Time to Dump “Youth Ministry” in Churches?
Scott Brown made headlines at a recent conference for calling evangelical youth ministry today “unbiblical.” Scott Brown is right on target.
Youth groups that follow the fun and foolishness model of ministry have been an outstanding success—if by success you mean creating at least two generations of biblically illiterate, immature, and conscience-free consumers of American pop culture. As for training up disciplined, mature soldiers of Jesus Christ who possess a comprehensive knowledge of the Scriptures, most evangelical youth groups get an F.
Laodicean parents are concerned that their children will turn out badly. Turning out badly to Christians now means things like doing drugs, getting drunk or holding up the local QuickTrip. In terms of encouraging teens to avoid sex, drugs, booze and armed robbery, youth groups at evangelical churches probably get a few points. But when did avoiding procreation and police contact become the measure of success among Christian youth? Shouldn’t we be aiming a little higher than that? A working knowledge of sound Christian doctrine, knowledge of the Scriptures and the history of Christianity are now considered the arcane specialties of theologians, not tweens and teens.
The real issue is that evangelical parents are too busy servicing their debt providing iPhones and iPods and laptops for their offspring to worry about the biblical training of their children. Fathers are too involved watching the NFL on their large television screens to lead family worship. Mothers are too busy working out to achieve age-defying abs to teach children Scriptures when they rise up and when they lie down. That’s what youth group is for, they think. Except youth groups aren’t doing these things either. Youth pastors, even those well into middle-age, are bent on proving their coolness to the students in their care. They got krunk, see? They like dance-offs and air guitar competitions and having food items lobbed at their heads for entertainment purposes. Biblical training? Catechesis? Ha Ha Ha. Right.
Scott Brown is right. The neglect of biblical training of young people by their own fathers, in their own homes, is seen everywhere. Most frighteningly, we are seeing the increasing acceptance of things God clearly condemns in His Word. Kids today don’t know the Word. That’s why homosexuality is now seen as just another lifestyle option in a growing number of evangelical churches and colleges. Young people don’t know the Word because their fathers have failed them. Next, their “youth leaders” have failed them by perpetuating foolishness and buffoonery in the name of ministry.
Fathers, mothers, take back your roles as the primary disciplers of your children. Stop delegating the job to fools who are leading your children off a cliff spiritually. The times are dark and getting darker all the time, but the evangelicals party on, seemingly oblivious. The enemy is walking boldly into the church and subverting entire congregations with error of every description, not the least of which is an endemic spirit of frivolity and fun at the expense of teaching Biblical truth. But if evangelicals would look up from their revels, they would see the finger of God writing clearly on the walls of their churches.
“You have been tried in the balances and found wanting.”
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Ingrid,
Thanks for a well written description of what transpires as the passing on of biblical inheritance. The spirit of silliness, frivolity, and passivity is exactly on the mark. Such is offered as an apologetic for the new way of doing church, and likewise an indirect admission of shame (and apology) for how the church used to function. I'm sure some who post remarks herein are going to be offended by this expose, because, although they agree with your and my descriptions, feel an equal obligation for fairness sake in the so-called Christian spirit of non-judgmentalism, to take a contrarian position as a demonstration of practicality in gospel presentation. Of course, these same churches (and parents) would protest too, that it's the joy of the Lord being manifest in His “body”. They would also claim that if you don't like this sort of approach to getting the attention of media-jaded youth, then you just aren't with it, or you can't discern that the Holy Spirit has decided to work differently from times past. The word for this is “The New Paradigm” church. The cool youth pastor has to know his audience and how to market to them. The stage (altar) props just have to demonstrate a “break and a breakout” from old religious forms in order to sustain that certain rapport. And what is that audience you may ask? A generation that can't read English, much less the Bible. Tech savvy but flabby. Unfamiliar with and unappreciative of nature. Averse to manual labor or physical activity. Lacking knowledge of, and disinterested in history. Inclined to text in garbled shorthand, rather than speak or write clearly and coherently. Tunes out anything dated prior to his birth as ancient & irrelevant. Expects a hefty material inheritance from parents and government, not a spiritual one. Yes, the direction is down, way down, to the lowest common denominator, which is the flesh. Carnal parents, carnal children, carnal pastors, carnal churches, carnal gospel. Romans8:6-7.
