It’s the post that everyone has been waiting for! The final post in the three part series, “Youth and the Church.” In this blog, I’ll be sharing the final results from the 32 responders who gave their wonderful and insightful answers. In Part 2 of this series, youth shared why they thought Christian youth were struggling today. Click the link above if you haven’t read that post, yet! A lot of the responses went back to the topic of “The Church.” So now we will focus more on that and see responses on the church and what the struggle has been within it,
from their perspective. What is the issue in the church and why are we struggling? “They see the world and think it’s more appetizing than the content Jesus gives.” The same could be said about the church. “Christian youth struggle today because we [the church] don't prepare them for anything. They are not taught who they really are in Jesus, and youth need to know who they are and they will try to fill that hole one way or another. People tell them to have faith in Jesus and life will be just fine but fail to inform them that growing in a deeper relationship with Jesus is important. Point is, they are thrown to the wolves with no tools and setting them up for failure. Being a believer is not a one time thing, it's every day.” “I think [we’re] struggling today because we lack true biblical discipleship from those older than us. We’ve become so accustomed to spending time with our peers that we’ve forgotten the value of older, mature Christians in our lives — and not just a youth pastor who barely talks to us.“ “[The issue is] lack of clear Biblical teaching from the church. The church should also be teaching the Bible clearly and not watering down the truth.” “All of them have fallen into the trap of ignoring godly authority while at the same time blindly following after others' theological opinions.” “Not teaching on things relevant to youth--such as subject matter for little children instead when youth really want the whole truth. Youth aren't taught to give up everything for Christ including their hobbies that might get in the way to make their relationship with the Lord first. They aren't taught to fight and to with violence seize the Kingdom of God. True repentance--meaning turning away from sin and working passionately to follow Christ-- is also not really taught. Churches seem to be letting more and more slip where we no longer are any different than the world. People think major things are just struggles and make it out like it's little when sin is a big deal, and if you really want victory, then God will give it to you, if you will seek Him with all your heart.” “Because often, the youth group’s goal is to minister in providing a community for youth. While I think it is important to grow a good community, I believe more time and attention should be given to actual teaching of God’s Word, more concentration on Scripture. Lord willing, in return, this will also increase community bonds because as a body of Christ, focusing on scripture—our message from God—will bring us together.” “I think that most youth aren't taught the REAL TRUTH from the Bible. They are taught surface things - things that are just supposed to make you "feel good" but don't answer the deep, burning questions that so many youth have today. I think that there is too much compromise in the church....it has allowed the world to infiltrate it. What Christian youth in the church need to see is Godly examples...people who love God and His Word, and will stand on it UNCOMPROMISINGLY -- no matter the cost.” “I think many are complacent about their faith, perhaps influenced by a passive/stagnant environment in the church. They aren't seeing many examples of active faith around them, and they aren't being encouraged and equipped to live powerfully for Jesus. When church is viewed as more of a social gathering, many youth are not being challenged in their faith. They're nominally believers, but they aren't growing in Christ.” Are you seeing a common theme here? There are others who want to serve Jesus, but often struggle with how to do it. Many churches aren’t doing their part, but are damaging the faith-life of our next generation by catering to their flesh and bringing the world in. The true church is no building - it should be within us - and if we don’t go back to the way God designed, we won’t see a change. A church that brings the world into it can’t bring the church to the world. As Paul Washer says, “If you use carnal means to attract people to church, you’re going to use greater carnal means to keep them.” Jesus is all we need to bring transformation - it always has been. The true Christians don’t want youth group games, we want the truth. Why are the true Christian teens like this? We’re often seen as radical. Silly. Too serious, even extreme. But this life we live isn’t radical - it’s Christianity. And we’d rather be labelled as extreme than be labeled as conformed, having to stand before God because of it. God never called us to mediocrity - especially in the areas that matter most. To be honest, the reason we are like this is because of Jesus Himself. He saved us (we aren’t boasting in ourselves), transformed us (we’re not faking anything) and now He is in the process of sanctifying us (because He is faithful who promised). What you see in any genuine Christian is God simply working in them to will and to do of His good pleasure. This is the power of Jesus, and if you haven’t experienced it yet, call upon Him and let His redemptive love cover you