To some, it seems like God is no longer a loving Father but an old grandpa who is out of tune with their daily life and out of sync with culture. He's no longer (ready for an overused and misunderstood word?)..."relevant."
Teens are looking to people like Justin Bieber and hypepriests (as GQ calls them), like Judah Smith and Chad Veach, who know how to dress like them, talk like them, dance like them, who listen to the same music as them and who know their lingo. (Because if they have a lot of followers they must be doing something right...right? Not according to Jesus.) In other words, they don't want someone who's holy and different than them. They want someone who will always be okay with them, just as they are. In his article on GQ, Sam Schube seems to be a bit perplexed at this whole phenomenon. He writes: "Justin Bieber and his pastors are dressing identically. They are having a ball glorying in god. They want to be “better at 70,” which, if I’m being honest, feels like a pretty low bar to clear. (Just be better now! Or at 40!) But what they really want, it seems, is to dress like pop stars on vacation. It is not exactly news that pastors have learned how to dress with style and panache; this has been the case since Hillsong burst onto our cultural radar. But when did it become cool for the biggest pop star in the world to dress like his pastor? Or, perhaps more to the point: when did rock-star preachers start dressing like Justin Bieber?" You don't need leaders who can relate to you. You need leaders who walk with Christ. They should, of course, be able to understand you and empathize with you. They should listen. They should rejoice with you, weep with you, and battle in prayer with you and for you. But, keep in mind, only Jesus REALLY understands you. Stop putting so much pressure and expectation on man and getting upset or labeling your leaders as uncaring or unable, just because they're not exactly like you or you think they don't get you. I can relate = I've been there, I've done that. (This is impossible to expect from all your leaders. There are some things they have not experienced and can't relate to 100%) I understand you = I'm putting myself in your situation. Here's something similar I experienced. I'm not taking leaders off the hook. Far from it. But like we find in the example of Paul and Timothy, they (leaders, pastors, mentors, etc.) are equipped by God, through the Spirit, to train young leaders for the work of the ministry, to get them involved in the activities of the (local) church, to speak well of them to others as a means of encouragement, and to communicate their love, respect, and appreciation for them as a son/daughter, brother/sister, fellow child of God, co-laborer, and messenger of Christ. They may not know the songs you're singing, never been to a club, never smoked anything, and are clueless to all the 'relevant' (there's that word again) issues of culture and media that you're following but the things they have are far more valuable than the things you say that they don't have - Sound doctrine. Suffering. Consistency. A good reputation among believers and non-believers. Anointing. Passion. A family who loves and respects them. Integrity. And more. You need to get in line with the Truth they know. Truth with a capital 'J.' You need a leader who has the stamina to show you the way you should go, according to God's Word, even if he/she can't entirely relate to you. There's more to be said but I'll end with this: Are you meeting them half-way? You expect them to understand you but are you understanding them? Only God through His Word can change you. Not a church culture. Not a small group. Not a cool leader. Look to Him, not to man. You need leaders who are walking with Christ, not with the world. Leaders who are worthy to be followed and listened to because of their Christ-centered character & teaching, not their lingo, tight jeans or social content. Keep the fire burning, Danny Power can be used in at least two ways: it can be unleashed, or it can be harnessed. The energy in 5 gallons of gasoline, for example, can be released explosively by dropping a lighted match into a can. Or it can be channeled through the engine of a Shelby Cobra (top 5 on my list of classics) in a controlled burn and used to travel hundreds of miles...or for racing, depending on your interest. Explosions have their place; they are impressive in movies but can be dangerous in real life. On the other hand, controlled burns have lasting effect, staying power.
The Holy Spirit works both ways. At Pentecost, he exploded (came suddenly) on the scene; His presence was like "tongues of fire" (Acts 2:3). Hundreds, and later thousands, were impacted by one burst of God's power. But He also works through the Church, today --- the institution God began to channel the Holy Spirit's power throughout generations. Through teaching, worship, fellowship, Evangelism, service, and more, Christians are provided with staying power so that they, in turn, can be a source of light and heat to the world around them. Keep the fire burning, Danny I realize the title may be a bit dramatic. But, really, it may not be dramatic enough.
Boredom and spiritual apathy can lead to big problems. There is an entire website dedicated to boredom therapy. It's called Boredom Therapy (how clever). According to them, they were "founded with the goal of fighting boredom worldwide by engaging our readers with incredibly shareable content." In reality, it's basically a website filled with pointless information you really don't need to know. Many people fall into anxiety and depression because they are not comfortable with silence or a less-than-full schedule. This leads them to all sorts of problems. Silence & solitude is exactly what we need if we are to hear from God. We need to make time everyday for putting aside distractions and focusing on what matters most, our relationship with our Creator. When you are not okay with having nothing to do, with being alone, with experiencing silence, you will try to fill that time up with anything but God. Man has been doing this for thousands of years and look where it has gotten us. You will fill your life up with meaningless activities, your mind and conscious will grow numb and you will have no desire for spiritual food. Spiritual apathy will kick in. Overall, the lockdowns of COVID-19 have done more harm than good but one thing they have revealed is that people are not very comfortable with slowing down. We have gotten so used to running from place to place and with filling our schedules that, all of a sudden, when we are 'forced' to stay home, we get anxious and upset. Some even go as far as to say they are 'stuck' at home. (I know, I know, we need to look at the other side of the coin. I understand and that's valid. But my focus is not on the validity or credibility of the pandemic.) Reports of escalation in divorces, domestic violence, increase in alcohol consumption, suicides, and more, only confirm that many people are not okay with solitude, silence and (to coin a phrase) intentional inactivity. On the positive side, and to be balanced, many families got closer to each other and some people had more time to focus on their physical and spiritual health. Part of the WEEKLY WORD Series, No.1: SERVANT They say the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. (I don't know who 'they' are and I don't really like being compared to an apple but in any case...) This phrase is apparently of Eastern origin and frequently used to assert the continuity of family characteristics. For example, if your father had an anger problem, you, as a son, might have hints of the same issue or at least it may be attributed to you by others.
Parents or soon-to-be parents: How will you raise children who have the heart of a servant? It's a very important question. Personally, it's something I want them to pick up from me (I certainly pray they don't pick up any of my negative characteristics!). Whether we acknowledge it or not, they will end up serving someone or something in this world. I took a quick stroll, metaphorically speaking, throughout the short years that Daniela and I have been parents. I observed and continue to observe the ways in which our boys observe us. When it comes to serving, we have the unique responsibility to raise them in the ways of the Lord. Here are three questions to ask as you embark on this journey... |
ALTARPRENEURwith Danny & Daniela Kovacs
WHYNo family is an island. Join us as we share candid discussions, Biblical advice & resources to help keep God at the center of your faith, family and career. MICROBLOGS
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