What Are Your Students Hearing from You?
When I started doing the student ministry thing—late 80s—I’ll admit I was intentional about ruffling the legalists’ feathers. OK, maybe I made my counterparts back then a little nervous because I used rock and roll lyrics and other media (and still do) to make points in my messages. Maybe I bothered a few of my counterparts because I had a tat before it was vogue (and have added several more.) Maybe I made my counterparts a little uncomfortable because I didn’t do youth group the way they thought it should be done.
I admit I purposefully lived and live a little bit off the beaten path for three reasons.
1. I want my students to see that living biblically is a great endeavor and there were things worth standing for and against.
2. That pursuing or following Christ is not driven by the external stuff, rather the internal stuff that drives followers to go beyond the whole “What are people going to think?” garbage.
3. I came to the conclusion as a follower (before I did the ministry gig) that I was sick and tired of opinions and such, so I let the Bible speak into my life. I took seriously hermeneutics, Bible and theology; now I desire to let the Scriptures speak into students’ lives.
Man, did I catch it from some of my counterparts in youth ministry back in the day. Some of my youth pastor friends thought I was too radical; most didn’t know me or want to get to know me. They proceeded to throw me under the bus because I believed in reaching out to lost students instead of maintaining a typical youth group. I share that with you not because I want kudos or pats on the back, but because back then and still today as a youth pastor I believe there are things to believe in, things to teach by actions, things to do that go against the norm and things that as a youth pastor I have to stand up and speak for and against.
That being said, more than two decades later, there is no question in my heart and mind that we are in a new and much more difficult time. Really? I believe so.
Are there any youth pastors/workers preparing students regarding the current unemployment disaster we are facing, the stress our economy is under? Is anybody preparing students to get ready to live without the perfect job, a consistent income, the climbing debt of our government, the angst in the street about the lack of direction from our government, the possibility that we all may be close to a new depression? Is that far-fetched? Is that something we shouldn’t talk about? Is that something for the old, wise people to deal with? How does the U.S. situation line up with biblical truth? Is anybody talking to youth about the time in which we live?
Or, are we still talking about how the church isn’t what it is supposed to be? That we have been let down by this or that? That we can live happily because we love the Lord? Everything will work out because we do everything we are supposed to do (but don’t really believe it)? The notion that we deserve so much because we love the Lord? Do we still believe in the local church’s ministry in the world? Do we still believe the local church is loved by Jesus Christ, that it has a purpose, that the local church does matter?
Is anyone preparing students to love God regardless of not having everything they think they need, want and deserve? Is anyone preparing students to share the only thing that can transform life—the gospel? Are there any youth pastors out there who actually are not afraid to say that because of our freedom in America we have had it pretty good? That because of what this nation was at least founded on—freedom to choose, to live and to pursue life that we live better here than others in the world—and that is not a bad thing? Any youth pastors out there standing up for the local church that is trying to make a difference in the culture and the world?
Let me remind you that back in the 1940s during WWII, the majority of churches allowed Hitler to change the way they operated. Hitler brought in swastika’s and hung them in churches and put Mein Kampf on the communion table. May Christians believed Hitler actually was going to save Germany spiritually. How could the Christians have been so bamboozled? Simple: They were not prepared spiritually to understand that following Christ was not all about having the good life and not just about Sunday, singing hymns, feeling good, having a great economy, having a good society or having everything one thinks is deserved and can be acquired on demand.
In order to combat the possible demise of the national church, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and a group of young men formed an underground church called the Confessing Church, complete with a theology/Bible school taught by Bonhoeffer. Of course, as Hitler got news of the Confessing Church, he had more than 600 pastors sent to the front lines. Bonhoeffer and his pastor friends stood against the evil, continued to love the church and edify the church. Many of the Confessing Church pastors were killed during those difficult days, and Bonhoeffer was executed for being part of the Valkyrie plot to assassinate Hitler. It is no wonder Bonhoeffer penned these words: “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die. I believe we are facing the day when we as pastors must stand up for biblical truth, and that is worthy of all the consequences” (Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas).
We as youth pastors must not give in to those who want us to throw our doctrine out the window. I believe the time is now to speak biblical truth to students—the truth of what Scripture says about following Christ, the truth about the world never being made whole until the Christ returns, the truth that mankind is hopelessly lost without a transformational experience with the living Christ, that other religions are not leading to the same God, that being liked by everyone or being politically correct will save no one, that being a follower of Christ is going to be a tough road, that being a Christian in this day may hurt and sting, that following Christ might even cost us our jobs, being cast aside and being treated poorly, but that who we represent and what we represent is greater than any power in the world.
Are there any youth pastors pointing out evil? There really is such a thing as an enemy who is trying to destroy us, our cause and our lives. Are there any youth pastors out there willing to tell the truth that discipleship is not an option—that the road is narrow, that being a Christian in this day and age means we don’t have to choose the status quo, that apathy is for those without passion and conviction, that apathy ultimately leads to destruction, that you can make a difference because while the world is upside down, faith in the risen Christ will see us through, that we will be known because we stood up for biblical truth, that doing right things is no guarantee of a a problem-free life.
I know as well as any youth pastor that students are looking for the truth, and they need it now. I hear all the opinions daily, the gurus’ opinions about heaven, love, salvation…but what does the Bible say? What doesScripture teach? What does Jesus say is important?
We have the answers. We know the truth. I believe we are the last line of offense for students. I believe youth learders have got to come together and give our students the truth now. Just as Jesus shared with His disciples the difficulties ahead (
Just a few weeks ago, a pastor friend jumped me about how following Christ was all about certain things. I commend my friend for his character; but when I read Matthew 10, I wonder if all those things Jesus warned about was included in my friend’s list. Can an old broken down, still off-the-beaten-path youth pastor ask, “What do you stand for?” Is what you stand for worth it all? Please know as a fellow worker doing the greatest endeavor in the world that I believe we are in a great but difficult time. You as a youth pastor/worker matter, and I am in this thing for the long haul with you and for you.
