What is the young UPC preacher waiting for?

Carpenter · #1 08-03-2008, 08:52 PM

I am just curious if those UPC prechers, pastors, and even saints are waiting for their baby boomer parents to become irrelevant or pass off the scene in order for them to promote social change within the UPC.

I was in a special service some time ago where the much older ministers crowded around the son of the very prolific prolific pastor of the church where the service is being held. The sermon was holding up the old paths and resisting change and all that. As they crowded around to pray for him you know what? To me he seemed less than enthusiastic about the whole deal...no way will he pastor, does he pastor like his father.

There are a few young men that of course have no intention to change, but then there are others that I believe are just waiting for something to take place...I don't know what that is, but collectively something feels like it is going on.

Rhoni · #2 08-03-2008, 08:54 PM

Then there rose up a generation who did not know God...

Carpenter · #3 08-03-2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Then there rose up a generation who did not know God...

Hunh? What do you mean?

mizpeh · #4 08-03-2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carpenter

Hunh? What do you mean?

A generation that didn't grow up knowing God or the ways of God and ended up doing what was right in their own eyes or following the ways of the people who they lived among.

Judges 2:10

Carpenter · #5 08-03-2008, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizpeh

A generation that didn't grow up knowing God or the ways of God and ended up doing what was right in their own eyes or following the ways of the people who they lived among.

Judges 2:10

But what does that have to do with this topic...if you are correct?

pelathais · #6 08-03-2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizpeh

A generation that didn't grow up knowing God or the ways of God and ended up doing what was right in their own eyes or following the ways of the people who they lived among.

Judges 2:10

Keep reading the histrory of Israel and Judah. You find that what happened most often was that a generation arose that professed to "know God" but in reality had no clue as to what God was about to do. Notice especially and compare the prophecises of Jeremiah with those of his contemporaries.

Also, follow the ministries of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Check out Ezra 3:12 - the "old men wept..." while the young men shouted. I heard a great preacher preach a sermon at GC on this once and he preached it all around the country after that...

He complained that only the "old men" knew what the glory of God was like but that the "young men" were ignorant. He went on to try and tell us that there were men alive in the days of Ezra who were present when Solomon's temple was dedicated. ???

It was at that point that I knew that I was NOT hearing from God that day. C'mon... at least READ the passages you're going to be preaching on!

The entire book of Haggai is a rebuke to those "old men" and the true prophet of God spares nothing in condemning the "old men" for their blindness.

That's one big difference that I've seen in the various "generations" today... there's a younger generation that actually reads the Book.

Finally, look at how those who followed "the old paths" treated Jesus Christ. You still see a lot of that going on today.

Carpenter · #7 08-04-2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pelathais

Keep reading the histrory of Israel and Judah. You find that what happened most often was that a generation arose that professed to "know God" but in reality had no clue as to what God was about to do. Notice especially and compare the prophecises of Jeremiah with those of his contemporaries.

Also, follow the ministries of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Check out Ezra 3:12 - the "old men wept..." while the young men shouted. I heard a great preacher preach a sermon at GC on this once and he preached it all around the country after that...

He complained that only the "old men" knew what the glory of God was like but that the "young men" were ignorant. He went on to try and tell us that there were men alive in the days of Ezra who were present when Solomon's temple was dedicated. ???

It was at that point that I knew that I was NOT hearing from God that day. C'mon... at least READ the passages you're going to be preaching on!

The entire book of Haggai is a rebuke to those "old men" and the true prophet of God spares nothing in condemning the "old men" for their blindness.

That's one big difference that I've seen in the various "generations" today... there's a younger generation that actually reads the Book.

Finally, look at how those who followed "the old paths" treated Jesus Christ. You still see a lot of that going on today.

Goodness, did you used to be a preacher or something?

This is the tenor of the entire thread, good job P-

I think people, especially the church are making a huge mistake discounting the huge difference between the greatest generation, the baby boomers, the x-gen and now the y-generation.

I think it is so interesting how we are taking a look at business models and organizational trends keeping in mind these differences.

The UPC as you/we 40 somethings know it now will cease to exist when our kids and grandkids are our age IF we insist on maintaining this Old Tyme Religion, that was good enough for grampa and its good enough for me...