What Our Youth Needs

The church is not in the business of entertaining young people, but calling them to discipleship in Christ and separation from the world and holiness of living.  It is true that what you win them with you win them to.  If a church use worldly means to win young people, those thus won will be worldly.  If a church has an organized youth group, it must be very careful about the selection of those who lead the youth.  Young people don’t need a “good times Charlie.”  They don’t merely need another buddy who will pal around with them in fun and games.  They get plenty of that.  What they desperately need, and what the church is required by God to give them, are godly, spiritually mature people who will love them and show them the path of God’s perfect will, who will call them to reject the vain, “cool” ways of this present wicked world, who will challenge them to be pure, to pull down the worldly idols from their hearts, to give themselves wholly to the service of Jesus Christ while there is still time, to yield to Christ’s command to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.

David W. Cloud, Contemporary Christian Music Under the Spotlight, pg.201

The Youth Minister

We must reform our view of the qualification for—and even the legitimacy of—a “youth minister.”  The normative pattern in Scripture implores young people to emulate the values of their elders.  They must respect them, be instructed by them and follow their example. . . .  Thus, older men in the church bear the first responsibility for training youth; the older women to follow “likewise” in their steps.  We must therefore reject the appalling notion of the model of youth minister as a recently graduated extrovert who looks and acts just like a high schooler himself.  If our youth cannot “relate to” older men, then we are seeing evidence of older men having dropped the ball years ago.

Christopher Schlect, Critique of Modern Youth Ministry, pg.15

Give Our Youth Meat!

Herbert Schlossberg reminds us, “In their uncompromising determination to proclaim truth, Christians must avoid the intellectual flabbiness of the larger society.  They must rally against the prevailing distrust of reason and the exaltation of the irrational.  Emotional self-indulgence and irrationalities have always been the enemies of the gospel, and the apostles warned their followers against them.”  Indeed, the apostles left no doubt as to the place of intellect in their work.  Peter’s masterful presentation of the Christian faith in Acts 2:14-36 displayed his grasp of the substantive issues.  His ability to expound on the intricacies of the relationship between David and Christ was a brilliant piece of verbal tapestry that appealed directly to the minds of his Jewish audience.  Soon thereafter, Paul effectively engaged all manner of groups and individuals in his missionary journeys, using his reasoning capabilities to present the gospel of Jesus Christ with lucid clarity. . . .

It might be an interesting exercise to randomly survey our young people coming out of their next emotionally charged rally.  Let’s ask them if they, like young Timothy, could adhere to Paul’s instructions to defend the faith.  Their answers, or perhaps more precisely, bewildered looks, will reflect leaders who have bought into the myth that dumbing down the faith will make it more palatable for our youth.  In addition to the “it’s boring” cant, these leaders offer other arguments: “We do whatever works,” they say, leaving us to wonder, works to accomplish what? . . . 

Perhaps most disconcerting is the realization that once leaving the cozy, entertaining subculture we have created for them, our youth are ill prepared to face the bombardment of “isms,” which carry no warning labels for the unwary neophyte. . . .

What should be do about this state of affairs?  In his most recent book, Charles Colson comments that “local churches need to encourage youth leaders to go beyond volleyball and pizza parties and begin to teach apologetics and worldview issues.”  Indeed, the bar should be raised, and nothing less should be accepted by parents and leaders alike.

Paul Kerr, “Where’s Timothy,” Christian Research Journal, Vol. 23/No.1, p.61

Some Random Good Stuff

The “Gap Theory” was a theory developed by those who wanted to compromise the Bible and force evolution into it.  It was the theory of Genesis I learned with the Navigators back in 1973-75, but it never set well with me because I couldn’t see the “gap” they said was there; it never made sense to me.  Several years later I found some creationist books and learned why the “GT” made no sense.  

Unfortunately, even though the GT has been soundly exposed as untenable from both the Biblical side and the science side, it is still taught in many, many churches today; theistic evolutionists compromise Scripture so as to not appear “ignorant” or “unscientific.”

