Get Them Out of the Shallow End!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
 
 
C.S. Lewis once said "…like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.1"
 
What a great picture in comparison to what today's teens are hearing from "me" centered youth ministries today. Many are throwing pizza and pool tables, X-Boxes and the like at them in an attempt to 'produce' an atmosphere that is non-offensive and attractive. Don't misunderstand, I am not protesting the concept of teenagers coming together to enjoy a time of fun and fellowship, but when the Gospel of Jesus Christ is twisted and manipulated into these "youth events" hoping somehow they are going to trick them into making a decision for Christ, it makes me crazy.
 
I have found that a multitude of youth pastors today are so concerned about their clothing style and popularity that they are willing to forsake the heart piercing truth of our Savior's gospel. My pastor once said while speaking of preachers that "each time we prepare to stand before people to preach we must smell the smoke of hell on one side and the fragrance of heaven on the other."
 
Each week as I prepare to stand before the young people in my youth ministry I tremble at what I might say. Praying earnestly that the Holy Spirit might enable me to speak truth into their lives and be able to watch Him change them as He so mercifully did me. I hunger for them to know and love truth and to be able to confidently defend their faith with power and conviction not simply a memorized set of lines.
 
As youth pastors we must understand that the words we speak will either convict the sinner of his wretched place before a Holy God and his need for redemption or we will leave them in their miserable state of condemnation and sure eternity separated from God in flames of Hell.
 
The cries of the reformers must be shouted from our lips. Faith alone in Christ alone by Grace alone must be our banner. There is no way to eternal life but through the blood of Jesus Christ. Deny this and we deny the Gospel. Jesus said that we will know the truth and the truth will set us free. I reject the notion that we need to pat a cake them with games and "Bible devotions" so as not to overwhelm them with too much truth.
 
From my experience I can say with conviction that no matter the age of the young people I have served, they long with intense desire to know the deep things of God. They want to know how He would have them live and how to serve him. When offered deep truths from God's word versus pizza parties and games, they side with learning more of the Bible. I believe with all my heart that young people today are starving for substance.  We must forsake the notion that young people can't handle the truth of sin and repentance and give the place of preeminence in our ministries back to Jesus Christ where it belongs.
 
It is not the man made, cross of Christ abandoning, sin deleting, feel good evangelistic creations constructed today but the Holy Spirit of God who illuminates and regenerates the hearts of men. We must abandon the mud pie offerings of easy believism and shallow man centered Christianity and embrace the holiday of truly knowing and believing the God of the Bible.
 
1.        Quoted from:Weight of Glory: And Other Addresses by: C.S. Lewis
         Vendor: Zondervan Corp. Publication Date: 2001  ISBN: 0060653205