Welcome to Reforming Students — a website designed for those dedicated to God-centered student ministry in the local church. My intentions for this blog are fivefold:
1. To think out loud about issues and ideas that have been bouncing around in my head for a while and use you as a sounding board;
2. To challenge you, the reader, to consider my arguments and offer further insight, disagreement, and/or different conclusions;
3. To diagnose a problem and find solutions;
4. To provide student ministry resources that are God-centered and useful for ministry; and
5. To generate open dialogue that will be an instigator of reform in the student ministries of local churches.
With that stated, I think it would be misleading if I did not first indicate that my thoughts are based on a belief that there is a major error that has crept into the American church by way of student ministry. And it doesn’t just affect the lives of teenagers. It affects the entire body of Christ. Let me state my point clearly and plainly, and then I’ll outline it in more detail as this analysis unfolds in the posts to come:
Entertainment, easy-believeism, anti-intellectualism, and low expectations have all combined to infect student ministry. The result has been an over-emphasis on moralism and self-esteem, and an under-emphasis on the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. In an attempt to keep the attention of teenagers raised by television and video games, the methods of student ministry that have emerged, contextualize in all the wrong areas. The foundational truths of Scripture and the emphasis on spiritual disciplines have been largely abandoned for the same simple, self-help, pragmatic approach that is the plague of the seeker-sensitive movement – except it has been supercharged with more energy, louder music, and excessive games. Students are not being taught and encouraged to love Jesus and cherish the cross as their ultimate treasure, but have been shown that a self-centered, hedonistic mindset is not only permissible, but actually what the Church is trying to replicate. This is a crisis.
That is my basic thesis – the results are deadly. In the days to come, I will unwrap this package more. I look forward to the interest in stirs and the comments it generates. The body of Christ must do better. I hope to be a catalyst of change and challenge.
Any thoughts?
Filed under: Ecclesiology, Ministry, Opinion, Students, Trends
Bring on the conversation.
By the way, I’ll be operating based on the biblical example that childhood is ages birth-12, young adulthood is ages 12-30, and mature adulthood is ages 30 and beyond.
I see no biblical warrant for “adolescence.”
Thanks for putting this discussion together.
Brother,
Amen!!
Eric: I think you and I have talked about the ages thing before — is that a David A. Black thing?
Aussie John: Thanks for coming by! Great to have you here. I look forward to having you join the conversation, and I love the name! When I was in the military I served on a deployment with an Aussie and really enjoyed him a lot.
Nick-
I came over by way of Eric’s blog and am intrigued by your thesis. What you stated is so true. I think that “youth ministry” has been tainted by the self-centered, self-help industry. Today’s culture has endorsed narcissism as a way of life, and the church has fallen into the same trap.
Keep writing. I’m looking forward to hearing more.
Kat
I just wanted to say I like the blog Nick.
Nick,
Yes, it comes from “The Myth of Adolescence.”
Nick, brother … you and I both know that cherishing the cross as our ultimate treasure is the most hedonistic mindset to persue! Now, how to replace empty cisterns with fountains of living waters? Prayer and solid biblical teaching.
Like a student without a school, as you continue challenging me through biblical, God-centered, and Christ-exalting thoughts, I’ll stay where the rivers of truth nourish my deepest longings.
Thank you for your ministry.
Nick,
I’m looking forward to your thoughts on reforming this type of ministry. I personally struggle with the fact if it is even necessary to have a “youth ministry”. Maybe because the ones I’ve experienced in various churches have had the same approach that we all agree does not work. I think you can still have the fellowship outings that are common in most youth groups(ski trips,bowling,putt-putt,service projects,etc) while keeping discipleship family oriented. How do we go about implementing a balanced plan? I don’t exactly know. That’s why I’m looking forward to your future posts on this blog.
@Kat: Great point — “Today’s culture has endorsed narcissism as a way of life, and the church has fallen into the same trap.” I hope to always be moving toward a God-centered view that includes more of Christ and less of me.
@Jessica: Thanks!
@Eric: I know your ways man!
@Bobby: Brother, you are too kind. You are welcome, and thank you for your friendship and encouragement.
@Dax: I have struggled in similar ways with similar thoughts — do we really need “youth/student ministry”? I have spent a lot of time weighing the pros/cons and am convinced that it is a good and right pursuit within the church, but I take a much more integrated approach than most. This is something that I will be unpacking in great detail in the posts to come. Simple premise is that if we do not integrate on some level, the student ministry becomes a replacement of the family, not a supplement — this cannot be. I’m glad you’re checking in on this blog — I look forward to more conversation on this topic.
Nick… I just wanted to say that I have throughly enjoyed your blogs. Keep up the good work
You are truly gifted by God.
Your Sister in Christ,
Jessica