welcome other visitors by raping or killing them. What would need to happen for my family to go to that land?

Well, if God knew that intermingling with them would eventually lead my family into the same practices of child sacrifice and lewd acts, I imagine he would allow them to be eliminated so that his chosen people could not be corrupted.

Bear in mind that Israel was a theocracy, under the 600+ laws of God, and also very prone to worshipping the gods of other nations during there many lapses of faith.

God delivers those evil nations into the hands of Israel because
A) He is true to his word always and will not forsake his covenant with Abraham
B) He loves his children and wishes to protect them from immorality and danger
C) He wants to show that without him, Israel is nothing (That without God, we are nothing)
D) All of the above.

D is correct, and then some.

We could debate the political correctness of this all day, but rather let's look back to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham has the world's greatest haggle with God over the destruction of the town. First he asks God to spare the town if _____ amount of righteous are found. When they aren't, he lowers his offer. Finally only Lot and his family are seen in the town as righteous, and judgment comes on the rest.

"But Chris what about those "innocent" people that got killed?" Seriously. God is sovereign and knows ultimately who will choose him. God grants us free will in the choices we are capable of making in this realm, but does not allow us to override his plan through our choices.

So, God, knowing the hearts of the people of the town were evil, and would not turn to Him no matter what signs or wonders were given, SAVES the righteous (whom He deems as righteous) dwelling within. He SAVES the righteous. If God is the meanie that they paint him out to be, why save anyone at all?

Our Own Personal Jesus

I feel like I'm back in school. The research and preparation for helping out with an upcoming seminar has brought back my memories of college coursework. I actually like that.

The aspect I sometimes struggle with, and more recently as I tackle tougher topics, is the absorption of this information, and the ability to pass along this information in a manner that is relevant to those for whom it is intended. That's my fancy way of saying, "I need to know how to talk to people better regarding matters of the faith."

I decided to write a bit right now about the issues I'm researching, and the massive shift in the Christian faith towards a more universal, tolerant, open view of it. Frankly, dealing with so much worldly viewpoint in the midst of the faith is wearing me out. I think it is pertinent; however, to speak a bit to this subject, especially for those Christians out there who may be leaning towards a view that would lead into false doctrine.

It is hard enough defending Christ to an unbelieving world. Now we have to defend Christ to Christians who have created their own Christ to suit their needs/wants/desires.

I detect no less than three that stand out to me.

Moral Teacher Jesus says wise sayings and was just a "great guy" with "good wisdom" for us. He certainly is not God (because "God is what I want him to be")...

Hippie Jesus loves everyone and would never condemn to Hell because God is love. This "buddy Christ" view ignores much of what Jesus himself said about the nature of Hell/Sin, and manages to avoid the sections of verses where he rebukes sin, in favor of the ones where he promotes neighborly love. [Matthew 7:13-14, 21; Matthew 25:41; Matt 10:32-39, etc...]

Prosperity Jesus says belief in him will cause blessings to rain down from Heaven. What is overlooked is the need for repentance. Yes, God blesses us, but not if we are in sin, and unrepentant. This gospel can be very appealing for drawing in Christians, but over the long haul, potentially creates very shallow Christians, who are not willing to suffer for the cross if it's required of them. As soon as the blessings stop, they stop believing, potentially.

The danger here is straying from Christ's own words. For Christians, we base a good portion of our doctrine on what Christ actually said. Paul added good things as well, but to seriously sit back and say Christ only said to love everyone and never rebuke is self deception.

If one is willing to be a Christian, there are some essential truths to which they must adhere. Without these essentials, Christianity becomes just like every other false religion out there. The reason we know Christianity is the way is because of its exclusivity. All other religions compromise and allow so much openness that it becomes about what man wants. There is no accountability, truth, or set view of God. We make God what we want. As Romans 1 puts it, they worship the creation more than the creator.

As I continue my studying, I'll likely post more on such issues. This was not meant to be a formal post, but rather a collection of thoughts based on what i've been looking into this past week. I enjoy pursuit of these topics, but I am cautiously approaching those "off" views that fall in the realm of Christianity. As Paul says, "a little leaven, leavens the whole lump," or one or two false teachers in the midst of Christians will soon affect larger portions. This diversity of views in the church is not something to celebrate. Christian leaders would do well to re-familiarize themselves with 2 Timothy 4:1-5, and finally take a stand for the truth of Christianity and it's essential doctrine.

2 Timothy 4:2-5: "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove; rebuke; exhort with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables (myths)." (NKJV/NASB)