Well said, and Amen!
muse: to think deeply and at length; meditate
amuse: amuse suggests that one's attention is engaged lightly or frivolously
My own neighbor claims to “celebrate Christmas.” He puts up seasonal lights and a Christmas tree and probably gives presents.
But, I was shocked not long back when he essentially boasted that he had taken his 2 year old and allowed him to shoot a gun. His father clearly thought that was important. I was astonished. I've never heard him say he was training his child in God's Word. Nope. But the kid will be proficient with weapons by the time he turns 10.
Thanks for the post, Ingrid. I am a Jr. High youth pastor and would have to say that you are brushing with a broad brush here. I know that I am not in the norm when I try to teach my teens doctrine in the youth message times that we have, but that is what I do. There are others like myself out there with a goal of teaching doctrine and supporting parents in their goal of raising a Godly next generation. Fun with a purpose is my philosophy of youth ministry in a nut shell, and the purpose is that the kids might come to know Him better (Phil. 3:10). As long as this is the youth philosophy in a church, there is still a purpose for a youth ministry!
Calvangelistic,
Having had a recent experience in a PCA “reformed” church, I can understand what you say. However, Luther, Calvin and Knox would turn over in their graves. While more conservative and more true to the faith than most mainline denominations, it seems to attract the most liberal types because “reformed theology” is in vogue, attracting the disaffected and disenfranchised from Baptist and other Arminian faiths. You dare quote from Phil3:10 in the same paragraph. So I ask you how you reconcile your philosophy of “fun with a purpose” with this quote which contains in part “the fellowship of His suffering”? Are the kids taught all of Phil.3:10? You can fill these kids with all the correct and hip doctrinal head knowledge as is the norm in churches like this, made palpable with fun, but maybe this philosophy is ineffective and useless under a calvinist set of doctrines, if the goal is not a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, but rather a set of theological points of consensus. Could you tell us what fun methods you like to use?
Great response. As the pastor of two small congregations I have seen how much our young people need to hear the Word of God. What I have found is that our youth have a hunger for the Word. When you sit down with them and discuss openly what the Bible says about all aspects of life they will absorb it like sponges. There is a place for fun in youth ministry which can at times break the ice for the gospel to take effect in their lives. Jesus wasn't a stoic He had room in His heart for fun, but most of all He was a teacher. A good youth leader is a teacher of the Word first and a buddy second.
Gotta be careful here IMHO….All we see is the 'antics' here and we have no idea what takes place before or after the 'show' part of it.
Could they have been in Bible study prior to or after this? Of course they could….That is something we obviously do not know.
My daughter reminded me of a kid who wandered in to middle school worship one night a several years ago at church claiming to be an atheist….He came because he had heard the music was good and wanted to check it out.
He now attends Milligan College studying to be a preacher….Do you really think he'd be at a Christian college if the youth pastor/program was singing hymns from 40 years ago?
The message doesn't change…but the methodology sometimes has to..
Jesus wasn't a joker or a clown and not once did He tell a joke, only parables of a serious nature that had eternal consequences for those who had ears to hear and receptive hearts. Too bad Jesus didn't have your help and that of these fun filled youth pastors to break the ice with the stoic religious crowd a/k/a Pharisees. If these youth are so hungry for the Word, why is an ice breaker necessary for the gospel to have effect? Because the gospel has no power otherwise, in your experience? “Buddy” second? How about Discipler?
How many more could have been convicted of their depravity with those 40 year old hymns, and brought to Christ, if not preachers besides? Warning: Be careful you don't slander the centuries of church tradition!
This is a serious question. A “circus church” incident was caught on video where the poor minister has to toss the reading of Luke 2 away when the youth started to pull off a parody of a viral wedding dance in Minnesota, complete with the stupid song that shouldn't even be in church. They have been called to the Oval Office. Look at the way the kids were dressed to church too! Need serious Bible study, not these clown pop culture clubbing antics in church.
2nd reply to raptureme:
Are you aware that Milligan College is a non-denominational school funded by churches within the Restoration movement in Tennessee, and has a mandatory spiritual formation program. It is listed by Lighthouse Trails Research as a contemplative promoting school. See: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/Colleges.htm#M. Who at your church recommended this school to the former atheist and why?
