As I said yesterday I found the article interesting...however that does NOT mean that I don't have concerns. For starters let me share a few of the points that I personally agree with, because it is accurate with how I feel. (My responses were shortened to prevent myself from writing a book-I could go on and on.)
- Bullet #2 - denominational identifications are unimportant...Now that I have said that let me explain, before it is taken wrong. It is unimportant to me in regards to which type of fellowship I would worship in. I have been in non-denominational, southern baptist, wesleyan, pentecostal, assembly of God, reformed, and other denominations. However, I don't feel that I belong to one particular denomination over another. I belong to the body of Christ! I can worship in any fellowship that has a solid biblical foundation. A church that puts no other thoughts, ideas, or books before the Word of God.
- Bullet #5 - I guess I am more interested in a "religious experience", although I would probably say "spiritual experience", which also is a characteristic of Millennials. It's just more personal. I am more interested in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ than I am knowing a certain set of beliefs. (Note: I think a balance needs to be found with this generation pertaining to this. It's not bad to be more interested in a "religious or spiritual experience", but you have to KNOW what you believe!)
- Bullet #7 - There's my word "authenticity", and that is what it is all about for me. Don't just talk to me about the truth in scripture that you know, but SHOW ME! Give me humility, openness, and most of all be honest - about everything. There are too many "hypocritical" Christians in the world...I want the real deal!
Now for a couple of the things that really concern me about this generation in regards to these characteristics.
- Bullet #3 - Tolerance is very typical, and quite scary these days. My concern is this...We (Christians) have the truth of our Savior who died on the cross for the sins of the world. If we are tolerant of the other religions we are allowing them to die and essentially escorting them to hell. The argument behind tolerance is that we need to "love" everyone. I couldn't agree more, so out of love we should tell them the truth about God's redemptive plan - faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. So, how can we be tolerant when so many are dying without the truth of salvation that we could share?
- Bullet #8 - This is really scary...this generation is "creating their own hybrid religious identities." We were raised being taught that we can be whoever we want to be, do whatever we want to do, and believe whatever we want to believe. How dangerous is that? Who are we that we can create our own belief system of truth. Even to the extent of saying, "what's truth for me may not be truth for you." What?!?!? Think about it, we have basically been taught that there is no limit, and if there is no limit to what we can do then we have basically made ourselves our own god.
There...these are a few of my thoughts about these characteristics. I do believe that we need to love everyone just as Christ loved us, that even when we rejected Him-He died for us. In fact, that is the same love that God has for His creation. God does love everyone...every color, culture, language, ethnicity, nation, and every difference, after all He created it all. Maybe His love for the world is shown best in the popular verse, John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." But it will do us all good if we didn't stop there but kept reading verse 17, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." And verse 18, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
My honest thoughts in an effort to be authentic.
3 comments:
Jason,
Thanks for your thoughts. There's a book you might be interested in. It's called "Unchristian" and it's by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. The summary on it is "Groundbreaking research conducted by the Barna Group reveals the many negative perceptions 16 to 29-year-olds have about Christians and shows readers how to reverse them. Includes contributions from Chuck Colson, Andy Stanley, Brian McLaren and more." Just some more reading for you...I know how much you enjoy it :)
Preach on Brother! Our search begins and ends in the Word of God and relationship to him! The blog is cool too.
Just ou know that I did read all of what you had to say and didn't get too hung up on the feeling old part. I am so concerned about this generation when it comes to tolerance of everyone and there is no moral absolutes. Here is a quote from a 13 year old girl to her mother concerning a boy in her class that she likes(and no this wasn't my daughter thank goodness) "He isn't that bad mom, he just smokes pot once in a while." Of course the mom had to pick her jaw up off the floor and then sat her daughter down for a much needed mother daughter chat.
Smiles!
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