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DOING youth ministry is a big deal. Yes the pay check does not reflect the bigness of it, but the endless possibilities to transform student’s lives certainly does.
I am a youth ministry lifer. I am not sure what exactly this means, but at some capacity I ALWAYS want to be contributing to the field of youth ministry.
It is my dream and my passion to get youth ministers/pastors/directors/coordinators/leaders/and workers to intentionally and purposefully think theologically about EVERY element in their youth ministry.
I want to confront every youth pastor and every youth ministry with the question of:
Why are you doing the things you are doing? Tradition? Style? Assessment? Capability? Comfort? Easy? Education?
The 21 century youth ministry world needs morphing. The youth ministry world can use some more theological thinkers who are youth workers to help architect the way for youth ministry into the complexities of the 21st century post modern world.
Everything a youth pastor does, needs to be rethought. This idea of rethinking does not necessary mean get rid of. It suggests improving and remixing.
A youth pastor need to ask the questions of:
What are the students needs (both real and felt)?
Are our programs working?
Why are our missional focus? Overseas? Global? Local?
How are we evangelizing? Street preaching? Relationships? Altar calls?
What is working? What is not working?
Are we really connecting and understanding the world of our students?
Are we too programmed?
Are the students growing as a follower of Christ? Why or why not? And How?
It is imperative a youth pastor think theologically about the these element in their youth ministry:
* teaching
* programs
* ministry philosophy/values/strategies
* volunteers
* Sunday school
*Student assimilation
I strongly argue that we are in a different period of history that is longing for a different type of youth ministry. If a youth ministry has a three point sermon, pizza, and hyper programmed service, then I would ask some serious questions to the realities of their youth ministry.
I will be posting 6 (maybe more) entries discussing the hows and the whats to DOING youth ministry in the 21st century. You can be sure I will be discussing the ideas from: Chris Folmsbee, Chap Clark, Mike King, Tony Jones, Eddie Gibbs, Ryan Bolger, Mark Oestriecher, Mark Yaconelli, Tony Campolo, Kara Powell, Brian McLaren, Andrew Root, Doug Fields, and Duffy Robbins.
The Joker is a Nietzschean who lives in a immoral and chaotic and complicated world. The Joker is all about himself and his monstrous rebellion. He is very self-absorbed and very arrogant, and narcissistic. Although at times in the movie he does have the right to say he is quick, witty, and good at starting mayhem.
The Joker deeply believes in confronting the systems, namely the social, ethics, and morality systems. He feels that these systems only amount to nothing more than artificialness that only weak people operate under. He exists to expose the joke of our pseudo-systematic world.
Thus, the Joker’s goal is to kill, seek, and destroy the superficial ways of this world. Sound familar? The Joker is essentially an anarchist trying to expose that being civil, righteous, and moral is a joke.
The Joker: See, I’m a man of simple tastes. I like gunpowder…and dynamite…and gasoline! Do you know what all of these things have in common? They’re cheap!
Continuously, throughout the movie the Joker creates anarchy to reveal the evil that is just below the surface in our ordinary lives.
The Joker also is manipulative and forceful. He makes people make impossible choices where they either become barbarians like himself or face defeat or death. He is usually (but not quite always) proven right.
Eventually and ultimately good overcomes evil.
So the ultimate question that is underlaying in this film is: Do we live in an anarchistic, immoral, dog-eat-dog world, or do we live in a world where goodness exists and ultimately triumphs?
Unfortunately the ultimate joke is on the Joker. suggests that the ultimate joke is on the Joker. The Joker is showing truth, but he is using evil to show it. Batman is for the ultimate good, which means he uses the ultimate good to make Gotham just.
Lastly, it looks like the Joker has some father wounds.
The Joker: [looks directly at Dinner Guest] You know, you remind of my father.
[takes a knife to dinner guest's neck]
The Joker: … I hated my father!
Batman is the hero of the story. He is the lean-fighting machine. I love the Batman clearly states: “I am the Batman.” It is kind of like the Exodus passage when Yahweh states: I am, who I say I am. Without Batman, Gotham City is living in despair. Batman in DARK KNIGHTS illustrates three theological points.
