Something's Wrong

Let me be clear about this blog: it is from my heart. i believe every word. And some that read it will be upset. With that said, let me begin by simply stating: Something is wrong with the American Church. This is not a newsflash or rocket science stuff, but i might as well be blunt and say it. Something is wrong with the American Church. Before i describe what is wrong, i beg your indulgence for a few moments.
FIrst, every one knows that every company, organization or government has an agenda when it comes to operating. Some call it "a vision statement" while others call it an "identity" for helping this entity "keep the main thing the main thing." However, for some reason, despite having God's ultimate power, the American Church has lost its identity and i will tell why momentarily.

Again, before looking at the American Church today, i want to just look at some government agencies and companies to prove my point that the American Church has lost its identity. When it comes to education in America, i think all will agree, the numbers don't add up and even the "real world" kids live in (one of technology) does not match up to what they learn at school (from books). There is a disconnect and kids aren't learning, that's what we know. How come schools aren't radically altered or more different ideas to learning tried? Because the agenda for public education is no longer about learning. What's it about? It's about money and power. It's about keeping students in a dependent state while an agenda is taught to them for more than 12 years. It doesn't take much to see this, just go to a school. Kids disinterested, sleeping, socializing, etc. They aren't learning, so there is only one thing education is now about: money and power over the lives of others.

Another example of our fine government and its agenda would be our transportation system. We have high "gas taxes" and yet we always have bumpy roads. When we go to DMV, there is always one or two checkers with no one else in sight. When we drive through road construction, there is always one guy working, two "flaggers" standing with the STOP sign, and the rest of the crew standing around talking. They aren't "fixing" the road like a private contractor with a deadline and reputation at stake would. No, they are just there. We can all agree, the agenda about transportation is not about making our lives easier. No, it is agenda that has money and control written all over it. Why else would we have such ridiculous fees for the smallest permits that involve our vehicles? It's about money and control.
I can name numerous other government functions, with Health Care being the next big thing that everyone knows deep down is about controlling Life and Death. It will not be about saving or helping people.

In contrast to those government agencies, there is APPLE. A company that has a clear vision: Making things simple and innovation to make phones/communication/computers more easy on our work flow. This company is now worth more than gas/oil because they keep the main thing the main thing: make portable/flexible items that enhance an individuals work flow. That's it. On top of that, keep the service flowing, the products top notch and the employees excited about their jobs.

These companies and entities gives us the perfect example to compare and contrast the current American Church, and the results and what i'm about to say are not good: The American Church is not about Jesus Christ. I don't think the current church is about money, but i do know, it is not about Christ. We seem to have lost the main thing--Christ. I know that the church is not about CHrist for the simple reason, if it were about Christ, lives would be changed, cultured would be engaged and people would be talking about Christ. I know this because we read it in all of the Gospels and especially the book of Acts. In Acts, we see the apostles, men of little education, transforming literal cities and lives because they kept the "main thing the main thing." Yes, there was the Pentecost, but what these men did was more simple: they preached Christ and repentence while serving others! These men led the charge when it came to Christ changing one's life. Look at 2:38, 3:19, 4:31. These men had no college (which America has plenty of), no marketing skills (which America has plenty of) and no technology which gives users instant access to information (which America has plenty of). These guys, compared with America currently, should have been wiped out if we were to start a church. Instead, many churches look back at this time and sigh, stupefied that God hasn't done something like this for many years. I guess i'm baffled as to why God would do something this great in our generation. Why would He when we have the same divorce rate as unbelievers? Why push for change when "cohabitation" among "Christians" is the same as that of unbelievers? Why yearn for people to turn from their sin when church attendance is declining among all demographics? We have folks in the church that act the same or even worst than unbelievers. Are you kidding me? And we seem to tolerate it. Acts 5 reveals what happens when sin was nearly brought into the church...death was the result. God doesn't tolerate hearts of fake, apathetic "love," which is scary when we think about what the American Church is today. While these are scary numbers, stats, thoughts, etc. what is worst is our response to them: we market, "finding out where they are at," etc. as the means to help change these stats (and i just read these articles today). WOW. Is it me or is that crazy? How about rereading the Gospels and Acts and literally look at Jesus "walking among the people" or the apostles doing the same thing, preaching for "repentence of sins." Our priorities have literally been changed. I will come out and say it: Satan doesn't need to show up in the American Church today. Why would he need to? We fight among ourselves and have no strategy for engaging the lost. We have lost the "main thing: preaching the repentance of sins and actually serving others."
Again, i'm not going to come out and say what our current identity as a church is, but i do know what it is not: it is not about Jesus Christ. We haven't seen this many people come to Christ in years and we have our own issues within the church, mainly unbelievers pretending to be believers. And since repentence (turning one way and going the other in regards to your sin) is not preached in many churches if at all, it is no wonder we have lost our effectiveness.

Francis once said, "The church is a whore, but she is my mother." This is an adequate statement. The American Church is lost, floundering and no one seems to know what to do about it. HELLO, something IS wrong.



























-to god be the glory for great things he has done!

Plan B...it doesn't work...

