Culture of the Kingdom
Today’s Topic: Introduction: The Youth and The Current Church Culture
Scripture: Colossians 1:12,13; Ephesians 2:6,7
Greetings Kingdom Citizens
Now this is a passionate topic for me because I work with youth and I understand that they are having a hard time differentiating the true church and reality from what they are seeing today as church. Hence we have a litany of youth turning their back on the church. I stated a few of the problems that the church is having in the past messages. We also stated that because of a lack of identity and understanding it’s function in the earth, the church has adopted the earthly cultures of societies and tried to make itself relevant in their mission to save souls and this is another issue altogether that we will deal with in the upcoming message. But what are the youth seeing that is turning them away from the church. Let me state a few and this is from youth that I have spoken to:
1. The youth today understands that the church should be a place of refuge from the harsh realities of life. But what they have seen is the church looks no different from what they experience daily in their own lives
2. They see adultery in the leadership and gossiping amongst the members
3. They see homosexuality be promoted just because someone has a talent.
4. They see members act one way on Sunday then Monday through Friday they act just like satan.
5. They fear the stares and whispering they will receive about opening up and telling their story in the plea for help.
6. They see the corruption of money and the lack of stewardship with the church resources for personal gain
Now these are just a few issues but some of the most prominent issues. Many of the youth that we have today in the church fall into two categories. They are either children who were born into that church so their membership is “birthed” in that church. On the other hand they are children of members who have concentrated on music and culture to attract young people to the church. Now let’s deal with the first.
Youth that are inherently born into the church, if trained and raised properly in the Word of God usually are fine. However that depends upon the doctrine of the church and whether it is the doctrine established by God or of man. These children who grow in the Word and God shows them the Word and the truth behind what they see can be seen as almost rogues or enemies of the state and let me explain. They ask questions that need answers and they come against the institution in love and truth to try to explain why we should change. One example that I have encountered is the church has no business having Easter egg hunts or participating in them. Now I am seen as radical for that stance but the question is, “is it right to do so?” Well if Easter and its origin is pagan and false god worship then that should be the end of it for the church. But because it has become traditional and we do it for the children to have fun then we see nothing wrong. Then when the truth comes because we have accepted in our minds, not God’s mind, that it is ok and we see no harm then we become no better that the companies the commercialize it and further take away the significance of the truth which is we are to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Hence I call it Resurrection Day. But these children are seen as radical and out of step with the current church culture leading to them many times leaving their current place.
Second we have the youth that are members through worldly culture and music. I have said this before, Jesus did not need any music to draw anybody. Jesus did not need a gimmick to draw anybody. Jesus submitted body, soul and spirit to the Father and allowed the Father to live through Him. Now, when you draw youth in with music and social culture then you have to sustain them there with it and if you know the current culture, music changes consistently. Now if music changes that often, then what the church does is, they have to change to stay relevant to keep them. The church is now further moving away from Christ drawing to having to use music and culture to draw. What that shows is there is an atmosphere of entertainment in the church that needs to be changed. Now do not get me wrong, God has music that He loves, but He is the one that draws and it is the Word of God that pricks the persons heart. The only time that I have read about Jesus singing was when they went to the Mount of Olives where they were singing a hymn. So even with this Jesus was with His disciples and Jesus did not sing to the multitudes to draw them in. The devil used music and setting the atmosphere to influence the heavenly angels to rebel against God. In these last days the true sons of God will see this and turn away from these centers of entertainment because they know that there is nothing spiritually prosperous going on. We see the rise of Gospel competitions putting people against people and choirs against choirs. What is this mess? When did God want any type of competition? But even worse and I have to give the devil credit for this, he influences the gospel artists to head this thing up and judge people on their singing abilities. That means you have someone judging another on their heart and possibly tearing down their hope.
It is time for us to be serious about the Word of God and start ushering in the Kingdom culture. This is the culture that will stand when the world pass away. This is the culture that will stand when everything in the worldly systems are not working and the youth today is looking for the place of refuge and that culture which is the Kingdom of God.
At the Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun Jr.