The Herescope blog has an excellent examination of the GT, which I highly recommend.    Once that has whetted your appetite, I recommend you get a copy of Weston W. Fields’ book, “Unformed and Unfilled: A Critique of the Gap Theory.” 

Often I come across some teaching in either books or on the Internet which teach that the idea of Jesus crucifixion being penal substitution is a more modern teaching and not that of the early church.  Ken Silva proves otherwise.

The recent edition of The Berean Call apologetics letter had an interesting article from the Christian Post.  The article compares the way Mormon youth are trained compared to how Christian youth are trained.  When the cults do a better job of training their youth than do Christians, its time to re-think our philosophy about training our youth.

For those who are wondering about how to tell false teachers from good ones, The Gospel Coalition has a good checklist.  HT to Neil Simpson.

And finally, Mind Renewers gives some insight about homosexuality and those who leave it behind from someone who has been there.  She calls it what it is - sin.  And reminds us that we are all sinners, and that we need to bring the gospel to all who are lost - even if they are lost in homosexual sin.

Some Good Stuff

Most of the time I use this blog to warn of false teachers and false teachings.  But sometimes I use it for posting good thoughts and teachings, as well as thought-provoking items about theology or apologetics in general.  Today’s post will be some links to some good teaching; things which I found edifying and want to share with other believers.

Apprising Ministries is one of the many good blogs I follow, and which I highly recommend for daily doses of what’s happening in the Church.  A couple weeks ago Ken posted an article about why the sin of homosexuality is so different from other sins, and why sexual immorality in general is worse that most sins.  Hint: 1 Corinthians 6:18.

Another blog I like to follow is the Cripplegate.  The same day Ken posted his article about homosexuality, the Cripplegate had a good article about the Lord’s Supper and its purpose.

Many of our youth pastors in the Church seem to be very immature in their own walk, and often are more prone to be “buddies” than mentors.  I’ve seen this in every church I’ve attended.  These leaders provide a lot of spiritual “junk food” but not much meat.  An excellent article by Dave Hinkley gives some important advice for youth ministers.

Yvonne over at “...and the world hears them” has posted an article by Dr. Paul Elliot discussing Colossians 2:8-23.  Satan is the great counterfeiter, and that is something we all need to be aware of.

An older article which I stumbled across defines marriage in a biblical worldview.  It’s definitely an article worth passing along.

A major problem in the Church today is that sin is often covered or justified to the point where we call good evil.  This happens often in regards to apologetics ministries; we are railed at for exposing sin and false teachings in the Church, as if it is evil to do so.  Warren Smith has an encouraging article with Biblical rebuttals to all the charges against apologists.

Be encouraged, fellow believers, and be Bereans!

Young People and Discernment

Without biblical discernment, this upcoming generation is "adrift at sea"--heading for a rocky coast and pending shipwreck. As I have had the opportunity to speak with young people throughout the U.S. and around the world, many of whom seem to be biblically knowledgeable, I've found that they are largely ignorant of false teachings, movements, and practices, along with the false teachers who are seducing multitudes of Christians today. ...

When the full counsel of God's Word is not taken to heart and put into practice, there is little basis for spiritual growth. Often the result is an experiential faith, based upon subjective feelings rather than the objective Word of Truth. Such a condition produces a shallow if not false faith and completely eliminates biblical discernment.

T.A. McMahon, “A Generation Adrift,” The Berean Call, May 2012.

When we went to the St. Louis Conference on Biblical Discernment in April, we took two high school seniors with us.  They were astonished at all the false teachings they learned about, having never previously heard of such things.  This is why our youth can be so easily capture by false teachings - because they are not warned about it in their church assembly!  Which is why the heretical IHOP organization can recruit youth by the  scores.

 Just remember that cults aren’t the only danger, and in fact are not near the danger to those in the Church as are the false teachings by those within the Church. Aside from IHOP, how many know about Word of Faith and its teachers?  How many know about the Emergent heresy?  What about the many subtle false teachers, such as Beth Moore and others I’ve noted on this blog?  What about psychology in the Church, yoga in the Church or Tae Kwon Do in the Church - all of which are compromising the faith?  We need to teach the errors of “seeker-sensitive” and “market-driven” movements, theistic evolutionism, aberrant “spiritual warfare,” Dominion theology, the social gospel, and on and on and on - all coming from INSIDE the Church!

