All The Children Of The World (Part 7)

Postmodernism, Pop Culture and the People of God

(Well, installments for this paper slowly keep on coming!  To see this entire series click on the label Dan's Thought Spot.)

At the heart of Postmodernism and Pop Culture is the individual- all that matters is what the individual feels, and everything caters to that person’s felt needs which are often nothing more than selfish wants.  In Postmodernism and Pop Culture the Golden Rule is to be true to yourself.  If you doubt me just ask Disney. Instead of protecting itself from this man-centered way of thinking with sound doctrine, the Church today has largely embraced this mindset not only as a cultural norm but also as a biblical norm.  The integration of Postmodernism and Pop Culture into the Church is definitely no exception when it comes to youth ministry.  You see, we have bought into the idea that youth want to be entertained so much so that we have replaced diligent teaching of truth with entertainment.  Instead of diffusing the false notion that youth and their desires are all that matters, youth ministry has often inadvertently affirmed secular culture’s thinking by giving entertainment (instead of God’s Word) the place of prominence.   In so doing this, churches have catered to what they think youth want.  But in reality youth have not been satisfied by this approach to ministry and the results are showing it.

Here in Paraguay, it is perfectly normal to tell someone what you think they want to hear- even if it might not be true.  For example, when I first started bringing our vehicle to the mechanic I sincerely believed him when he would tell me it would be ready ‘mañana’ (tomorrow).  Numerous times I’d return the next day fully prepared to pick up my truck only to find to my astonishment and confusion that they hadn’t even touched it!  My confusion turned to anger until finally a light bulb went on and I realized that this was a cultural trait and I was merely being told what they thought I wanted to hear.  This drives a cold-climate New Yorker like me crazy who values facts and efficiency over relationship.  But because Paraguayans value the relationship above all they will tell me what they think I want to hear so as to keep our relationship intact.  Now, what my Paraguayan friends don’t realize is that because I’m time-oriented I’d much rather know the facts.  Though their intention is to maintain our relationship, by telling me what they think I want to hear instead of the truth, it sometimes accomplishes the opposite of their intent by putting strain on my relationship with them.  If you’re a North American like me, this might sound outrageous to you but the truth is we’ve done something very similar in organized youth ministry- though we often don’t realize it. 

Like my Paraguayan mechanic we have the best intentions as youth workers.  We love our kids and want to reach out to them with all our heart!  But if we only give them what we think they want chances are their needs will not be met and they will grow disenchanted with youth ministry and the Church.  This is true because what we want is often different than what we need.  In attempt to salvage this situation it often is counterproductive to ask youth what they need because in reality even they don’t realize what they need.  Just like their good intentioned youth leaders they make the same mistake of believing that what they want (to be entertained) is what they need.   In its worst cases youth ministry can be likened to raising a kid on cotton candy because that’s what he wants (fluff).  Then tragically when he’s malnourished and miserable he turns his back on the very hand that fed him all along.  Only God can tell us what our greatest needs are and we must look to His Word if we are to nourish our spiritually anemic youth back to health.  Once we do that, we begin to find answers- though they might not be the popular ones they are the right answers which is exactly what our young people need. 

When God and His Word become the central focus of youth ministry it enables youth to find meaning and fulfillment.  Confidence, clarity and direction in the life of young people result when they are regularly fed from the Word and not the World.  This God-centered approach takes the youth and his wants out of the place of prominence and replaces it with God’s truth and purpose.  Few young people will be able to tell you if asked, “What I really need has nothing to do with me.”  That’s what we as youth leaders need to be wise enough to realize for them- that what they need has nothing to do with our youth.  It’s all about God and glorifying Him through a living relationship.  That’s what our youth need and that’s what Christian youth ministry has to offer that’s of value- something that they will never find in the World.  The message of the World and postmodernism is, ‘It’s all about you!  Do what you want!  Follow your feelings!’  If the World had a Great Shema, this would be it, and it’s emblazoned on neon billboards everywhere our youth look and burnt their retinas on a daily basis.  Youth ministry must replace this lie with the truth of God’s Word.  Indeed, youth ministry is the only means by which we as the Church can do this!