I am about to write a personal piece on youth ministry and my struggle with its calling on my life and in general spiritual terms, as I believe it is truly is a ministry that is “always evolving.” However, before I begin, I must state that I truly do feel unworthy to work with kids (of any age), as my sin, or inadequateness in dealing with their struggles leads to a lot of discouragement and unworthy feelings. Nevertheless, if I don't write this out, I may continue to struggle with my place within this ministry “universe.” Beginning with the basics, it is safe to say, yes, one must feel called to work with people, especially students. As Whoopi Goldberg famously said in Sister Act, “What call? Oh, the call. The call. I didn't know what call you were talking about.” Youth ministry and the work/service thereof is no joke, nor is it a “lesser” ministry role. No, it is one full of conflict and “drama,” as the little ones that are under our care are sinful people, as am I, and as such, struggle to be obedient to God and His word. With that said, if one is not called to the ministry, then the sheer amount of change that occurs within this area of ministry will leave one decimated and lacking any form of conviction. What do I mean by all this? Well, in terms of technology, how you “talk” with a kid is always evolving and being manipulated or changed. In terms of “administration,” computers and phones continue to evolve, making our jobs either easier or more difficult; it truly depends on the person using the technology. However, this “changing” of variables, personalities and technology forces youth workers to focus on one thing: if you are not solely focused on making God's word a priority in your life, it is over. Yes, I’m that blunt: You will not make the spiritual marathon that is youth ministry. Heck, you might not even make it a few years, as you are working within your own strength and all this change around us is forcing us away from Christ. Therefore, our lives and entire ministry rests on constant focus upon God and His word. The famous hymn tenderly sums up the youth workers ministry and His place within it: “It is enough that Jesus died and that He died for me.” This must be our focus. I have sadly learned this tragic truth: Everything in our fast paced society is in direct contrast to the life of Christ...even our youth ministry. Why? Because if we make youth ministry about anything other than “Christ and Him crucified” then we have and will continue to fail. I have learned this the hard way...I pray I can make amends to the little ones I have hurt or drawn away from Christ. Because so many of American churches are about entertainment and excluding families, I now must comes to another struggle within my call to youth ministry: Youth ministry is failing in America...and I am part of the cause...or will be part of the cause. What do I mean? Quite simple, really. My buddy Abe Long (another youth worker) has said “If plan A is parents intentionally discipling their children, then everything else is Plan B and in some sense, outside of God's will.” Notice, in “some sense.” This does not mean that youth ministry is outside of God's will, as we have plenty of support for working with youth. Instead, it means that our hearts and attitudes must be to intentionally working towards Plan A. This may be very difficult (and is the biggest struggle for me) because of three reasons: Parental involvement is close to non-existent b) Families are no longer “families” in the traditional sense and c) the church doesn't give the kids anything to rise up to in Christ. Most will agree, and studies will show, how the family has literally “disintegrated” into varying shards of shrapnel that no longer really helps kids. By this I mean, I have worked more with kids that aren't sure which house they will be out next week, so “I’m not sure if I can make it to youth group.” This is the norm now: shattered homes. The idea or notion that “Family” once meant “Dad, Mom and kids living in the same house” is completely foreign to kids these days. Literally. Describe this kind of family to a child and they will blink or ask the question “what does that mean, Dad, Mom and kids in a house together.” So, as a youth worker, I have to wrestle not only with this kind of brokenness, but again, a lifestyle that is foreign to me, as I came from a stable and loving home. Family is fun and engaging. Family is what God wanted it to be, and I got to be a part of this blessing. How am I to work or learn from this when I have no idea how to even talk to a kid with this kind of brokenness? This leads to a further struggle with one's call: the pressure to perform or “do something” to try and get these little ones the protection and guidance they need in order to survive. With families self destructing all around us, it would seem that someone would fight to stop this kind of “abuse” on our little ones. Sadly, no. This leads to the final problem that youth ministry struggles to adapt/readjust or fight through: giving students something to live up to, something to embody. Yes, Jesus loves us. Yes, Christ died for our sins and rose again. If it weren't for these two simple, but powerful truths, we would all be going to hell because a holy God cannot tolerate sin. Yet, it is one thing to tell kids these truths every single week, and a completely different one when we think of what they go home to: There is a HUGE disconnect in telling someone that Christ (a person they don't know) loves them and died for them, and then going home to a family that demonstrates the complete opposite of love. There is a DISCONNECT at the heart of our field with most kids and families. If the family is following Christ and discipling children (Plan A), the dirty little secret is: They don't need myself or “youth ministry,” while the kids that are lost and from broken homes, have little chance to even see or realize God's love for them because their situations are the epitome of “lost.” I want to be clear: I am not saying God isn't working, nor am I saying Christ can't penetrate any circumstance because He clearly can. I'm merely pointing out the struggle of call, youth ministry’s true place and a few of the struggles that lead to such turnover in leadership, one's call and the nature of our hedonistic society. It is a scary situation to be in, even though I KNOW God is working. I am sure I speak for many when I say that there is something else out there, I just don't know if I’m close to it, if I’m close to making a difference. Yet, the students who are in our youth groups have little to look up to because everything else around them is either broken, fake or not worth following, which scares them and us. Perhaps kids leaving “their faith” were merely leaving because that’s all they have ever seen; their family relationships and the youth workers at church…everyone kept leaving, so there is nothing worth following? As John Wayne famously said, "I'm a man, and you're boys." It seems that there is little to no advancement from kid to adult in our churches. People and kids simply "there." Just a thought. I write all this to say, there are two HUGE tips for all of us to remember, whether we work in ministry or not. The first is the easiest to remember: GOY. Get Over Yourself. Youth ministry was never about “the right hire” or the “right fit for a church” so much as it is God is working...get in line with what HE is doing and give everything you have to that and watch the fruit grow and multiply. Too many times youth workers (myself included) feel that it is about us, our program or “my vision” for the church. NO! This life isn't about you or your struggles and troubles. It's about giving God the Glory for GREAT things HE HAS DONE. The final thing is from Doug Fields: “If you are truly giving everything you have to God's work, leaving Him with the results and trying put people in a place to succeed, then that's all you can do.” The essence of true WORSHIP is not singing songs on Sunday morning, but instead, offering yourself (all of you) to God and His work. If you have done that, then you are in God's will, giving Him glory in every act you do—whether in youth ministry or not—and that is all God wants: people that are worshipping Him through their lives, “as a living sacrifice.”