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Sometimes I Want To Just SCREAM!

May 24, 2006

Once again we approach another Wednesday night youth service missing all of our teenagers that should be the leaders of our group. Why, you ask? School is over right? No more sports, no more school activities, it's free summer time and everyone should be available right? The answer is no. Basketball camps, traveling team baseball and soccer, and pretty much every other fun summer activity is starting up and the same people who I have not seen in weeks are once again not here. Kids who have grown up in our church, who are popular in school and who have awesome potential to do some awesome things for God are just way to busy and this is a growing problem without a solution.

I've becoming more and more frustrated with the current commitment level of this generation of teens. Not that they are not committed. They are very committed to a lot of different things and because of it they are spread so thin that they have become a jack of all trades but masters of none. This means they can do a lot of things ok, but they master nothing. What disturbs me about it is that Christianity is lumped into the pile of 'things to do' and is very low on the priority scale and yet they see nothing wrong with it since of course they are (masters of none). The same people would claim to be devoted Christians and extremely committed to the church. Don't believe me? Just ask them. Do you believe that you are devoted to Christ and committed to the church? The likely answer: "Yes, we come to church a lot and I am a devoted believer in Christ and I a committed to coming to our church and being a part of the events and activities." Well, do you think someone who is committed to Christ and the church would miss church 7 to 15 weeks in a row? Likely answer: *silence*.

That is the current trend I see. Teens who are said to be "active" in our church are the kids who miss anywhere from 7 to 15 weeks of Wednesday night church in a row and maybe come for two weeks and then miss another 7 to 15 weeks. The worst problem of all is that no one even notices! Ask one of their parents, "Did you know that your teen hasn't been to a Wednesday night for 10 weeks now?" the likely response will be, "Oh your exaggerating, that can't be right." Well surprise! We take roll on Wednesday nights and it's the truth. It just sounds so ludicrous to them that they can't believe it themselves, since in their world they are committed and yet in the real world the truth is they are not very committed. Church takes the back seat to almost every other thing or activity in their life. The type of commitment found in Acts where the people were so devoted to the teachings of the Apostles and with meeting together that God added to their number daily those who were being saved is just unheard of by the mass populous of church goers.

We need to reach them with the Word and let it so captivate their hearts that they will WANT to come and that they will be so committed to Christ that Church will be a priority over all other things in their life. Good idea. The only problem is that type of relationship requires time and discipleship and we already know from their current actions that time is the one thing they are not willing to give up. Offer them a discipleship class and they will gladly enroll and them miss 8 out of 12 classes. Decide to teach them about these things on a Wednesday night and 7 weeks later they will come back to youth with absolutely no clue about what you have talked about for the last 7 weeks. They will miss church, miss events, miss fundraisers, and then go on the mission trip and come back home only to start the process all over again. This is a generation that I'm trying to reach for Christ... the "church kids".

Comments

Posted by: Susan L. Prince
May 24, 2006 10:21 PM

This is a tough one. So many get say "no" to church activities and serving because they are "too busy". What are we busying our lives with? Things of this world? or things of God?

My friend struggles with this too, because one of her kids is involved with basketball camp while the other with band/music camps and activites, some of which conflict with youth things. Unfortunately, finances have something to do with who does what, and when church camp costs $325 per kid, it is very easy to wonder why it must cost so much for a spiritual enrichment experience? Also, basketball camp costs less, people have offered to pay for that (which is great news to an unemployed single parent), and the skills learned in athletics and music could lead to scholarships and be a way into a college of choice, even when one may decide to choose a Christian education.

I hear what you are saying in your post, and you have made excellent points, asked some great questions...and I have no answers. I'd love to see a world of committed, truly committed Christians. That would be heaven on earth.

Posted by: Christopher
May 30, 2006 10:32 PM

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Posted by: Dave King
May 31, 2006 07:05 PM

"Kids who have grown up in our church, who are popular in school and who have awesome potential to do some awesome things for God"

Some how I just can't picture Jesus giving this rant about the Rich Young Rulers of his day. I used to think the key was reaching the influential people, but the scriptures have cured me of that.

Other than that I hear you, but do wonder about what the model of Church involvement is. The life of the Church that is documented in the NT is very different than most modern Church meetings.

I'm not trying to pick on you I as think this is a problem across the most of the western Church. How do we build real living loving communities, where we love each other as Christ loves us. Where the world will know we are his.

Too many random thoughts, not enough time.

Praying for you man.

- Peace