Can we talk? Can we talk about something really tough to talk about?
How P.C. Are you? How P.C. is your student ministry? Really?
I grew up playing pee wee baseball and pee wee football. I played hockey on a rink made in a park, on a creek, on a river, the street, the gym floor…where ever we could play. Oh, and we kept score. My friends to this day talk about all the fun we had. I played park district baseball. I didn't play alone, all my neighborhood friends played on separate teams. When I stepped up to the plate and my very good friend was pitching he would throw big curve balls because he knew I couldn't hit them. I wiffed 3 times-- struck out by a very good friend. Did we laugh back then? No. Was it fun for me? No. In the moment was I glad I struck out? Of course not. Nevertheless I ultimately grew. I had to learn how to hit a curve ball. We kept score. We talked about it. We poked at each other about which team was winning more games and so on. Personally, competition was extremely good for me. I learned how to win graciously. I learned how to lose without hanging my head. I learned how to cooperate within a team for a common goal-- winning. I learned some very important things through winning and losing. Frankly, this P.C. ideal about not keeping score- about not hurting kids feelings is just plain screwy! Is it not okay for a youth worker, youth pastor, or anyone to say-- "Be quiet already. I'm not following this way of thinking"?
Does anyone remember when calling a friend out for "bad" behavior was a good thing? When talking to a friend about their choice of friends or unhealthy behavior was part of being a friend? When talking about things that were "not acceptable" was a good thing in relationships and was the right thing to do? When going against the flow was considered "righteous"?
Does anyone remember when talking about sharing the Gospel was part of growing in one's relationship with Christ? That sharing the Gospel was part of what a youth ministry held as a high value? That reaching all students was part of the "why" one did this thing called youth ministry? That campuses were to be reached? That all students needed the Lord? How about this - when did youth ministry become about making everyone happy? Or keeping students safe? Or keeping the Christian student out of trouble? Or just taking care of the Christian student and leaving out doing ministry for those outside of the walls of the church? Oh, has that not changed? Are our youth ministries still about reaching students? Really? Or is that something that is done by a short term mission project where you go overseas for 2 weeks? Or by going to the homeless shelter once a month? Or by giving out food on a monthly basis? Is that really reaching out or is that something that we do because everyone else is doing it? Is doing all the above about really touching the lives of people or is it what we are supposed to be doing?
The question that keeps running through my mind and heart is this: Has P.C. entered into our ministry and we just don't know it? Maybe being P.C. is actually a new legalism that speaks of doing, and doing and doing without sharing the life changing Gospel that actually transforms lives. Maybe some have gotten past the Gospel because "that may offend people", so just do and maybe they will see we really care. Don't offend people with the message of the transforming power of the Gospel. Get close, but God forbid, don't offend people with the message. The street corner preachers of the past have hurt us by their rants, their calling out sin, and their brashness. So now, we've gotta be cool. We've gotta be relevant. We won't step on toes. We 'll get our hands dirty and share all our stuff, but sharing the Gospel is too confining. Sharing the Gospel may mean that people won't take our stuff. That they won't accept our "doing" for them. After all, isn't it better to take care of the needs of those in need? The end result is not to know Christ but to make people less miserable. Is that too harsh?
Now, I know that rubs hard at some people. But many today forsake the transforming power in the Gospel (that will offend) to "doing" because "doing" is less harsh and provides earthly needs. In this P.C. world we think we can share the gospel later - but is there really a guarantee of later? No doubt it's easier to "do". Isn't it easier to get students to fill bags, give a few hours a week, go away for 2 weeks rather than live out their faith daily as they share what makes them tick-- the transforming power of Jesus in their lives? Or is He really transforming them? Is He really giving them the burden of the lost world? Is He really working in them to care about not only the needs of people but also the hearts of people?
In principle what the world is doing today is what we Christians are now doing. While we have the message, while we have the answer to the world's darkness, the P.C thing is to not rock the boat. To not be like those from the past that came on about sin and all that-- preaching the Gospel but not taking care of the needs of people. My mind and heart says that an effective student ministry teaches, demonstrates and helps students see that the people outside the church walls matter – both in their separation from God and their brokenness in their poverty, their loneliness, their need of help in the state in which they are living.
Is it now too harsh to believe like Paul…to be like Paul….and actually live out this truth?
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." ~Romans 1.16,17
Has P.C. Entered into student ministry? Do youth leaders today feel the Gospel is actually irrelevant. That the only way to reach people is by doing? That the transforming power of the Gospel is something that those old time holy rollers, those right wing people did back in the day? Is the gospel just too politically incorrect?
Does Jesus still save? Do we still contend for the Gospel? Are we building student ministries that care only for the outside stuff that people desperately need while holding back on the only thing that can actually transform people? Is sharing the Gospel only about going to heaven or not going to heaven? I don't think that is the only main reason. Doesn't the message of the Gospel when received actually connect broken humanity to the living God? Or is that really not important? Is there another way? Is good deeds the life changer? Or is good deeds a result of a changed heart? Really.
Has the day has arrived, that the complaints of the disenfranchised with the church – those that have said "we don't like the church", "the church doesn't really care, they just preach about how bad we are or how Jesus is the answer or how this or that is missing" caused us to change and become P.C. in order for our message to be heard. Is the message gone now? Are we practicing a new outward appearance? Are we now teaching students that the only thing that really counts is how we "do" things for others and neglect going for the tougher thing that may turn people off, the sharing of the Gospel.
