BibleSponge

Well here we are.  In the previous six parts, found here, here, here, here, here and here, I have pointed out several areas of what the church of today calls ‘Youth Ministry’.  Some of the areas are readily agreed upon, others gather responses such as ‘Are you serious?’.  Nevertheless, all points have scripture to stand behind them.

My goal in opening this can of worms, and what a big can it has been, was not to inebriate readers and youth workers.  However, it was to pull off the nice, neat looking bandage that has allowed a sore on the church landscape to fester underneath.  Granted it’s ugly, but after airing it out, repenting and asking God for a direction that tries to conform to His instructions to the best of our ability, it will heal.  It will start to take the shape of His will and not that of our culture or what the leading youth pastor on TV says.

It’s obvious that there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution to youth ministry.  However, if we can agree on a mission statement that lines up with the Bible, and base all of our efforts on that, then we will be well on our way in a direction that pleases God.  So how’s this…

The mission of [church name] youth ministry is to equip parents to fulfill their Biblical responsibilities of discipling and evangelizing their children and to reach out to youth who are without Christian parents.

This statement has several references to stand on, such as  Deuteronomy 6:5-7, Ephesians 5:15-21, 4:12.

Equipping and Empowering Parents

The first part of this statement strikes the heart of my biggest concern with youth ministry in its common form today.  It’s one thing to run a ministry that’s not specifically outlined in Scripture.  But, you cross the line when you offer a ministry that goes against Scripture.

The idea: If we are doing anything that allows parents a free pass on discipling their kids, that’s bad.  If we are doing anything that is assisting in directly disobeying the 5th Commandment, it’s heresy.  The 5th Commandment is the first of the horizontal commandments and given to the community of faith (Deuteronomy 5:16).  Go back and take Ephesians 6:1-4 in context (see Ephesians 5:15-21).  You will see that children who are obedient and Spirit-filled are ones that are submitted to their parents’ spiritual authority.  If parents can just drop kids off at a weekly gathering, that’s enticing them to pass off their responsibilities of discipleship and evangelism to the church.  If church leadership fails to hold parents responsible, it only continues a trend of the past three decades.

Bottom line: Churches should be utilizing Scripture, today’s technology – anything- to equip parents to disciple and evangelize their children.  Prayer, workshops, Bible studies, books, trips – ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to equip parents.  The future of the church depends on it.

The ‘Orphans’

The second part of the statement addresses a growing concern for churches.  It takes into account youth who may not have parental leadership in the home or church.  Notice that I reference ‘youth without Christian parents’. If their parents are in fact striving to fulfill their responsibilities, they wouldn’t be orphans.

The idea: Youth that do not have parental guidance at home or at church are a vital component and concern for the church family.  Again, why would we toss them into an environment where at best only 10% of their peers in youth ministry have a Biblical worldview?  What does all that have to offer them in the way of discipleship or evangelism?  Considering that some studies show our effectiveness as adults evangelizing at 40+ Christian adults to gaining 1 convert?!  Youth evangelism effectiveness is even less.

Bottom line: Churches should be pairing up these ‘orphans’ with families that are already displaying this model of family discipleship and evangelism.  Or another option would be pairing them up with a couple that has successfully raised kids and are still drawn to them.

Conclusion

While some may or may not agree with any or all of this series, it’s hard to compile a mission statement that will line up with Scripture better than the one I have put forth here.  By lining up our youth ministries with the Bible, we will set in motion a reverse of the perversion of ministry that has plagued our Christian culture over the last 30 years.  Otherwise, we will fall victim to the old cliché ‘those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat it…’

By taking a Biblical approach and lining up our youth ministries with Scripture as best we can, everything else from skate days to field trips to youth camps are just candy sprinkles on top.  I like candy sprinkles, don’t you?

JS

One needs to look no further for blatant persecution of Christ than at President B.O.’s Georgetown speech.  What? You read it right.  The White House asked that Georgetown cover up a monogram symbolizing Jesus’ name in Gaston Hall, where President B.O. was speaking.

