Monday, 21 April 2008

  • A generation is rising up... really?

    As long as I have been a Christian I have heard the same words spoken over, and over, and over, and over by countless Youth Pastors, Pastors, Evangelists, Sunday school teachers, conference speakers, and heck even me...

    I really believe that God is raising up a generation who is hungering after him, thirsty for his word, and longing for more of his love. A generation of young believers who will set this earth on fire...

    Whoa, wait a minute youth pastor johnny go lucky...

     "Er... sorry"

    I have been waiting and praying for this generation for 8 solid years. Where the heck is it?!? If this supposed generation of young believers would have risen up as said before then it wouldn't be projected that when my generation is in power say 20 years from now that only 4% of us will be Bible believing Christians. In fact, from my point of view, it seems as though fewer and fewer of my generation are rising up and living for God.

     Ha, my generation will wear Christ prouldy on Sunday and Wednesday night, but are more likely to rise up for sex in the movies, violence in video games, drugs in music, and enough of Jesus to make them feel holy but enough of the world to allow them to feel accepted.

    What has happened to this prophesied generation? It could be there were no real visions from God, just a good pep talk. It could be the fact that 85% of Christians teens abandon their faith and their God when they enter their freshman year of college (yeehaw, unprohibited alcohol abuse and sexual promiscuity!!!). Or perhaps, every one else is waiting for someone else to rise up instead of theirselves.

     

    Sidenote folkerokls... Oh I believe there will be then 4% who claim to be Christians, but a generation of believers are being led astray by teachers such as

     Joel Osteen, teaching that all you need for salvation is just to pray the prayer of God I accept you into my heart. Where's the sin, the condemnation because of our sin, the Hell, the death of Christ on the cross.

    And

     Oprah the new age Winfrey convincing millions that her new age spirituality is just a nice add on to their faith. Besides as she says, their can't possibly be just one way to get to Heaven. Can there???

Comments (11)

  • cerebralsailor@xanga
    Most people who get to rise up more than others tend to forget about God even though they acknowledge it was God who did it because they apparently want to insert themselves into that "role" and be known for it, turning themselves into some sort of a quasi-god, deity and probably later on, a god. Its amusing in a sort of way and frustrating - though not surprising - to see people flock more into this "false" teachers because it seems rather easy and convenient for the life they are currently living.
  • D2L_Pastor

    @cerebralsailor - kuddos!!!
  • AvenueToTheReal@xanga
    I remember going to church camp as a teenager. We got all fired up and pumped for Jesus. Then we went down to the hoops to play basketball. Blah.
  • purpleButterflies03@xanga
    I'm glad pastors have taken the time to invest in young people, even as we haven't entered society fully, to try and point our hearts toward God.  He truly is the way to life, the verse about having "faith like a child" comes to mind-- we really are different in Christ, if the world hates us we need to remember it hated Him first. We are not our own... thanks chase, for reminding us to pray. battlefields- "the harvest is plenty but the workers are few"
  • cerebralsailor@xanga
    RYC- Lol. I don't think these so-called problems are real at all. Like I said, our government just make these things up to divert our attention here from the real issues, and if people were dumbed enough to believe only what is said on the outside then they're just making a passageway for our corrupted leaders to do things beyond our conception.
  • steadfastmom@xanga
    You were that generation. Why didn't you do it? Were you waiting for some big nebulous "thing" to happen? And you were going to... what? Watch? You dropped the ball. No offense intended.

    WE are the revival. WE hold the fire. WE hold the power in our lives to do what we are told is "going to happen" but we're too spiritually lazy to make it happen. It's easier to blame God, or a pastor's over zealous "pep talk", (which is actually a message from God brought to us through a minister who actually IS doing something) or the generation's lack of vision, blah, blah. Pass the buck.

    Focus. Desire. That which you pay attention to you create a desire for, or, as you called it, a thirst for, a hunger for. Good or bad, reasons and excuses notwithstanding, you make it, whatever it is, bigger and more powerful as you direct your focus and your attention to it. You draw yourself towards the things you attend to. It will be the things of the Lord, or hoops, or school, whatever you attend to. (BTW: That 85% of teens going off to college have their attention completely diverted to school at best... indoctrination at worst, hence their "abandonment" of the faith. It's a discipline issue.) You set your own priorities. You decide. You can not indulge yourself in just any old thing that comes along if you plan to be one of "the ones" who makes it happen. Keep your focus. [You] stir up the gift that's inside of you.

    Or, wait for someone else to do it.

    Or, wait and blame God or some one when it doesn't happen.

    Good post. Seems like an honest, searching question.
  • D2L_Pastor

    @steadfastmom - Hold up!!!!

    I did rise up. I did run with the ball. I was the teenager in high school who used every opportunity, every school assignment, every day as an opportunity to witness to my friends. I was made fun of and ridiculed for my faith. I was the president of our Bible study club my senior year at high school. I rose up to be an awesome leader in my youth. I was the guy who stood up in the vo-tech cafeteria and preached to over 50 people from my school about the dangers of pre-marital sex and the value of abstinence. I stood out above the rest of my friends who faded away into obscurity as they desired to run after this world. I was one of the few who caught a vision of what God wanted to do in my life as a pastor. Now I'm a student pastor and inspire others to catch the same vision I had to win this nation for Christ.

    I didnt sit idly by and wait for someone else to do it who was "more" committed then me. I was that teen, and some of my friends were too, they rose up as well. But when you're part of a youth ministry in high school numbering 120+ and less then 10 percent are actually witnessing and living their faith out loud it makes you wonder then where is this chosen generation? Is this it God. At a high school of well over 1300 teens is the chosen generation who will rise and save this school only 35 teenagers? Where are my fellow soldiers at???
  • steadfastmom@xanga
    Sorry, friend. I am testy and far to quick to jump to conclusions. I work with the 20-30 age group, and SO many of them are wanting to see something happen as long as someone else is willing to do the work, spend the prayer time. Yet at the same time they have all the answers... go figger. I should have checked out your site first. I just followed some tags over to your blog, read this one entry and showed my ignorance. My sincerest apologies. Please don't judge me too harshly. Really, I'm usually not such a jerk.
  • D2L_Pastor

    @steadfastmom - oh dont worry im not mad at you sister n Chris =)
  • impossibleangles@xanga

    I applaud your insightful question and the path that you have chosen.  It would be an awesome site to see a generation rise up.  Maybe it has but that is not the kind of thing that gets wide attention.  Positive news = no seller for the media.  Death and destruction = right on!

    Even if people are not being led in droves, it's important to remember that conversion can come quickly (Paul) or more slowly (Peter).  So things that we say now may not make an immediate difference on say a teen, but perhaps may have an impact in time to come.  Whether we enlighten one or one million, every single one makes a difference. 

    I am still in my baby steps of my faith walk.  That's why God placed me teaching toddler Sunday School.  Believe me, the three year olds get it much more than the rest of the "normal" population.  Keep up the prayers, as will I.
  • D2L_Pastor

    @impossibleangles - you couldn't be more correct.

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