In these articles I want to first diagnose the problem and then propose the solution of how we might uproot the tumor of ‘me-centered ministry’ that is rapidly growing in our churches each day. Though I’m not a doctor I am serious about bettering the world of youth ministry. I believe youth ministry should not be considered a secondary ministry. It is the very life and breath of the church of today! In using medical terminology I hope to communicate the brevity of this problem that is often shrugged off as ‘just nothing’. Doctors would tell us, “When you find a lump and your 50 years or older, don’t mess around”. Well, in this case, I want to deal with the problem I’ve noticed in those who are 30 years or younger…and I don’t want to mess around.
The ‘me-centered ministry’ approach is at its heart an attempt to make Christianity more appealing to those who otherwise would take no interest in the church. I know that most ministry among youth is done in the name of ‘reaching them where they’re at’. This certainly does have some merit. The apostle Paul became all things to all men for the sake of winning some for the Gospel. But we start to run into problems when we don’t get beyond this initial ministry tactic and begin to teach our young people that there is a larger truth outside of themselves. ‘Me-centered ministry’ would say that to effectively reach kids we must put them at the center and focus on their needs and wants. Thus entertainment and cutting edge programs in this approach have a high priority. But it is when we look at the fruit of our ministry methods that we are forced to question their viability. Has ‘me-centered ministry’ worked with the youth growing up in the church today? Consider this quote from international youth worker, Sean Marston,
“Young people all over the world are turning away from religious beliefs and this is happening big time in the Christian church around the world. I don’t think church leaders really understand how much of a chance we have of losing a whole generation from having a relationship with God and being part of the church. I believe we are starting to see a generation of younger people (under 35) who are choosing to walk away from the church. I see it as a tidal wave that has hit the church worldwide and is starting to take our young people away – what is our response? I know there are strong youth groups here and there but generally across the world young people are disappearing from our churches and from knowing God. Everything I am reading, all the young people I am talking too, what I am seeing is leading me to this one conclusion – that we (as the church) are allowing this to happen before our eyes.”
So what is to blame and what are we to do!?! Is this evidence that the church institution has failed? The local church’s failure to engage their young people has been an ongoing battle. The church, either because of laziness or fear, often has failed to connect with its younger generations and in many cases has become a club in which only those who conform are allowed to enter. Youth are experts at spotting when we preach one gospel but live another and they are often quite unforgiving toward the church if they’ve grown up seeing this. But if we stop here and only blame the church I don’t believe that we will get to the heart of the problem. It’s folly to say the institution that Christ left us with is irrelevant or flawed. No, to get at the source we need to probe deeper beyond the walls of the church and into our own hearts.
(click here to read PART 1)
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