In the past year I was challenged about making the Gospel relevent to the youth and that this is a modern day challenge of the church. In my mind, the Gospel is relevent in any culture and to any age. As we watch our leaders and country drift away from Biblical instruction under the guise of culture relevancy, I am reminded of Israel in the pre-exile time, when right was called wrong, and wrong was called right and the Bible so clearly declares 'woe to them....' I'm not saying blindly go forward and endorsing "take an eye for an eye" kind of thinking, but rather thoughtful study and application, for the Bible is one story of God's redemptive plan for mankind. Study the cultural context in the Bible, the underlying teaching, and then seek God's wisdom for applying this truth in your individual life. But at the core of this there must be relationship, real, and personal.
One of the challenges we hear about is how to engage the youth of today and great energy is taken to entertain, provide fun programs, exciting trips, and modern music. I'm not saying that these are bad things - certainly all things are needed, but in the end, it is the reality of a personal relationship of one person (or one youth) with His God through the person of Jesus Christ. There are lots of ways to get there, that is for sure, but the truth as contained in God's word remains the truth, and we must not water-it-down under the guise of cultural relevancy.
One of my daughters is attending an inner-city (urban) church plant. The congregation is divided into cell groups that meet each week and they discuss questions related to the prior Sunday's sermon. We attended one such meeting and quite enjoyed being with these young people seeking that God would speak truth into their lives in a relevant way. I was very impressed with these young people, starting out their lives and careers but seeking at an early age God's plan for their lives. This particular church in its approach is growing and attracting more young people for which I can only praise God.
On Sunday afternoon, we attended the church service, which was actually quite liturgical (i.e. there was responsive readings, scripture reading, professions of faith, and communion). Many of the songs were the old wonderful hymns, so full of truth and doctrine, yet updated to a more modern sound yet with the same melody. We looked around and the church was filled with young people - filled. This was a comfort to me even though we were by far the oldest people in the place - by far. They are serious about their faith, but seeking not just programs, not just appearances, but the reality of relationship. I wish there was some way I could keep tabs on each of these young people as I think God is doing an amazing work - it is real, it is relevent, and it is scriptual. For the Gospel is real.....and the youth are the future.
We left Church that day knowing we had worshipped the Creator of the Universe; we had felt His presence; we had been challenged from His Word.
Blessings.
Dave & Ann
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!" Isaiah 5:20-21
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