Yesterday I finished a very interesting book that talked about youth work being “cross cultural ministry”.1 It points out that today's post modern youth have their own language, music, style of dress, belief system, and philosophy about life among other things. All of these characteristics make up an actual youth culture Therefore anyone working with youth must enter into their culture and share the Gospel in a way that they can understand.
While I found what the book talked about very interesting, I had a hard time paying attention to it. Recently I started doing a lot of my reading at local coffee shops or shopping centers. Yesterday as I read about our need to enter the culture of the youth around us dozens of unsaved teens walked by me. Young people who probably did not know Christ as their Savior.
I watched as eight teens gathered outside about five hundred yards from where I sat to smoke cigarettes (because it made them look cool). Directly over my shoulder where six or seven teenage boys all dressed in clothes that made them look like rap artists (because it was cool). As I watched these smokers and skaters I realized that we as Christians must come to them with the Gospel. Because they definitely are not coming to us.
For months now I have been asking God to give me a ministry where I live in Melton. And I believe that yesterday God showed me that ministry. To bring his Gospel to the unsaved youth in my community. Find that out is the easy part, but how to go about doing it is the real problem.
I could go out and sit with those kids who smoke every day. But that would just scare them all off or make them feel uncomfortable. And besides I don't smoke because it is an unhealthy practice. Yet if I don't go to be with them, then how will I ever be able to minister to those young people? The answer is by trusting God.
If I force myself into the “culture” of these young people I will be rejected. But if I develop a relationship with them slowly, over time they will invite me in to their world. This kind of ministry can take months but the results are worth it. Today I went back to the same spot where I saw all of those teenagers yesterday. And I prayed that God would allow me to connect (start a relationship with) some of those teens. I believe that he will give me that opportunity if I am faithful to him.
I am not the kind of person who approaches people who he does not really know. And trying to start relationships with teenagers who have little respect for authority or God scares me. But I can't get past the fact that God wants me to do more than just read about ministering to unsaved young people. He desires for me to actually do it.
He wants me to slowly become a part of their lives over time. To develop a deep relationship with them that is filled with love and acceptance. To open my house to those young people and let them come over all the time (while also looking into purchasing a home security system). God wants me to start teaching his truth in a way that makes sense to them. He wants me to be a moral compass that points that in the right direction.
I am definitely not ready to do all of those things yet. But I can leave the comfort of my home and study within five hundred yards of those teens who need Christ. And look forward to the day when I can come closer.
1Walt Mueller, Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture, Intervarsity Press, 2006
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1 comment:
John, you get what very few BMM missionaries, or even independent Baptists as a whole, have gotten - that we can't sit back in our insular little worlds of church, bible study and our christian circles, waiting for the world to come to us. It's not going to happen! We need to be willing to get our hands dirty in our preaching of the Gospel. And this means stepping out of our comfort zones and giving up our ideas of what is "right" and "appropriate" and "Christian" and just go to them - go and be Jesus' hands and feet to them. When we step into to their world and speak their language, we're going to get a whole lot of persecution both from the world and the church. We are going to get burned. But grace is always worth it. I am praying for you as you embrace this truth and minister accordingly. God is going to do great things!
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