If you love me, keep my commands. John 14:15
I have been taking careful notes on sermons and teachings at church. I like to look back and I am really pleased with what I see. I read notes and recall words that made me uncomfortable with where I am, desirous of being in a better place, and some ideas on how to get there. If we are to follow His commands, we need to know very specifically what they are.
Recently a poll was conducted of youth atheists, including those who had been “church” kids, but had given it up. It was fascinating what these youth had to say: “These kids had attended church but “the mission and message of their churches was vague,” and manifested itself in offering “superficial answers to life’s difficult questions.” The ministers they respected were those “who took the Bible seriously,” not those who sought to entertain them or be their “buddy.“
Kids, and adults, have plenty to keep them, us, occupied. I would not want to calculate how much time I spend “playing games” online as opposed to serious work. Look around you and take notice of how much folks are “playing” with their phones, or laptops or pads. Sometimes we confuse our online playtime with online work time. Seriously, we do know the difference.
Kids know the difference too. Just because we are an entertainment intensive society, doesn’t mean that in our walk and in our church life we need to be more entertaining. We can’t expect our kids, our youth or our congregations to take Jesus seriously if we don’t. We need to learn from the youth group members turned atheists who respected ministers “who took the Bible seriously.”
We all get plenty of entertainment. What we really need is a serious response to the issues of life. Church life can provide that, if we’re not too busy entertaining. Is our message too vague? Is our mission unclear? We can’t expect folks to sign up and dive in without clear purpose and specific direction. We need to complete each meeting, each service, each youth gathering having motivated our audience and provided a map for what to do next.
Be aware, however, that folks don’t like being told what to do. We want out kids and youth kept on the straight and narrow, but stay out of our business. More than once I hear the complaint that they are being told “what to do” from the pulpit. What do folks expect? Better yet what should they expect? Folks come to church to get answers. If they want entertainment, they can get plenty of that at home.
Not entertainment, but conviction, motivation and direction. It can save our churches, old and young.
Be blessed.
Nick
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