Simul justus et pecator - Simultaneously saint and sinner.
Mission Impossible?
Posted On: July 30th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
Allow me to enlighten you on one of the hardest mission fields.
No, it's not in some third world country. It's streaming in and out of your local high schools and shopping malls. It's a large chunk of the population. It's stubborn. It has recently acquired driver's licenses. And they're not afraid to tell you they think you're dead wrong.
Yes, folks, it's the modern teenager. Bred and raised to have an "open mind" for everything except President Bush supporters, these fine young people are easily influenced by each other. So much so that they begin to actually listen to each other's advice - Such as, "Have fun, life is short!", "Bend the rules!", and "I'm somehow independent!" Selective reading includes speed limit and age requirement signs.
Why am I ragging on teenagers if I am one?
I'm not pefect. I'll be the first to admit it. My parents will be the second... Ah yes, we joke about it - Teenagers and their amusing quirks. But let me tell you, as a fellow teenage mutant, it's not easy to reach these people with the gospel.
One of the main reasons as I see it, from the insider's view so to speak, is this: Teenagers actually, suprisingly, cling to tradition. I'm all for the "clean slate baby" theory. If a baby grows up in a certain home, they're going to be most comfortable in select situations in which they are used to. If a child does not grow up going to church, they will most likely not go to church by themselves in the teen/young adult years. There's no overwhelming reason in their minds for it.
So much energy goes out to reaching teens, including specifically called "youth pastors." Mass youth Bible studies are conducted, hoping to help teens in their daily problems. I can have Joel Osteen tell me how some random passage in Ezekiel helps me become a better person. This is not what teenagers need.
Then teenagers throw the curve. They appear to have already made up their minds about everything. I'm guilty - I think my conservative, confessional Lutheran and Republican tendencies are the greatest thing since cappuchino. But this is why it's so hard to tell teenagers to think a different way. They...well, we...don't realize we're not done living yet. There's years and overwhelming crowds of people to tell us countless stuff about this poor life on earth. It may be a defensive mechanism. The "Maybe if I shut the doors of my brain and not let in any more outside opinion than what feels good temporarily, I won't have to worry if I'm wrong" defense. Besides, it's a cool feeling to seem right. Being right about everything is even better. If Jerry Bob, Ashley Sue's ex-boyfriend says it's so, it must be so. Yeah right.
I'm personally confident that I'm right about one thing - I have eternal life in Christ. This is what teenagers need. They need pure Christ. They may reject it. They may stick their noses straight up in the air. Whatever the case may be - They heard it. They heard Christ crucified and risen for them. They heard the only way to heaven. Sometimes it takes a trigger to get the ball rolling - A friend died in a drunk driving accident and fellow teenager friends come face to face with the reality of mortality, or a life-threatening disease causes new thinking. It's not always this way, but for some it is. No person is invincible. But until something happens, they might think they are.
Teenagers demand facts and reasons. "Why should I go to church, if I can just worship God wherever? I can open my Bible anytime I want to!" I always cringe when I hear this, because it's so similar to the "I can stop doing this bad habit anytime I want to!" (I can read the Bible cold turkey - Watch me!) So where's the reason? Do I get anything out of it? Yes! Unconditional love, forgiveness, and assurance of eternal salvation through Word and Sacrament. You don't get all of that leaning up against an oak tree in some national park.
In front of their friends, they may not seem nearly Christian. In a basic sense, this may be okay. They heard the Word, let it soak in. Plant the seed. You may never see the effects. Christ works through His Word in numerous, unseen ways. It's the same with those in other religions - Living the Christian example and mentioning the Word of Christ is sometimes the most powerful of witnesses. It makes a person go, "Hmm...That just might be right..." instead of, "Hey, get out of my face!" The teenager slowly realizes they're not always right. Maybe it's when they're 20...40...80....At their death bed. Was everything before for naught? No! What matters is life forever.
Becoming increasingly frustrated with the teenagers around me, I wonder if they'll ever go to church, quit swearing using God's name, or even care about Christianity in the least. But I can't worry about it too much. Christ knows what he's doing. He works for the few as well. He sent disciples out knowing they might have to leave the towns shaking the dust of their feet as a testimony to their unbelief. Were they condemned? How are we to know? Are teenagers doomed? How are we to know?
I also realize that I generalized a lot. I know there are thousands and thousands of Christian teenagers, completely different from what I previously mentioned. The reason I wrote this was to give a picture for those shaking their heads for the teenagers who drift far away from Christianity. It may be incredibly hard to reach teenagers. But the first two decades are not usually the end result. Christianity's upcoming generation will not die...Because Christ provides for His church. Always.
Comments:
Mission Accomplishable
Posted On: August 01st, 2006 at 12:50 am by John Bartucciotto
So true, I have far too many friends who call themselves Christians. I want to believe them, yet actions speak louder then words, except when they might yell some vulgar profanities in my way, telling me to shut up already, then we see their true colors.
I get this alot: "You need to experience more."
Experiance what? Sin? Corruption? The dark side of my mind? I'll trust to the experience of my parents over the words of youthful feelings any day.
However, we, yes, I'm a teen too, WE have been lucky enough to have good parents by the Grace of God. Let us be an example to them, and maybe, just maybe, they'll stop and realize what fools they are to think they know more then adults.
Re: Mission Impossible?
Posted On: August 05th, 2006 at 7:17 pm by Rachel Engebretson
John,
You're right. I also get that statement a lot. However, those speaking also need to "experience more" before they realize their current way of thinking doesn't give much guidance, help, or support. If Christ is love, drifting away from Him is embracing the opposite.
Ah yes, we joke about it - Teenagers and their amusing quirks. But let me tell you, as a fellow teenage mutant, it's not easy to reach these people with the gospel.