Call me crazy, but doesn’t it sound an awful lot like denial?  I wonder what his trusty evangelical sidekick Rick Warren thought about it?  Or perhaps this quote from Catholic University spokesman Victor Nakas sums it up:

"I can’t imagine, as the bishops’ university and the national university of the Catholic Church, that we would ever cover up our religious art or signage for any reason," Mr. Nakas wrote. "Our Catholic faith is integral to our identity as an institution of higher education."

Somehow this instantly moves me to 2 Timothy.  Something about Christ returning a favor to us the way we showed it to him,

if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; (2 Timothy 2:12)

Being “denied” by Christ is a death sentence.  Anything that will result in eternal separation is death.

Getty Images

And perhaps even more profound or prophetic was the image ran in the article (shown above) of President B.O. looming as the monogram was eclipsed behind him in the dark.  Perhaps that is prophetic in itself as to where we’re headed.

JS

Before I start, let me preface this message by telling you that there is nothing wrong with celebrating the resurrection or Jesus Christ. His resurrection is essential for the Christian faith to exist. Duh?! So why am I telling you this? As we hold up typical church and cultural Easter traditions, there will be some things that will sound so crazy and off the wall. However, once we examine them along side the Bible, you’ll quickly see that the world and even the church have been a bit off the mark at this time of the year.

Not Mentioned

Easter is not biblical. Lent is not biblical. That’s right. Easter and Lent are not biblical. As a matter of fact, I challenge you to find ‘Easter’ in the bible. I’ll save you the time, it’s not in there. Actually, it is in the KJV bible, erroneously translated I might add. The original Greek word ‘pascha’ is correctly translated in every other version of the bible, including the NKJV, as ‘Passover’.

Some of you may have heard or attended a church that celebrates Lent. Please understand that I do not mean to offend, but to inform. You see, the idea of Lent comes from Jesus’ 40-day wilderness fast when He gave up His divine power to experience humanity fully.

So what’s the big deal? Well, let’s see what the Big Guy has to say about the matter of all these extra traditions that supposedly celebrate Him.

beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?' "You shall not behave thus toward the LORD your God, for every abominable act which the LORD hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. "Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.” (Deuteronomy 12:30-32)

As a matter of fact, the word ‘Easter’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘Eostre’, which is the goddess of spring. In her honor, sacrifices were made at the time of the spring equinox.

So why all the fuss? My issue with all this is that so many Christians get so wrapped up in this self-made traditions and rituals, and allow them to get in the way of the true biblical meanings and observances at this time of year. We’re more concerned about what kind of candy to get Johnny than how we can fully explain the death and resurrection to our kids.  Bottom line is that neither the apostles or the Gospels teach the observance of Easter.  Nor did Jesus give us a law requiring us to celebrate this feast. Most of these traditions were created by man.

So how did Lent and Easter get into the mix? A 2nd century theologian Irenaeus was witness in a letter he sent to Rome that some early Roman bishops banned the observance of Passover on the 14th of Nisan. Just one problem here, that was the actual day that Jesus and the apostles practiced the observance each year. When they banned it, that’s when Lent and Easter were introduced into Christian practice.

Passover

• Started in Exodus (Exodus 12:1-13)
• Jesus’ death takes place of sacrificial lamb
• Matthew 26:26-28
• Annual reminder of Jesus’ sacrificial death
• Christ actually commands us to celebrate His death not His resurrection (1 Corinthians 11:23-28)

Feast of Unleavened Bread

• 1 Corinthians 5:8
• Focuses on Christian’s need to live in sincerity, truth and purity

Why Can’t We Count?

Jesus did not die on Good Friday. Now while I believe that intentions are good, they are severely misled. Has anyone here ever wondered why in Matthew, Jesus says that,

‘for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth’ (Matthew 12:40)

but there’s only a couple days from Friday to Sunday? Umm, that is kind of in contrast of what He said. Do we not think Jesus, the Savior of mankind, could count to three? I do.

So how do we get three days out of Friday to Sunday? You don’t. Jesus wasn’t crazy. Look at these 3 pieces of scripture:

• Matthew 12:39-40
• Matthew 17:23
• Matthew 20:19

To me, it’s pretty clear that He will be crucified, die and rise again on the third day. I can tell you that the whole Good Friday-Easter Sunday explanation is tradition without biblical foundation.