Parents and youth ministries need to expose our young people to what errors are out there, and demonstrate the errors biblically so as to provide them with a defense against the wiles of Satan.

Random Apostasies and Heresies

It’s that time again to expose the stuff I’ve found in the news since my last Random post.  Sometimes this stuff can really be discouraging and frustrating to learn, but someone has to expose these false teachers and false teachings for what they are so as to warn the sheep to keep away from wolves.

Steve Harvey was a new name to me, but since he appeared on TBN it is obvious where his theology lies.  At any rate, he as a written a book where he gives a “90 day rule” - i.e., date for 90 days before fornicating.  After all, people are going to fornicate so it is unreasonable to ask them to wait for marriage, but it isn’t unreasonable to ask them to get to know each other a bit better.  Heretic Paula White agreed with him (what do you expect from a heretic?).  On thing I take issue with in this article [link gone by 9/20/15] is that the author calls TBN “Christian” television.  Sorry, but that station doesn’t have anyone who preaches the truth about Christ; it is a station of blatant heresy.  Otherwise, the examination of this fornication teaching is excellent.

The ever-heretical Joel Osteen is again claiming Mormonism is Christian.  I really wish the media would quit seeking him out for discussing Christianity; the man has no clue about his proclaimed faith, let alone LDS.  But there is good news: Osteen actually admits to teaching the heretical prosperity gospel.

Spiritual Formation has become a fad, especially with Emergent churches, but it has actually been around for quite a while, with one of the main origins being mystic Richard Foster.  Spiritual Formation is unbiblical mysticism - period.  Lighthouse trails has an excellent article about this false teaching.  Bob DeWaay had a good article about Foster’s false teaching a couple years ago which is still worth reading.

I really can’t understand the Roman Catholic Church’s love affair with the false belief system of evolutionism.  Their latest foray into this nonsense is the official Bible used in Latin American countries, which promotes evolutionism in Genesis!  What is evolutionism doing in a Bible to begin with, except for that fact it helps promotes Satan’s agenda.  Ken Ham has a good article about the situation.

More problems with “gay marriage” being given at least tacit support by so-called Christians.  Look what has taken place recently at a conference on “sexuality and covenant” with some things stated about marriage.  More sliding to apostasy.

Going along with the promotion of same-sex fake marriage by apostate churches, we have news that the Episcopal Church has released a draft of same-sex union rites!  Well, I have reported many times in the past about this apostate denomination, but this just demonstrates how far they are descending into the pit.

And another concern in this area is Andy Stanley’s latest comments, reported on by Albert Mohler and Denny Burke.  It sure seems that Stanley becoming favorable towards acceptance of homosexual behavior.  It will be interesting to see how this develops.

Rather than properly teach youth about the Gospel and everything else in the Bible, along with teaching them how it should affect their worldview, it seems too many assemblies today are more interested in spiritual junk food.  An Assemblies of God church has gone way overboard and staged a kidnapping, ostensibly so the youth would know what persecution is like.  The teen did NOT know it wasn’t a real kidnapping and suffered emotional trauma and some injury.  This is a youth pastor who should be fired.

Willow Creek was on the cutting edge of the unbiblical idea of “market-driven” mentality - one of the original “seeker-sensitive” churches.  Over the years the continually have demonstrated that sticking to truth and doctrinal standards is something they don’t choose to do.  Remember, this assembly has allowed Imams to teach from the pulpit, to prove that Islam is a peaceful, God-fearing religion similar to Christianity.  More recently, Bill Hybels, their leader, has stepped all over himself to prove they are not “anti-gay” (whatever that is supposed to mean) as he severed Willow Creek’s relationship with Exodus International.  Now he’s putting a rank heretic in the pulpit - Shane Hipps.  When you start pandering to the world to draw in your audience, anything goes.