In the late seventies, when I was a teenager, hellbent on destruction and destructing of self (not more shall be said) I wandered into a church because the music was good. Old hymns, soft and quiet, reflective in sound unto my ears. It called me and stilled me, into and unto a silence alone with God I deeply needed. Too much noise in my gang of friends, in the rock sounds of music of the era. Eventually, as the Holy Spirit moved in obedience to God's Grace, I have known Jesus as Savior. Reminder to me always and forever written on my heart. Thank you, Dear Savior, for that stillness in the voices of the old hymns, when the world was crashing and crumbling around me as a youth, and to know that You are God (Psalm 41:10).
Pastor,
Not once have you alluded to the Holy Spirit using the word of God as the ice-breaker in hearts of stone! Instead, you have taken all the credit, and then cover it with the solas. Which is it now, Buddy OR Discipler? I have to admit that Jesus probably did have a good time at the wedding feast, and at other common meals or meetings, even a few laughs. However, the Scriptural record makes absolutely no mention of His use of jokes, buffoonery, stunts, double-entendre or the like to draw a crowd or cause the gospel of conviction, repentance and salvation to “have effect”, while in ministry. You clearly are attempting to differentiate between fun time mechanisms that have a life changing effect vs. those that do not, but concurrently ignoring (and thereby denying) that the gospel message alone has enough power to transform lives. Your careless man-centered extrapolations about Christ's persona and life, plus the lack of reference to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit is outrageous and unacceptable. Sorry, but you have by choice put yourself in that category of pastors who can't seem to find strong enough power in the Bible alone or in Christ alone. And as for me, my youth ministry was with our homeschooled daughter who has learned like I to discern “What would Jesus do” and discard all the rest, including angry protestations from seminary trained disciplers who would, if they could, tear to pieces those who challenge their position and authority. Instead, they prefer to do it without witnesses, or by handing you over to the state, as they did with Jesus!
Dear Ingrid:
Thank you for the excellent post! You did not mention however the camp programs around the country that do the same thing as youth groups in our churches. “Throw a stick on the fire if you want to live for Jesus” has dominated the “camping culture” of Christianity for 40 years. How many kids do you suppose threw a stick on the fire (in front of their peers) and went back to the same way of self-sufficient, independent living from God? I have witnessed far too many. This is nothing more than old-fashioned carnality (worldliness) which most pulpits are silent about these days. Good post!
My philosophy is not denomination run. I like what Charles Spurgeon said, “”To me, Calvanism means the placing of God at the head of all things.” Man centered worship and theology has no place in church, but stoicism and over-bearing seriousness does not either. Activities are focused on the teens in our youth group that are believers. They give an opportunity for fellowship amongst the teens. It also allows them opportunity to bring visitors to church who may not be believers. We have seen God use these activites to draw several teens to Himself even this year. We try to show the joy of the Lord in all we do, including activities, and the Lord does work in mighty ways! Additionally, if activites are not offered to the teens in the church, they will find other places and times to congregate. I would rather have them at church at an activity then out doing something they ought not be doing (and let's face it…ALL teens do dumb things).
Dear Reformed,
May I caution you in your comments. If you are not careful, your daughter will wind up rebellious against the very pastors and teachers that are there to help, not hurt. I have seen these kinds of words wound kids to their very soul and create an extreme heart of rebellion. My hope and prayer is that you don't say these types of things about the very men of God placed over you to watch for your soul. Heb 13:17-18 states, “Obey your leaders and submit {to them} for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. 18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.” May I encourage you to pray for those of us in ministry that we would “conduct ourselves honorably in all things” as we seek to minister for His sake.
Sounds like “touch not the anointed' mantra again. No, our family will not place ourselves under false teachers and shepherds. Christ Himself warned about them and advised separating from them. All those in ministry would do well to “conduct (themselves) honorably” by giving due honor and respect to the Trinity and to the model of ministry portrayed by Jesus Himself, not some new paradigm of ministry flowing from apostate seminaries and “evangelical” authors.
I truly am sorry to hear that. It does explain your rather bitter tone however, and we now better understand the standpoint from which you are coming. The church is God's plan for this age and I would encourage you to change your thinking and wish you the best.
We would all do well to get out of the way and let the Holy Spirit do his work. we would find that “we” don't need to come up with anything. I don't think He's run out of ideas yet.
The last baptist “youth pastor” that I had first hand contact with . . . . was a Sodomite.
In a fundamental, independent, KJV preaching church.
A Sodomite.
When caught and confronted by his pastor and his wife (!) he stated “why do you think we pick your churches and your kids?”
He fled the state the next day.
