Worldly Youth Groups

They have their own unregulated world where adults have little or no
access. From Myspace to instant messaging to youth group "worship
gatherings". It's a movement cut off from the rest of the church.
Worship times led by a youth leader who embodies a worldly image and
style that many youth only wish they had the guts to flaunt in the
face of their parents. Led by a youth leader with a confidence and an
eloquence in speech that intimidates mild-mannered older folks from
even daring to imply that there seems to be a love of the world in the
outward appearance and affections of the leader.

This unfettered youth environment discourages the God ordained
structures of church authority and adult oversight where critical
discernment and good judgment could be utilized. These are the
unfettered youth programs in many churches, unrestrained and free from
the shackles of propriety and appropriateness. Anything goes styles of
worship and expression is common place. Who's to say it is not right?
Who's going to be the wet blanket and raise the red flag of
discernment when song or worship mirrors the world's self-gratifying
methods? Who will dare to say "your worship is worldly" or overly
feelings based? Where is the elder adult who has the spiritual
stability and maturity to understand the complicated web of proper
worship versus "anything goes" worship?

But what are we to expect when the church leadership props up a
dynamic pied-piper as a leader? Leaders who seem to overlook doctrinal
error so long as the kids show up. Their love of an eloquent tongue
seems greater than a love for biblical accuracy. Leaders who are so
desperate for numbers that they are willing to tolerate little
falsehoods. You know, the ones that are sympathetic towards, and flirt
with affections for ancient Roman Catholic mystical "disciplines" like
contemplative prayer or the catholic eucharist. Or ideas that compete
with the Great Commission like "the other half of the gospel" which is
to feed the poor and save the village or saving the environment. Ideas
like these are given equal status or even considered actually
spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

But who is going to speak up? Who is going to be the boy who tells the
emperor that he has no clothes on? Who will go against the king as
Micaiah did in 1 Kings 22? Or as Elijah?

How long will the older folks remain silent?

The youth in our evangelical churches are being groomed to become the
next generation of blind mice. Who will tell them that they should
submit themselves under Biblical church leadership? Biblical that is.
It surely won't be their youth leader. Not church leadership that is
ambiguous on the tough issues. You know, like telling a young person
that you should dress with decency when entering the doors of the
church out of a sense of reverence to God. Or like telling the young
person why they should never again wear the t-shirt that says "Jesus
is my homeboy". Or another one like how you as a young man with
earrings are feminine. Or how God did not create your body to be a
piercing pin-cushion, following in lock step fashion with the God
rejecting lost secular world.

Please, older folks, speak up. Your young are confused and misled! Has
this happened because YOU have remained silent for too long? They are
misguided by the world. They love the way the world looks, the way the
world sounds, what the world values. Take a close look. They are NOT
emulating you. They are copying the world. May God forgive our
silence. How long will you remain silent? Before it's too late?

-KCO