is probably the least represented group in weekly church attendance. From what I know and read, if a young person is not firmly rooted in their faith by the time that they graduated high school, they will be prone to not attend church any longer and/or be open to other "spiritual things". Unfortunately, many churches do not have programs, classes, youth groups, etc. that equip young people to develop a Christian world view. Some churches that do have programs use methods that do not speak to the young person of today, so they are ineffective.
One minister, I will not tell you his denomination because some of you will close your mind just on that alone, is taking God's message to the young people since they are not coming to church. His program, "Theology on Tap" is designed to bring young adults in a social setting and allow them to connect about religious issues relative to their lives. Yes, friends they meet at a pub and discuss theology over beer and a sandwich. The target group is those who were brought up in the church but strayed away. The goal of the program, according to the coordinator, is to inspire people to want to know more about their faith, meet people and return to their church to find out more.
My church tradition and drinking do not go along so this program gives me concern. Then again, is it worse than having the conversation about Jesus before or after enjoying fried chicken, fried catfish, potato salad (full fat dressing), macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, Cole slaw (full fat dressing), greens cooked with fatty meat, white bread, corn bread washed down with Kool-Aid, and sweet potato pie and caramel cake for dessert, all the while knowing that fried food, white flour and sugar are very bad for "the temple"?
I said all of that to say, we need to think about what we are doing (or not doing)and why we are doing it (or not doing it). The shepherd left 99 sheep to find one lost one. Do we need to go to pub to find some sheep who have gone astray?
Tell me your thoughts.
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believe wherever and whatever medium is used to attract people to the Lord, is good. Christ was not against drinking. He spoke against drinking in excess. His wine that He produced at Cana was the finest wine that the host had tasted. The Apostle Paul told Timothy to drink some wine to help his stomach problems in Cornith. And yes, we do alot of things with our "temple" that shouldn't be done. I think it is fantastic and definitely out of the box thinking for this Pastor to go to where the people are to reach them. Didn't Christ hang with "tax collectors and prostitutes"? He came for the sick and those who were lost. He went anywhere and did anything to reach lost people including to die for them.
ReplyDeleteSaw the article in yesterday’s Sun about Theology on Tap. I think going out into the highways and byways of life is appropriate. I think it would be a good place to present the Alpha course as well. Jesus went where the people were. However, His goal was always to bring them into relationship with God the Father and he always challenged them to “go and sin no more”. A discussion about religion is not necessarily a life changing or significant event. But it can be a place to start. We certainly have a generation or two who are ignorant of and hungry for true spirituality. My concern would be that Christianity would be presented Biblically and as truth and not just as another philosophy or life-style to consider.
ReplyDeleteI would prefer local church leaders leading discussion groups throughout the community then developing “seeker friendly” worship services. The church by definition is made up of those who are the called out ones, the body of Christ. We gather for corporate worship, teaching, training, equipping, fellowship and support. We then “go out into all the world to preach the gospel…” When I was in college coffee houses were a big thing and the Mennonite church took advantage of that popularity, creating places in many communities where young people could hang out with friends; Christian music would be played and opportunities for discipleship and evangelism were intentionally created. Theology on Tap reminds me of that.
I agree with A that Jesus went to where the people hung out, the streets, hills and valleys. He did come to save to lost and many of our young people today are lost. Meeting them where they hang out is good. I remember a while back that whenever I watched a professional sporting event on tv (football, baseball, etc.) I could always count on seeing a John 3:16 banner. What happened to those?
ReplyDeleteA discussion about truth, faith and especially an introduction to a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Jesus (most of the young people know about him, but really don't KNOW him)can take place anywhere. As you said, the Shephard left the 99 to look for the one. How often do we do that?
I love reading US history. From what I read, nearly every generation did not choose to attend church. Some type of revival or incident brought them to an "awakening" which resulted in church attendance. There will always be those who grow up strong in the Lord, but not typically the masses.
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