I spoke to a group of teens at Midland Ministries’
SuperC Camp in Polo Missouri a week ago; wrapped up on Saturday, drove to
Ogallala, Nebraska to spend the night, and Sunday spent the day at the Sterling
(Colorado) Correctional Facility – the states largest prison (actually
containing three prisons at one location; minimum, medium, maximum)
The next day I began a week with teens at Camp Machasay,
Colorado as speaker.
I’m home for a couple weeks, then off to Western Kansas
for two consecutive teen weeks; then a week off then off to Pennsylvania for my
annual “Korean Kamp.”
The difference I see in teens this summer season – they are
scared.
They notice the terrorist attacks (and most of them call
them Islamic terror attacks though
our “leaders” in D.C. won’t). They observe – even if they don’t want to – the political
idiocy. Most of them discern the growing, overt distrust, disgust, and even
hatred of “Christians” (though most of the antagonists could not define one).
And they wonder about their future…short term and long
term.
They have every right to be worried. Parents, pastors,
and youth leaders have no right to
tell them “don’t worry.”
Granted, we can tell them God is in control. We can
share verses like Proverbs 16.4, “The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.”
We should encourage them to join the psalmist, (Ps
73.28) “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my
refuge that I may tell of all Your works.”
Don’t ignore the last phrase – “…that I may tell of all Your works.”
Yes, the situation is dark.
Yes, our Pledge of
Allegiance should be edited – “…with liberty and justice for all – except evangelical
Christians.”
Yes, anyone with a functioning brain is waiting for the next big
terrorist strike within our nation.
But the light always shines the brightest against a dark
background. Our teens (and us!) must be equipped to share the gospel
intentionally, intelligently, and naturally.
They (and we) need to see
evangelism as obedience in action;
and as a lifestyle as opposed to a “knocking on doors,” “mission tripping to
the beach,” sporadic event.
They (and we) need to understand that as redeemed
people life is a missions trip.
As we see 2 Timothy 3.1-5 in a growing light, we focus
on the Light, and ask Him to use us….and use these teens…to go against
the flow, to stand when others cave, to speak when others are silent.
Easy? Of course not.
Where is it written that following
Christ in obedience is “easy.” (though it is too often ‘preached’) Where is it
written that it is about comfort, wealth, and health? It isn’t (except in books
that should be labeled “fantasy fiction")
So, parents, pastors, youth leaders – don’t lie to the
teens, regardless of your motive. It will get tougher. We’ve no idea how
tough, though we could ask our brothers and sisters in places like Afghanistan,
North Korean, Russia, China etc.
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