Mark Graham March 12th, 2011

I taught something I got from Steve to college students in a sunday school class. "The cross is not for IF you sin but for WHEN you sin." – um, that room got silent quickly. They stared at me as if I just set fire to my Bible. Actually, can you sense hatred? I felt it.

That experience led to a mess of thinking. I then understood why the leadership was so pushing me to entertain their kids with parties, games and pizza. I was like, "they are young adults. I just don't think that is appropriate." Well, something like that. Anyhow, it was all fear. Keep them busy, keep them out of trouble. And the students – they saw me go WAY off script. I expect the stats sited in this show is understandable. They return when they get fearful and church is a ready refuge…an organizer of their complicated lives. Generation to generation. Without any application of the truth they knew. Because that truth requires trust and confidence which is scary…even more than their day to day fear and attempts at control. You might imagine why I understand this so well…as much introspection as anything else.

The worldly church – shoved and running under the rock. Hidden and hiding. Like the Christian fiction section at the bookstore – on the second floor, in the back, bottom shelf labeled 'inspirational' – mised with Siddhartha, The Art of Motorcycle maintenance, and 7 steps to Christian whatever.

So – prayer. Pray, trust and live. Pray for the next generation. What more evidence do we need to know a problem too big?

Obed March 15th, 2011

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but a couple of months ago, I went to a church planting conference for Anglicans. I'm 32, and spent most of the conference with a bunch of other twenty- and thirty-somethings, something I don't often do at my home church. EVERY single person in that gen x and gen y age bracket I talked to was advocating a more traditional approach to church. They wanted traditional liturgy, traditional music, everything. The main impression I got from them was that they had done the grown-up-youth-group thing and found it shallow. Thus, they were looking to Church history and the traditional expressions of the faith as a way of finding deeper things for their faith. They want a sacrificial faith in a community that sacrifices and suffers (and rejoices and feasts) together.

I get home and was talking with some of the folks in my home group. All of 'em are boomers or older. Most are at least in their 50's. To a person, they all view traditional expressions of the faith with hostility, as if the traditions are a barrier to the gospel. That got me thinking. Is the flight of so many in my generation and the following generation a reaping of the boomer generation's seeker-sensitive, individualistic approach to church (and life, for that matter)?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to point fingers or anything. It just sounds like some of the most destructive prevailing assumptions about church are really only a few decades old. Maybe it's time to start thinking a bit more old-school.

Mark Graham March 15th, 2011

My wife grinds some wheat into flour and uses it to make bread. Third-world like. The bread retains all 30+ vitamins and minerals nature gave it. (unlike processed bread that has 0 – until the government forced them to pump 4 back in – 'enriched' bread). But you have to eat it right away or it spoils – no shelf-life. It is a lot of work but your body knows, just knows, it is the best stuff…and you keep coming back for more.

Sometimes Ii think preaching is that way. And old-school orphan and widow work is that way.

Today maybe we are storming the gates of hell on an empty stomach. Well, we are starving but we aren't stupid…we'll go to a conference and just chat about the storming gates thing.

I was 30 when I came to faith. I can imagine though being 20, full of energy and hearing about all that Jesus said. Faking life is a tall order for someone so young, you know. Their energy demands real food.

Better they turn to Georgian chants and incents than drugs, I guess. But better we direct them to inspiring folks who venture out with Jesus. Its still going on today. Some are in their churches or area, some working for crappy giant para-church ministries, or all on their own.

Bruce Szwast March 16th, 2011

Mind if I add my two cents? Hopefully 'too sense'. I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker yesterday. Started out to be an intellectual discussion about the sky and clouds and how God paints such beautiful pictures.

As such conversations develop we started to talk about the meaning of life. And as usual we got into some sensitive areas that eventually deteriorated into: we will talk more about this later, maybe.

One of the turning points of the conversation was our experiences with our childhood churches. I was raised a Catholic, he was raised a Southern Baptist.

I had symbolism and ritual without understanding. I had a priest of little consequence, but nuns with a quick right 'cross'. He had a lot of indoctrination about Scriptural do and don'ts with seemingly endless participation in church activities. Sound familiar?

We both left our childhood churches and struggled through growing up on our own. My Salvation came from being exposed to the Bible, reading it, hearing it, and slowly coming to accept and verify that it is God's Word. It is an ongoing process.

My friend however put up a defensive wall of distain for the Bible and how it was written by men. I asked him 'when was the last time you looked at the Bible and what do you remember'? Response: forget it! Please pray for this one…

Not that one upbringing is better than another, and I cannot speak for my friend, but I was intrigued by preachers who taught faithfully (and practically) from the Scriptures and in a thoughtful way. Teaching aids in various forms can be good, but they should not replace Scripture.

And let me be blunt. I have been to some churches that by the time we get to the sermon, why I go the most, I am not in a quiet and still mode to hear much. And to hear an empty sermon, why go at all. I should stay home and listen to one of the many old time preachers available on the Internet.

But my second love is being with God's people, especially those with whom I have a lot in common (birds of a feather or maybe 'created kinds'?).

Hey Mark, try: 'pro6000@juno.com'. My collection area for various opinions on a 6000 year old universe.