Comments on: Youth Ministry: A '50-Year Failed Experiment'

By: keyboardshark

keyboardshark — Thu, 03 May 2012 21:07:21 +0000

Yes, it's hard to interrupt the status quo once it has become firmly entrenched.

By: Vladimir

Vladimir — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:09:59 +0000

Thank you, Dionesius3, for calling out the assumption that all these ministries are of God. Without folks like you, this assuimption would calcify into conventional wisdom and then into accepted truth.

By: Dionesius3

Dionesius3 — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:56:47 +0000

Toddi says-"Never underestimate what God is doing in his ministries. You don't know the end of the story, he does. So you either need to trust that he is God, and knows what he is doing, or decide you are smarter than he is, and do it all under your own power. I will not judge you if that is your decision…but I will not feel sorry for you either. "

I don't underestimate what God is doing, I question whether God has ANYTHING whatsoever to do with most of what you call MINISTRIES. Look at Scripture, there is no office of "Youth Minister", "Senior Pastor", "Music Minister", "Sunday School Teacher", "Minister of Education", "Children's Minister", or a whole HOST of other terms you find all over the "modern" church. Denominations, and religions in general tend to build structures to preserve themselves and to consolidate power and influence into the hands of the few.
That is what I disagree with, and that is at the heart of the problem that all churches are facing today. Start proclaiming the "whole truth" and get those lazy sheep out of their comfort zone of taking up space in a pew, and get them doing some real "ministry" out in the world. We entertain, comfort, reassure, and bless, but God forbid we should pronounce God's word on the issue.

By: Dionesius3

Dionesius3 — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:22:08 +0000

Did you not learn anything in church youth group? (I am being ironic) But seriously, I am sorry that the church you attended failed to provide you adequate instruction. And that your parents did not fulfil their duty to you. But you are an Adult now and life goes on the question is do you desire to know the truth? If you do have that desire then rest assured God has plans for you. Seek him, and he will show himself to you.

By: Dionesius3

Dionesius3 — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:17:16 +0000

Amen brother.

By: Dionesius3

Dionesius3 — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:16:21 +0000

God has called all to be ministers, God has gifted all to be able to train up youth in the way they should go. God has provided and commanded us all to do the things you are talking about. There is no special class of christians who can do somethings and not do other things.

By: Dionesius3

Dionesius3 — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:09:52 +0000

No, just realistic. Youth ministry is for the most part an excersize in futility. At worst it is giving parents, students, and church members a false sense of accomplishment that should not be there and is not based on anything real or eternal in nature. It's akin to putting a band-aid on a sucking chest wound. It may make you think you are helping, but in the end the patient is still dying.

By: Dionesius3

Dionesius3 — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:05:45 +0000

He did not capitalize catholic which usually indicates that the person is not Roman Catholic.
But he might be,
However there seems to be a real use of "Jargon" in his post which often betrays a religous issue reaching beyond simple doctrinal problems.

By: Dionesius3

Dionesius3 — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:59:17 +0000

That is the way I see it too. We have as a church bought into the world's ideas when we divide up into age based groups. And the whole idea of Sunday School in general is a joke in this day and age. When you had child labor happening and the only schooling a child ever got was at church on Sunday then Sunday School was a great solution for a tough issue. But with no children working full time and having public schooling there is no longer a need for the Sunday School.
Of course organized denominations and full-time ministers will have a mental meltdown if you suggest disbanding the Sunday Schools and using the funds that are now spent on literature for something else. And don't forget the money that would be saved by not having to climate control all those Sunday School rooms, Not needing the chairs, tables, markers, crayons, pens pencils, cleaning supplies, electricity, and whole wings of extra buildings.
The ammount of money 98% of churches put into this "dead Horse" is staggering. Not to mention the sheer waste of time the whole exercise is.