What is it about Christianity today that turns people off? My greatest fear , as inspired by a chapel speaker, is that people, and especially youth would experience a Christian lifestyle, whether it be in church, a christian school or a christian college and even a summer camp, and would spend 5, 10 or 15 years recovering.
Why is it that people get turned off my Christianity? Maybe it is because it has turned into a cookie cutter faith that expects everyone to experience Christ the same way, singing the same songs and going to the right churches. Christ doesn't belong in a box. The Lord doesn't work on OUR timeline when we THINK he should. Maybe it is that people think that their God is the right one and everyone else is inferior if they don't believe in the God that they believe in.
I had a conversation with a good friend of mine tonight. She said that she is frustrated with her youth group because the youth leader expects them to have grown up, adult answers. She said that people are being asked to leave her youth group because they are goofing off. She said that they aren't allowed to talk about something (drugs, alcohol and other secular issues) in youth group because they "aren't youth group appropriate".
A few things:
1. Christ ate with tax collectors, prostitutes and the diseased....never did he say that those people weren't deserving of his grace, love and mercy. Those people weren't deemed "not Christ appropriate".
2. If youth group was supposed to be for adults, where there was no fun and people would be expected to have all the answers...they would call it adult group. It probably wouldn't even exists because none of us have all the answers.
3. To all you youth out there. Don't you let anyone tell you that you are acting like a kid or tell you to grow up. You have your entire life to be grown up and deal with grown up problems. Don't let anyone tell you that you need to not act so childish or to be mature. Christ calls us to have a child like faith. We grown ups should strive to be like you.
My greatest hope is that people can find Christ and be so consumed with his love that he infiltrates every part of their lives. Not just your "Sunday at church" life or your "youth group life" but your day to day, ordinary life.
I hope that you can be so moved by God's love that you want to share His love, His light and His grace to everyone around you. My greatest hope is that you not be happy with being a Christian...but you become over-joyed with your RELATIONSHIP with Jesus.
My greatest hope is that you worship Christ with your life. That your worship isn't the song you sing on Sunday's, but comes from the inner soul of the person singing the song.
If you are an athlete, my hope is that you compete for an audience of one, always thanking the Lord for the talent he has blessed you with.
If you are a photographer (Kara...cough cough) that you see the Lord's beauty through your lens and share his beauty to other around you.
If you are a snowboarder, I pray that you thank Christ daily for the amazing mountain that you are on and the pure white snow it is covered with.
If you are a a person who serves others, I pray that you do it because the Lord has blessed you with a servant heart, and not to gain the recognition from others.
Do not be discouraged when you see people who are sharing the gospel on the street corner, traveling to third world countries, raising their hands in praise or kneeling during worship. If that isn't you.....IT IS OKAY! God created us in his image but all as unique individuals. You may not worship Christ the way someone else does. So worship Christ with your life, with your actions and with your heart.
God doesn't belong in a box with limits on how people experience him and worship him. God isn't only found on Sundays in a church and Wednesday nights during youth group. God is so much bigger the the limits that we try and impose.
Do what you do. Use the talents, passions and gifts the Lord has given you, but never forget where they came from. A very smart man said ,"I wonder if people will fall in love with Jesus by watching me love him. I wonder.....?"
Ask yourself that question.
P.S. Kara--This one is for you. Do what you do girl....don't let anyone tell you different.
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