Finally, Erin reports on a “worship” song which is really weird and unbiblical, regardless of the nuances the author claims are really there.  To me, it sounds much like another “Jesus is my boyfriend” story.

Church Youth Groups

I found this quote in my files.  I had torn the page from an article in O Timothy Magazine, Vol.20, Issue 7, 2003.  This citation was highlighted on page 7, and continuing on page 8.  I did not note the author.  I think it is something we need to remember when it comes to just exactly what we should be doing about our youth in church.

The church is not in the business of entertaining young people, but calling them to discipleship in Christ and separation from the world and holiness of living.  It is true that what you win them with you win them to.  If a church uses worldly means to win young people, those thusly won will be worldly.

If a church has an organized youth group, it must be very careful about the selection of those who lead the youth.  Young people don’t need a “Good Times Charlie.”  They don’t merely need another buddy who will pal around with them in fun and games.  They get plenty of that.  What they desperately need, and what the church is required by God to give them, are godly, spiritually mature people who will love them and show them the path in God’s perfect will, who will call them to reject the vain, “cool” ways of this present wicked world, who will challenge them to be pure, to pull down the worldly idols from their hearts, to give themselves wholly to the service of Jesus Christ while there is still time, to yield to Christ’s command to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.

Unfortunately, I have been in churches where the youth pastor is indeed another immature “buddy” leading immature youth.  One church we attended for about six months, a local “Willow Creek” wannabe, was one of the most disappointing in this area, and our two teens wanted nothing to do with the youth group after a few Sundays - they said it was like being back in junior high with a public school mentality and lots of PDA.  The spiritual junk food served up in that youth group, and so many others we’ve seen in operation, does nothing for building spiritual maturity in young people.

It’s time we start treating our youth like young adults and giving them real meat all the time!

Thoughts on Ministry and Discernment

Some more excellent thoughts about discernment, as well as worship and youth group thoughts from Spiritual Junk Food, by Cathy Mickels & Audrey McKeever.  The first citation is by the authors on p.55, while the others are cited throughout the book.  The book is old - I first read it when I bought it in 1999 - but the information is good and should be a wake-up call for those especially in youth ministry.

Today the emphasis has radically shifted from meeting together to worship God and to study God’s Word, to meeting together to learn to relate to others.  Missing in the early church were terms as opening up, mutual trust, affirmation, feedback, and experience. Mickels & McKeever

[A] truly biblical ministry must hold forth truths that are absolute... We must take an unmovable stance on all issues where the Bible speaks plainly... Sound doctrine divides, it confronts, it separates, it judges, it convicts, it reproves, it rebukes, it exhorts, it refutes error.  None of those things is very highly esteemed in modern thought.  But the health of the church depends on our holding firmly to the truth.

John MacArthur, Reckless Faith: When the Church Loses Its Will to Discern, p. 52

It is vitally important that we think soundly about God.  Since He is the foundation of all our religious beliefs, it follows that if we err in our ideas of God, we will go astray on everything else.  

A.W. Tozer, This World: Playground or Battlefield, p.104

No matter how attractive the movement may appear, if it is not founded in righteousness and nurtured in humility, it is not of God.  If it exploits the flesh, it is a religious fraud and should not have the support of any God-fearing Christian.  Only that is of God which honors the Spirit and prospers at the expense of the human ego.  “That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

A.W. Tozer, The Divine Conquest: God’s Pursuit of Man, p.120

We must reform our view of the qualification for - and even the legitimacy of - a “youth minister.”  The normative pattern in the Scripture implores young people to emulate the values of their elders.  They must respect them, be instructed by them and follow their example.... Thus, older men in the church bear the first responsibility for training youth; the older women to follow “likewise” in their steps.  We must therefore reject the appalling notion of the model of youth minister as a recently graduated extrovert who looks and acts just like a high schooler himself.  If our youth cannot “relate to” older men, then we are seeing evidence of older men having dropped the ball years ago. ...

Ministering to children of unbelievers need not be as difficult as it seems.  These children should be drawn to associate with Christian families rather than Christian youth ministries.

Christopher Schlect, Critique of Modern Youth Ministry, p.15, 22