Ethan Hansen
wrote the following article in response to a long full-page article about
various youth groups, using “New” and “Cutting edge” methods to attract young
people. One youth pastor said, “ We
have a party like atmosphere with heavy metal and rap music.” Of course, they claim to “Never change the
message, only the method.”
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. (John
1:6)
Very early in his life, John left the city of Jerusalem
for the Judean wilderness. It was a
very barren area. It wasn't unusual for
temperature to reach 120 to 130 degrees in the summertime with very little
shade. It was a good place for snakes
and scorpions—not a good place for civilization. He was preaching in the
wilderness.
The diet he consumed—locusts and wild honey—were central
to his message. The way he
dressed—coarse camels hair with a leather belt—emphasized the theme he
proclaimed. John was a protester. He was protesting the Pharisees and what was
happening in the temple in Jerusalem.
John was a thundering prophet against a prostituted religious
system. Where are the John the Baptist
today?
Luke 6 is the parallel passage to the Sermon on the Mount
in Matthew 5-7. Luke 6:24-26 lists four
characteristics of those who reject Jesus:
Unfortunately, these four characteristics define much of
contemporary Christendom. Why must the
church always ape the culture? If the
culture has a heavy metal movement the church quickly will follow. If rap music is popular in the teen culture,
it quickly will find is way into the church.
If the masses demand bread and circuses give it to them!
In the past, men like Noah and Elijah and Jeremiah stood
against the culture. Today,
self-proclaimed spiritual leaders embrace the culture. An entertainment obsessed church. Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after
Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke:23) Our model is slightly different. We desire to entertain people into the
kingdom of God. How does God define
success in ministry? Paul wrote 2
Timothy from a dungeon. Condemned by
Nero, he awaited death. The last
chapter written by Paul was 2 Timothy 4.
Paul was handing the baton of leadership to Timothy. In 2 Timothy 4:1-2 Paul said, “I charge you
therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and
the dead at His appearing and His kingdom….Live your life for an audience of
one. You will give an account before
the Person of Jesus. ..Preach the Word!
Be ready in season and out of season.
Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching.”
The task of the spiritual leader is to teach the
Bible. Romans 10:17 says, “For faith
comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”
Success is not measured in terms of popularity or
numbers. Success is measured by
faithfulness to the Word of God. The prophet Samuel taught the Word, paved the
way for David and built an empire. Ezra
taught the Old Testament and rebuilt a people.
Peter proclaimed the truth, was crucified upside down and changed the
world. Teach the Word!
In 1985, Robert Bellah wrote the landmark book “Habits of
the Heart.” He was asked if the church
in America might inspire a broad-based spiritual awakening. His reply?
“No. The church in America is
too secular.” Is it any wonder Jesus
said, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on
the earth?” (Luke 18:8)
This year, my two oldest sons entered first grade and
kindergarten. In searching for the
right school, my wife and I desired a place filled with learning, study,
discipline, work and order. In this
global economy, a strong education is mandatory. Isn't a strong church that proclaims a high view of God even more
important than a good education? The
stakes are too high for us to simply imitate a culture reeling in confusion.
A recent study of 10,000 young people found more than 50
percent desired to worship in a place “with interesting preaching that tackles
key issues.” Only 20 percent desired a
church filled with entertainment and high-tech multimedia.
Yogi Berra said, “The more things change the more they
stay the same.” The paradox is that in
John 1, tens of thousands of people bypassed the comfortable temple in
Jerusalem and went into the wilderness.
The Jericho Road was a dangerous road. Mount Moriah in Jerusalem is 2700
feet above sea level. John was baptizing 1000 feet below sea level. It was a 25-mile journey straight down. What a sled ride for a kid! There were no McDonald's or Best
Westerns. Thieves hid along the route. It was a dangerous journey. Yet the hearts of the people were hungry to
hear a thundering prophet. People searching for truth and not gimmicks. People looking for reality and not nonsense.
Spiritual leaders, lift up your heads because those
people exist today! Your task is to
care for them and feed them the truth of God’s Word and to love them. Be Faithful.