We live in a very tough time. A time of being honest enough to raise this issue, but also offending those that have made the crossover from caring about peoples broken relationships with Christ to only dealing with their external brokenness. A Christ follower lives out the life of Christ for sure. I know full well that reaching out to people, feeding the poor, taking care of those in poverty, "doing" for all people is vital to sharing the Gospel. But is the Gospel being shared? I'm not talking about making people better on the outside. I'm not talking about transforming the outside. I'm talking about sharing the Gospel so that people's hearts can be transformed or at the very least give people the chance to decide for themselves if the gospel is relevant.
Isn't it true that in the end we are taking nothing with us? That all people will be faced with how they responded to message of the Gospel? That in the end, all the "stuff" in the world will change no one? That God wants a relationship with all humanity and we have that message? Isn't it true that every day we walk into a student ministry room or someplace where we face students that say they love the Lord but have nothing to do with Him during the week at school or at home? And then they go out and give to the poor, take care of the needy, do all the stuff and could care less about the why they are there… to share the Gospel. But are they? If the answer is no, is that okay? Is it really the role of Christians to right the wrongs perpetrated on those that are without, those that are poor, those that are in need? Is the Christ follower obligated to only fix the injustices through out the world and not to share the Gospel?
Back in my day, (High School) I did all the stuff. I went to church, I dressed the right way. I memorized the scriptures. I did everything I was supposed to, but I didn't know the Lord at all. I was taught all the stuff without any understanding that I needed the Lord to transform my heart. After all, I could transform myself. I did all the stuff-- until it was time to leave for college. Then, no one was around to see my outward stuff anymore. I went big. I went for it. My heart was dark. I was a product of the youth group mentality. Do like we do and you can belong. Be like us and you are one of us. Do all the right stuff and I may just be able to save myself by my good deeds? After all, if I could do and be righteous by keeping all the "laws" of our group-- I actually became as good as everyone else. At least that is what I believed and that is how I lived.
I believe we have a new thing but the same old problem. Do what is deemed important and that proves you know the Lord. Do the P.C. stuff… take care of all the right stuff and you are walking with Christ. Now it's not about dress, rock and roll and all that stuff, we all got over all that. Now it's about transforming the world by "doing" but isn't the Power of change found in the gospel?
The day is here when people need more than just students fulfilling a giving moment or just "doing" for those that truly in need... but, I dare say that the P.C. movement keeps us from going to the hard level. The daily level. The level of going out and sharing the Gospel with friends, with classmates, with the community. "Doing" without the Gospel is considered "righteous". Not offending people is better. At least they will know that we are Christians by our actions, right? The message is now in the deed. But is it? Everybody is doing it. We are a generous people, but do our students really believe that mankind is helpless in their hearts? Do our students know that people, all people, need a relationship with the living Christ?
I have a little rule I have followed for years. Here goes. As the ministry leader I desire to reach every campus in our community. Is that really about numbers? Absolutely not. Am I trying to build a student ministry? Absolutely. Am I just interested in filling a room? Not at all. Do I believe that students actually need Christ to change them from within? You bet. And so, I believe that the students that get the life changing message - that get the reality of Jesus Christ in their life - as they live their faith at home, at school, at parties, on the street, where ever they live, they are ready to go and do the things that flow from their heart. I know that is not what is going on right now. It is a disservice to followers of Christ to make giving, missions, service projects, etc. that are fulfilled once a year, once a month or once a week the essence of being a Christ follower.
I desire for my team of leaders both students and adults to grab on to the life of Jesus that is lived out every day. I know that it could be argued that mission trips and "doing" are good training opportunities, and they are, but if a student ministry is solely focused on the "going and the doing" without a clear reason to share the transforming power of the gospel aren't we just like all the other non-profit organizations in the world that give, that feed, that reach out? I contend that the church, the Christ followers today have the answer for the ills of the world and that answer is in found in the gospel. Or is that too simple? Too politically incorrect? Too narrow?
Do our students believe that mankind outside of a relationship with Christ is without hope for peace? Real peace. The peace that passes all understanding? The peace of having a relationship with the living God through Christ Jesus? The peace that says in one's insides that God and I are connected because by faith I have received the life changing truth that the death and resurrection of Christ is a reality? That the only thing that can change a persons heart is a relationship with Christ? Or is that now out of the equation?
Why put this out there? Simply stated: I sense that the time is now to diligently do both. Sharing the gospel while reaching out, feeding the poor, and taking care of the needy. The time is now. The harvest is ripe for telling people of the good news that hasn't changed in 2000 years. Yes, we must put the hands and feet of the living Christ in our deeds with the message. This world needs followers of Christ to do both all the time as they live out their faith.
I believe the gospel has power to change people. Moreover, I believe people need to change internally. I believe that sin really keeps people from a relationship with the living God. I believe that it is not politics that will change the world but that Jesus came to change this world through His followers, the message they share, the good deeds they do, and the example they set. Let us not stop sharing the life changing message of the Gospel, regardless of how it is received.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." ~The Apostle Paul