First, Batman is all about justice. God is the God of justice. We forget that God is just and that Christ paid the penalty for our sins while destroying the evil ways of this world. Because of this we no longer have to earn our way into heaven. Batman bring justice to Gotham by going out of his way to make things right, even when the city thinks he is wrong. The people of Gotham attempt to make Gotham right, but they cannot possibly do the job Batman does. Batman is determine to fight for the greater cause even if he is viewed negatively. I love the scene where Lt. James Gordon states to Batman: “We’ll have to hunt you.” Batman states: “You’ll hunt me. You’ll condemn me, you’ll set the dogs on me. But that’s what has to happen.” YES!! Exactly. The world and their powers will hunt Him or maybe even kill Him, but that is what needs to be done. Batman and Jesus have to fight for what is right to make a justice and fair world!
Batman: Why do you want to kill me?
The Joker: (laughs) Kill you? I don’t want to kill you! What would I do without you? Go back to ripping off mob dealers? No, no, you… you complete me.
Second, Batman is the only hope for Gotham. Having hope in Batman eliminates fear and despair. Batman is dark, but he is a light to Gotham. Think about the implications associated with the Batman spot light that appears in the night time sky. I admire how dedicated Batman is to protecting the people. We as followers of Christ know He is coming back, but we are not sure about the details. We live in view of hope because we know one day we will be rescued from the evil corruptions of this world. The people of Gotham can go to bed at night, feeling a sense of peace that their rescuer will come when chaos comes.
NIV Titus 2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope– the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
ESV 1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
Thirdly, no one can be THE BATMAN. No one else can be Jesus, unless you are Mormon. Jesus not only claimed to be the Son of God, but is pursuing each one of us, intensively. There are fakes out there or wanna bes, but nobody can bring the goods like Jesus did. How funny was it to see the fake Batmans?
[Batman has just fought off Scarecrow and a group of Batman wannabes]
Batman: Don’t let me find you out here again.
Brian: We’re trying to help you!
Batman: I don’t need help.
Brian: What gives you the right? What’s the difference between you and me?
[Batman lowers himself into the Batmobile]
Batman: I’m not wearing hockey pads!
Tonight I am giving my students the standard spiritual gift test. I am realizing that many of my students do not have a clue what their spiritual gifts are, so hopefully tonight will be a great spiritual identity discovery. I am also giving them a Enneagram test, which will give them a brief understanding of their personality.
As I was preparing for the lesson, I decided to take the spiritual gift test and I discovered that I am a ENCOURAGER.
I love the classic Christian phrase: Brother or Sister, today, I just want to encourage and bless you. I dislike using the word encourage because it seems like every Christian and their mom, including their dog, uses the word encourage.
In lieu of my spiritual test results, I am going to encourage my sisters and brothers IN CHRIST IN THE BLOG world.
Dana Ward – You are a beautiful writer and you need to write more blog entries.
Jenni Brown – Seriously you need to be the new Dr. Phil. Your relational insight is out of this world.
Lance Ahl – Keep rocking the free world. Thanks for your insights, reflections, and contemplations about the church and what your church is doing.
Adam Walker – Thanks for being my influencer. You are so po-mo.
Drew Girton – The blog world needs more posts from you. Do you think the lack of your blog posts is symbolic of your spiritual growth?
Wes Daniels – You are simply keeping it real at Fuller. Gathering in the light is a light to all of us. Thanks for your dedication to scholarship and the church.
Refined in Fire – I appreciate your realness and rawness of the blog world. I love your entries and your weight loss updates.
A New Kind of Youth Ministry – It is always a delight hearing the new updates in your life and what youthfront is up to.
Rethinking Youth Ministry – I seriously need to write you a commission check. I have jacked a lot of your material. It is also really cool to partner with you in RETHINKING YM because I think we are smoking the same thing.
Life in Student Ministry – Thanks! You provide a simple and easy blog that any youth minister can visit and can deeply glean from.
