There is a controversial new documentary produced by the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches (www.ncfic.org) claiming that modern youth ministry is contrary to Scripture. The NCFIC is making the entire movie available to watch online for free during the month of August.
From the film description:
Quote:
There is a crisis. Christian youth are rapidly leaving evangelical churches for the world. This well-recognized disaster has been the topic of significant discussion in recent years for both church leaders and modern new media. DIVIDED follows young Christian filmmaker Philip Leclerc on a revealing journey as he seeks answers to what has led his generation away from the church. Traveling across the country conducting research and interviewing church kids, youth ministry experts, evangelists, statisticians, social commentators, and pastors, Philip discovers the shockingly sinister roots of modern, age-segregated church programs, and the equally shocking evidence that the pattern in the Bible for training future generations is at odds with modern church practices. He also discovers a growing number of churches that are abandoning age-segregated Sunday school and youth ministry to embrace the discipleship model that God prescribes in His Word.
I've watched it twice, and the photography and technical aspects of the film are excellent. The message is thought-provoking and challenging. However, the film is extremely controversial. In fact, Tim Challies posted a review on his blog that generated a large amount of interest in the evangelical world.
Here is the free video (55 minutes). [They require your email address to watch the movie.]
What are your thoughts?
__________________
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - C.S. Lewis
Re: Is Modern Youth Ministry Contrary to Scripture
Possibly so in some circumstances, I guess.
As for me, not buying it. I couldn't be more thankful for our youth ministry. They have their own services on Wenesday nights and one Sunday night a month they lead the service in the main church.
My two daughters recieved the Holy Ghost and were baptized in Jan this year, the influence the youth ministry has had on them is phenominal. They have their own bible studys on Monday nights, game night every Friday night and are constantly arranging meetings almost daily at the local Starbucks or Lemon Tree just to meet up and fellowship. Our youth group (about 26 teens) are a close knit family and it all revolves around the body of Christ. The change they have made in my daughters life I can never be thankful enough for.
__________________ You can't reach the world with your talents. People are sick and tired of religious talents. People need a Holy Ghost annointed church with real fruits to reach out and touch their lives. ~ Pastor Burrell Crabtree
In fact I think that the insinuation of "hateful" Pentecostals is coming mostly from the fertile imaginations of bitter, backslidden ex Apostolics who are constantly trying to find a way to justify their actions. ~ strait shooter
Re: Is Modern Youth Ministry Contrary to Scripture
Forgive me as I have not yet reviewed the video. What I see trending in many youth "produced" worship services is an emphasis on the music, the beat, the rhythm, and for lack of a better phrase, "the show." The effort sometimes loses it's focus in whom we are worshiping. I am not saying that the effort is not sincere or impractical for reaching a certain generation, but when the meaning of the lyrics, the purpose of praise and worship is lost in the emotions generated by the music or its production, it troubles me.
__________________
Only the mediocre are at their best all the time.
Re: Is Modern Youth Ministry Contrary to Scripture
Could it be that we are not teaching our children at home?
6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. Deuteronomy 6:6-8
__________________
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
Re: Is Modern Youth Ministry Contrary to Scripture
Quote:
Originally Posted by scotty
Possibly so in some circumstances, I guess.
As for me, not buying it. I couldn't be more thankful for our youth ministry. They have their own services on Wenesday nights and one Sunday night a month they lead the service in the main church.
My two daughters recieved the Holy Ghost and were baptized in Jan this year, the influence the youth ministry has had on them is phenominal. They have their own bible studys on Monday nights, game night every Friday night and are constantly arranging meetings almost daily at the local Starbucks or Lemon Tree just to meet up and fellowship. Our youth group (about 26 teens) are a close knit family and it all revolves around the body of Christ. The change they have made in my daughters life I can never be thankful enough for.
Scotty
please don't take this personal, but when I have seen young people cause problems in the home it has been my experiance that there are home problems, not saying this is the case in your home. Just the fact that the "youth program" changed your children is cause for reflection. I ask this simple question, what did their youth leader do that you did not do to cause them to dedicate to God?
Quote:
Originally Posted by TrmptPraise
Forgive me as I have not yet reviewed the video. What I see trending in many youth "produced" worship services is an emphasis on the music, the beat, the rhythm, and for lack of a better phrase, "the show." The effort sometimes loses it's focus in whom we are worshiping. I am not saying that the effort is not sincere or impractical for reaching a certain generation, but when the meaning of the lyrics, the purpose of praise and worship is lost in the emotions generated by the music or its production, it troubles me.
On the other hand what do you mean by "youth produce" worship services? Sounds to me you are like Micheal when David dance into Jerusalem because the ark of God was brought back. If the effort is sincere, then the meaning of the lyrics must be right. Else it would not be praise, don't get on the emotions generated by the music soap box. As I have been in more Pentecostal services that were all emotion generated by the man behind the pulpit (worship leader) pushing or cheer leading than Carter has liver pill. And then we wonder why our youth like loud music?
In the eyes of God it is praise if it comes from the heart.
__________________
Study the word with and open heart For if you do, Truth Will Prevail
Is Modern Youth Ministry Contrary to Scripture?
Linear Mode