So how did it happen? Luke 23:44 tells of Christ’s time on the cross and the darkening from the 6th to the 9th hour, or noon to 3 pm our time. Now you have to understand that this was just before a high holy day and the Jews wanted the bodies taken down. So we know that He was to be entombed within the next few hours before the approaching Sabbath (John 19:31).

Here’s where it gets interesting. First, we have to get a hold of something that most people overlook. There were 2 Sabbaths. Let’s compare Mark 16:1 and Luke 23:56. Mark tells us that the women bought the spices ‘when the Sabbath was past’. Luke on the other hand tells us that ‘they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.’ How could they have bought spices after the Sabbath and then prepared them and rested on the same Sabbath?

The only explanation is that there were 2 Sabbaths involved. The first was the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:14-22), which fell on Thursday that year. So they started observing it on Wednesday evening until its completion on Thursday evening. Then, Friday, they purchased the spices and oils for His body. Friday evening they had to rest as it was the beginning of the weekly Sabbath until Saturday night. Then, Sunday, they went to the tomb at sunrise.

Finally, let’s understand also that Jesus did not rise from the dead Sunday morning. That would be impossible and would prove the Bible to be wrong regarding this account. John 20:1-2 tells us that Mary and the gang arrived ‘early to the tomb, while it was still dark’.

The correct timeline should go as follows:

• Jesus crucified Wednesday afternoon
• Laid in tomb Wednesday night to Saturday night
• Rose from the dead before Sunday morning sunrise

What Matters In The End

Jesus Christ did rise from the dead. Sadly, many get only part of this story and apply it fully to their life. They know about Jesus and know that He was crucified. But they don’t put enough emphasis on the best part which is the resurrection.

Because of the death and resurrection:

• We can be forgiven of our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 2:2)
• We have eternal life (John 11:25-26)
• We have a direct connection with the Father (Matthew 27:50-51)
• The possibilities are endless

JS

Today’s living example of parents being the main influence in the home (Deuteronomy 6:7, Ephesians 5:15 – 6:4) comes to us directly from Raleigh, NC.  While this is an extreme case, it’s equivalent to what takes place all over churches today right under our noses.

Yes folks, Cheryl Mozingo successfully passed down the wonderful art of shoplifting to her two daugters, Heather (22) and Nicky (24).  The family has a trail of court appearances through 7 counties in the area.  In fact, Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue reminds us of this,

"It's unfortunate," Sughrue said. "But the passing down of criminal behavior from parent to child is not a new phenomenon. Obviously, it perpetuates something that can lead children into some of the same problems their parents have had."
(emphasis added, read full article here)

It’s heart wrenching to see a family like this, let along two young women that are in great need of being reached out to.  Most Christians would respond, “Aw…someone needs to reach out to them.”  But how can we fathom the idea of reaching out to others when we’re failing to reach out to our own flesh and blood right under our nose?

Here is the legacy she is leaving behind.  How will yours look?

While this may be shocking to some of us and unthinkable to others, is it really that different than tossing our kids out into ministry and hoping they get the spiritual nourishment they need?  While the parent (or lack of) in this case has failed to instill the very basics of good morals into these young women (proven by the repeated list of legal run-ins) it pales in comparison to what we are setting our youth up for in the church if we don’t get serious about equipping parents (Ephesians 4:12) to disciple and evangelize their children.

JS

Let today serve as a reminder that we need to reach out to our unbelieving brethren in hopes of stirring them up and nudging them in the direction of Christ.  Perhaps this post’s title is not the most subtle, although accurate (Psalm 14:1), but for Christians who are the butt of jokes and consistently attacked in today’s mainstream media (2 Timothy 3:12), I think it’s quite humorous and a welcome laugh.  I’ll not beat the “we must know what we’re talking about” (1 Peter 3:15) when we discuss Christianity with atheists, you can read that beat here from a previous post.

Rather, I’ll leave you with a few humorous cartoons to enjoy.  Remember, God has a sense of humor.  Don’t believe me?  Look at the platypus.

JS