and transform your heart. We can glory in the Lord. We can have a life purpose greater than this world’s because of our Savior who saved us and gave us Himself. He made way for us to live an eternal life so we don’t have to get caught up in the temporal, here. Christians show Christ's grace in action, and we can take no credit. Read below some of the ways He chose to gather His children as His own and stir in our hearts a love for His Word this world has never known (all examples are from poll responses). -The Holy Spirit stirred within us a desire for truth and to know Him even better. -The knowledge of God's Word being alive and active has drawn us to seek it out for more answers. -Seeing how it has worked actively in the lives of others has helped to have the Word written on our hearts and present in our minds. -The National Bible Bee has immensely helped a lot of us grow in our faith and it birthed a love for God’s Word within us. -Genuine curiosity caused flames to spark and mentors and strong Christian parents kindled them. -Bible studies tested our motives and taught us how to really study God’s Word for ourselves. Others have led by example and taught that church is no replacement for knowing God and reading His Word for ourselves. -Understanding the sufficiency of scripture has thrown us upon the words of Truth and have revealed to us our desperate need for Jesus. -True Christian peers and friends have inspired us to take the next steps in our faith, and running alongside them in the journey has encouraged us. -Authors, teachers, and people in history have encouraged us to stand up for our faith, too. -Small group leaders have encouraged us to daily interact with the Word. Our hunger and eagerness planted in us by our Creator has flourished by Him. -Contagious passion has helped to knock over the first dominos in our Bible studying and Christian disciplines. -We’ve sought the Lord and He’s answered us. He’s revealed Himself to us. -True theology and the true gospel has impacted us and brought clarity to what we once called foggy in biblical understanding, causing us to only hunger for more. -Leading others in memorization, studying, or reading of God’s Word has increased our desire to live all out for Jesus ourselves so we can lead others to do the same. -Discipleship has caused us to grow with confidence, and witnessing the discipleship of others has inspired us as well. -The Do Hard Things Community -Apologetics has been like a launching pad to knowing the reason why we believe what we do. -Difficult circumstances have pressed us upon Christ, causing us to realize we have no other place to go. Hard times brought us to our knees searching for answers. -Encouragement from our parents kept us on the right track. -Going on the streets to evangelize stirred up a hunger and love for God even more, and has caused us to want to share Him continually as a result. -Camps have helped to open up our eyes. -Our family. Some of our parents have been in ministry longer than we’ve been alive, and in all the ups and downs, they've remained devoted to God and teaching others about Him. Their examples of leading others and the home have inspired us. Seeing them grow in Jesus has helped us to do the same. -The more we read God’s Word, the more we wanted to read it. Some of us have been blessed with an amazing community of true Christian friends and a solid church body that stands in Christ - “God placed me in the path of some young people who had such a strong love for God and a deep desire to know Him more. At that point in my life, I didn't have the *love* and *hunger* that I now have for God's Word. I wanted what those kids had. And God opened up to me a whole new world of joy and beauty in the Bible that I had never known was there! And now I have an unquenchable desire to grow closer to the Lord through His Word.” And some of us are in a season of standing alone - “Currently, I don't know one youth personally that is passionate about Christ. It's sad and sometimes lonely, but I think people don't know better. My biggest dream right now is to get into youth ministry and teach youth about Christ and how to follow Him with their whole heart!” But we are never alone. The means I listed above are just a few in which our limitless God can draw His own to Himself and ignite a fire in them for His Word. As ___ says, the pure in heart will see God. Those who seek Christ will find Him, and the wheat/tares? It's not too late - God is still working. Be a vessel in which He uses to spark change in this generation for His glory, like so many things have been used by God to spark a flame in us. “I don't want to leave this world having done nothing for Christ. He gave everything for us--how can we just sit there and never try to thank Him?” “When I study the Bible, I feel renewed. I feel God's presence and hear Him calling me to follow Him. God's Word is our sword and our light, and it will last forever!” Glorying in the Lord, Hannah Kohner
1 Comment
Parker Hankins
7/6/2021 06:03:42 pm
Awesome post! Thanks so much, Hannah!
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AuthorHello, I'm Hannah and I'm so glad you're here! I'm a twenty-year-old Jesus-loving writer, National Bible Bee Alumna, and homeschool graduate. Jesus redeemed me, and now I give my life, and this blog, to serve Him. Hebrews 3:13 reminds us to encourage each other daily, lest we be hardened by sin. I hope that reading each blog entry that I post you will be encouraged and challenged to become more like Christ daily. |