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