Youth ministry has come a long way over the last 20 years when I had my first group in 1988. Back in the day, the quality of Christian music defined the term garage band. But, we sacrificed musical quality for in-your-face challenging messages. The quality of youth ministry resources defined the term cheesy. Nevertheless, it seemed the Gospel was the focus of those goofy materials. Youth ministry budgets were raised through car washes and bake sales, not line items in a church budget. Yet somehow in spite of low quality music, cheesy resources and no money, students radically committed their lives to Christ.
Today, greater resources are committed, culturally relevant programming options abound and the quality of Christian entertainment is incredible. Youth ministries have skate parks, bands, multi-media systems, extensive programming, trained and talented leaders, amazing facilities and many students involved.
So, why do we seem to be losing a generation?
With all of the advancements, I wonder if the radical call of the Gospel of Jesus Christ been squeezed out?
It seems we have replaced the transforming power of the Gospel with extensive behavioral modification approaches, messages and programs designed to produce “good kids” who will grow up to have nice families, good jobs and productive lives. Are we simply producing name-branded, culturally-integrated, diluted disciples of “make good choices” and “live good lives”?
In our attempts to be cutting-edge, culturally-engaging and cool, have we missed the life transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ designed to produce radicals, outcasts, and extremists who challenge the very core of who we are? Have we removed the offense of the cross while painting the foolishness of the Gospel with specialized Abercrombie and Fitch coolness.
In our efforts to make Christianity connect, it seems to have been stripped of its prophetic (truth-telling) voice. We may have secretly hidden the upside-down Gospel that reminds us that we shouldn’t fit in this world because it is not our home. In our efforts to make Jesus attractive, we may have disguised His radical dare to leave everything and follow Him.
Where are the prophetic voices calling in the wilderness? Where are the youth ministries daring students to lay down their lives and take up their cross? Where are the musicians speaking prophetically like Keith Green and Steve Camp? Where are the youth pastors crying out, “to live is Christ and to die is gain”? Where are the students aggressively engaging their classmates with the Gospel?
It may be time to re-evaluate. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Written by: Carl Blunt Check him out @ thelifebook.com Follow him @carlblunt
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I think you are correct. FOr many of us in youth ministry for years, I think right now youth ministry across america are missing the main ingredient – Christ.
Sing B U Ly, Youth Pastor
Hmong District of the C&MA
Dear Carl – We totally agree with you! We have been youth leaders for a little over a year. We do not have resources like most do – we meet in a small church, we have some music, a little bit of food, and sometimes a game that involves minimal materials and space. When we took over the group, they were more used to games than message – we have gradually replaced that and have lost some youth. But, by keeping the main focus being Christ, a group that was once divided by many cultural barriers, is now a pretty united group of teens! We have had teens struggling with drugs and suicide that are making life changing decisions to letting God into their lives. We do feel like we have to compete with so many other things just to get the youth to attend. In their daily world, with ipods, cell phones, video games, and sports, they are used to being entertained! We know we could probably have more in attendance if we had all the bells and whistles, but, with the core group we have, our main focus is equipping them with God’s love and power, so that in return, they can go give their peers something they are NOT receiving in their daily lives. On the flip side, we would like to have things to draw in some of them that wouldn’t normally come – a bait! It’s the Godly love, consistent care, discipline and guidance that makes a difference in their lives – but some of them we wouldn’t have a chance to even get that far if they had not originally come because of the “free pizza” or whatever the bait is! It is definitely a fine line!