My simple advice: if you do not have a “youth pastor” you will not have a predator preying on your flock. And you won't have to worry about the watered down or transmogrified entertainment gospel being transmitted.
There are no “youth pastors” in the New Testament
Your'e forgiven for misspelling Calvinism! Independent Calvinists that maintain a creative philosophy of youth ministry apart from any denominational parameters are in and out of reformed theology whenever it suits. At times, as when youth are preoccupied, entertained and sheltered by hedonistic and irrational behaviors offered as an apologetic for a carefree life as a “believer” to peers, then it should be no surprise that this type of what elsewhere is described as the “assurance of the believer” falls apart at other times when the same youth are “out doing something they ought not be doing”. Is that your philosophy of Calvinist youth ministry? Effective inside the church building but lacking in assurance outside? Just a part time regeneration that hinges on the youth pastor being indispensable to the spiritual care, feeding, and nurturing of youth? Not the biblical model!
Thanks for pointing out the spelling? Typed fast. As did you I see. It is hard for me to really understand what you are saying with all of the run-on sentences. My answer to what I think you are saying is, “NO”. Our teens are faithful and assured both inside and out and I hold to a consistent reformed soteriology through and through and teach it to our teens regularly. Perhaps more involvement in a youth ministry would help you to understand how this can be, but I digress…
There also were no fundamental, independent, KJV preaching churches in the New Testament either. Boom! Youth Pastored.
Yet another blog that has “Christian” brothers and sisters actively engaged in pride and malice. My way is better than your way. God will condemn you for not thinking as I do.
I am a very “young” youth minister. At 44 years old I have been in youth ministry for 9 months. Certainly far too new to have anything of merit in the eyes of many on this blog I'm sure.
Yet here is what I have discovered in that very short time. Teens today are not teens of yesterday. Every teen is an individual and has very unique perspective and needs.
I was drawn into youth ministry by God. No other force on earth could have done so. God IS working in me and through me. Who is anyone to question or to judge the talents and gifts that God has so graciously bestowed on another man who has sacrificed to serve God? If I'm not mistaken there is some talk of that in the Holy Word!
Let us not foget that God appointed YOU, and He then also appointed the guy in the church down the street! Maybe we should focus more on the task set before US than the task set before someone else. We are neither equipped to do their task, nor is it any of our business. It's God's business and I think He is MORE than capable of handling it thank you very much!
I encourage any one here who is in youth ministry! God bless you for your service in an area under funded, under appreciated and under rated! It is by their fruit that they shall be known. Stay ever vigilant to look for the fruit of your labor, and if none is produced then to be honest and be proactive to change that which you are doing so that you may be called good and faithful servant. Let us not answer to men but to God who is the beginning and the end of our faith!
Oh and to the author. I could care less how “cool” the youth think I am. But if spending some quality time with young people at a barbeque and pool party, and demonstrating in real life how I live for Jesus is in the category of friviolity? Sign me up baby!! Sometimes we speak the word louder with our lives than we do out of the book.
God bless all of you!
I am 32 and remember when i went to youth group having a treasurer, secretary, vice and sr president. We learned the books of the bible and how to remember scripture. We were made to go to church. I feel the children of today are the very opposite. Parents don't make there kids come nor do they come half the time, they come to eat and play foolish games and perhaps hear some story they have taken off the internet. I see a huge change in the attendance of the youth groups. They are barely hanging on by a thread at most places. The kids feel they need to be catered to. We have lost the basic principals these days when it comes to teaching our kids what church and God are for. I know i made out just fine the way it was back then but, i do feel that those days are probably over for us and we have to….well adapt to the new ways of things to get the children involved. This is no different then having media screens and having contemporary services which many of us never had when we were kids back then. We all need to pray that God will show us the way to do this correctly for him and be able to grab the attention of the youth today to be our future for tomorrow
Well written Ingrid………..
In my old Church. The teens were always asking to do more. They wanted Ministry. No one understood the Children in the Church, Teens and young adults are the future Missionaries, Teachers, preachers, and Evangelist.
God Bless
Danny
oh so very true ………..thankyou so much for putting into words what i always believd about “youth ministies” I never quite understood the principal of seegrgatring the old people from the young people in worship services because i always thought that we were one body irrespective of age and infact you will not find anywhere in the new testament scripture about having youth ministries!!!! its just not there its purely an invention of “modern day christianity”
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