Some of you may not be aware what happened last week so I shall fill you in.
Last Sunday night there was a combined youth event at the Assemblies of God (AOG) church. At the event they began with some games which I missed most of, but came in at the last minute to find an interesting one being played. More on that later. Then a band - New Empire got up and played some songs and then a guy called Darren McMahon got up and spoke. His talk also involved an altar call.
The band and Darren also appeared on Monday at the high school and did a similar presentation without an altar call and with little mention of Christ. (which they may not have been able to do due to restrictions)
I am going to address each of the three components listed above.
Firstly the games. As I did not see much of them, I can not make too much comment, but what I did see made me cringe a little. I firstly came in to see what looked like 2 people with a piece of string in between their mouths and they were pulling at it without their hands. I later found out that the string had a lifesaver on it and they had to chew the string and the first one to get to the lifesaver won. It also so happened that it was a guy and girl involved. One of the leaders made some sort of comment about getting to the middle at the same time and how good that would be. Next the leader decided to do a similar thing, but instead as individuals they had to suck the string into their mouths and then eat the lifesaver at the end. Not many people volunteered especially after the previous event.
I wonder as a number of people I discuss youth ministry with also wonder as to the reason behind these seemingly meaningless games. Not just meaningless though, but also they can be downgrading and harmful. There seems to be no point in them. My view is that if games are played, then they should have a point to them such as to build community, point to the message about to be taught or similar.
The band next. Although I did not really like them, the kids seemed to. I could not understand the words very clearly (could be that I am getting older), but got some impression that they were a Christian band. What I was disappointed about though was that they did not take any opportunity to speak openly about their faith either at the Sunday night event or during the school time.
Darren then spoke and he began by talking up the Big Exo Day in Sydney in September. (I will post about my thoughts on this event separately) His main thrust of his talk seemed to not be so much a gospel presentation, but all about having a dream for your life a purpose and that too many young people do not have dreams. Then moving through this into the choices we make effect us and our dreams.
Throughout this time he was ultimately sharing his life story and after once section when he shared about a time when he was in the surf and almost drowning, he ended up asking himself, "What would have happened if my life ended today?" He had no answers. It was at this stage he got one of the band members to come back up and play quietly in the background on his guitar.
Throughout the next bit, he began to speak about God. (He previously had not mentioned him to this point or anything associated with Christianity) He spoke about how God has got so much for you, that he loves this world so much that he sent his son for us. This son Jesus walked this earth and did good things, but also came with a mission - to have life more abundantly. He spoke about how when he encountered Jesus he then got his life back and now had abundant life in being able to speak at events like this and to many schools across Australia. He reiterated that God loves you he is the ultimate best dad, he has so much to give you. He said "Maybe you are out there and thinking that I want what Darren's got" and he spoke about how to get it - confess with your mouth and believe in your heart then you will be saved. This was followed by the altar call.
My main concerns with the talk were as follows.
1. Talks on goals, dreams and choices are all good and well, but it is talks like this that make me think - well what about Christ, open the bible and talk about him not about our choices, but his choice to come to earth and die for us even though we were still sinners. This being especially the case on Sunday night. Yes he did get around to it, but that brings me to point 2...
2. Nowhere in the talk did he mention about God's anger or his wrath. He mentioned that God loves us, but did not mention that God does not love our sinful nature and it was because of our sin that he had to send Jesus in the first place not so we could have more abundant life. Some of the kids responded to his message and his call to come down and commit their lives to Christ, but I am uncertain if they knew fully what they were committing their lives to.
3. He never mentioned that life as a Christian is not always easy. He seemed to paint a rosy picture that life with Jesus is excellent not about the struggles that come with it. The bible is filled with people who struggle, no more so than Paul throughout his life as he preached about Christ.
4. What was the deal with the music? Why when he began to speak about God did he have to have music playing? The only reason I can guess is that with music playing it appeals to people's emotions more. If others know why then I would appreciate hearing the reason behind it.
I suppose in all that I felt that they were trying to sugarcoat God. Make him seem so nice and loving. I agree God is a god of love, but not just that he is a God who hates sin, a God who if we do not turn to him will mean having eternal separation from him.
I felt that the night lacked the full gospel message and in the end that people seemed to lack confidence in the gospel message.
Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
