My wife and I were talking about our kids, and their friends, and their widespread abandonment of organized religion. Its not news that young people are leaving organized religion.
Recently I listened to a series of podcasts by Andy Stanley who suggested that “the god” that many young people have abandoned was the god of their childhood, and while children matured, often their notion of god never did. You know, the boyfriend God, who is always there to keep you company, or the savior God, who always gets you out of some difficulty and never lets bad things happen to you, and so on. Abandoning that god is really not abandoning God, since that little god isn’t who God is or ever was anyway.
But young people’s abandonment of organized religion is attributable to another source. During this campaign season, I’ve heard the “scions” of Christianity preach awful things: hell for all Jews, damnation for all homosexuals, fire for all non-believers, death for those who vote in favor of those who are pro-choice, and so on. On the other had, the same “scions” endorse candidates whose behavior is appalling: It really boils down to evangelical endorsement of immorality in favor of political expediency.
These are all doctrines I don’t recall Jesus preaching. His message was not one of division, but one of inclusion. Not one of condemnation, but forgiveness; not judgment, but understanding.
So just as Rev. Stanley suggests young people are abandoning the god of their youth, a god that never really existed, so too they are abandoning a Christianity that Jesus never preached.
Paul said “Encourage the young to live wisely. And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind” Titus 2:7 NLT
The politicization of Christianity is a terrible example for the next generation. No wonder young folks are headed out the door.
Christ loves all of us, not just those that we think He should love. His charge to us is the same. To hold otherwise is to substitute ourselves for him, and none of us are big enough to fill those shoes.
Recently I listened to a series of podcasts by Andy Stanley who suggested that “the god” that many young people have abandoned was the god of their childhood, and while children matured, often their notion of god never did. You know, the boyfriend God, who is always there to keep you company, or the savior God, who always gets you out of some difficulty and never lets bad things happen to you, and so on. Abandoning that god is really not abandoning God, since that little god isn’t who God is or ever was anyway.
But young people’s abandonment of organized religion is attributable to another source. During this campaign season, I’ve heard the “scions” of Christianity preach awful things: hell for all Jews, damnation for all homosexuals, fire for all non-believers, death for those who vote in favor of those who are pro-choice, and so on. On the other had, the same “scions” endorse candidates whose behavior is appalling: It really boils down to evangelical endorsement of immorality in favor of political expediency.
These are all doctrines I don’t recall Jesus preaching. His message was not one of division, but one of inclusion. Not one of condemnation, but forgiveness; not judgment, but understanding.
So just as Rev. Stanley suggests young people are abandoning the god of their youth, a god that never really existed, so too they are abandoning a Christianity that Jesus never preached.
Paul said “Encourage the young to live wisely. And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind” Titus 2:7 NLT
The politicization of Christianity is a terrible example for the next generation. No wonder young folks are headed out the door.
Christ loves all of us, not just those that we think He should love. His charge to us is the same. To hold otherwise is to substitute ourselves for him, and none of us are big enough to fill those shoes.
It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com
- - - - - - - - -
I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....
Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com
- - - - - - - - -
I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....
Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
No comments:
Post a Comment