Mike King – I appreciate your passion to take youth ministry back to it’s roots. I loved your book and I love youthfront philosophy: “We strive to be creative youth workers who engage in theology, ministry, formation, practice, relationships, service and life with a prophetic imagination that cooperates fully with the Mission of God.”
Matt Cleaver – I like thinking and processing with you about youth ministry. You are a thinker.
Dr. Headly – You are just legit. No other words to describe you. Simply cool and real.
Thoughts of a Student Pastor – First of all your blog design is sick. I also love reading, recaping, and reflecting through your blog entries. And I like how you call yourself a student pastor, not a youth pastor.
Mike Collins – Probably one of the funniest jr high youth pastors out there. Every time I jump on your blog I get motived to be the crazy and wild student pastor.
Passionately Pensive – Alaina is creative and very articulate. Make sure to read her blog daily, she will get your thinking and reflecting like no other.
Brian L – I think I am starting to like you. Your blog only makes me furious about 25% of the time.
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Philippians 4.23
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. II Peter 1:2,3
Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Amen and Amen. Psalms 89:52
Like everyone else this past weekend, I saw Batman The Dark Knight.
Simply amazing! Wow. Heath Ledger needs to get an Oscar! Two thumbs up.
Batman was deeply loaded with theological content everywhere. I decided to blog about my theological interpretations of THE BATMAN. Weird? I know.
The three part BATMAN theological reflection goes something like this:
Part 1// BATMAN as The Atoner of Gotham.
Part 2// BATMAN as the Blessed Hope.
Part 3// The Joker as Lucifer.
THE BATMAN AS THE ATONER OF GOTHAM.
Atonement means an amends. Someone is repairing what is wrong and making it right. Batman is exactly this in Gotham City. I am arguing that Batman best depicts the theological atonement theory of Christus Victor and that Harvey Dent best illustrates the Penal Substitution theory. In order to understand how the atonement theories operate in Gotham City, one must see Gotham City as our Earth/Humanity, Batman as the victorious Jesus, Harvey Dent as the Legal Jesus, and the Joker as Satan.
In the land of theology, Jesus is the One who fixed earth and humanity. He brought the world back in balance. Jesus destroyed the evil ways of this world (Heb 2.14, 1 Jn 3.8), reconciled all things, including humans, to Himself (2 Cor 5.18-19; Col 1.20-22); died as our substitute, bore our sin and guilt, was punished by the Father in our place (Is 53.4-5, 10, Rom 3.23-25, 2 Cor 5.21, Heb 2.17, 9.26, 1 Jn 2.2) forgave us of our sins (Acts 13.38; Eph 1.7); healed us from our sin-diseased nature (1 Peter 2.24); poured his Spirit on us and empowered us to live in relation to Himself (Roman 8.2-16); and gave us an example to follow (Eph 5.1-2; 1 Pet 2.21). This is why Calvary is so central to Christianity. Calvary communicated redemption, sacrifice, salvation, comfort, hope, and victory through Christ and the cross. The act on the cross is the reconstruction of the world’s corruption.
Batman and Dent are trying to reconstruct Gotham’s corruption.
In the land of Gotham city, Batman is the serving justice. Batman is in conflict with his arch-nemesis the Joker and with his awkward relationship with district attorney Harvey Dent. Dent is the awesome attorney who sentences the criminals of Gotham. Since Dent is so good at closing court cases, Batman believes his time is done. Batman is convinced that he can delegate his atonement duties to Harvey Dent. Although Dent cannot handle the warfare of the Joker and his entourage. It is too intense, forceful, and stragetic.
Batman is the hero of Gotham. Batman is overcoming evil by doing good. Batman is resisting the ways of the Joker. The Joker does not care about the money, but ONLY cares about sending a message. The Joker is full of lies and diversion. Batman knows that the Joker has entered Gotham and he needs to find him and destroy him. Everything Batman is about is for one purpose: Establishing a peaceful and democratic reign in Gotham city by destroying the regime of the Joker.
In my opionon, I rather see the Batman be the victor. Why? Because Batman is so deeply in love with Gotham, which motivates him to enter into a deep and violent battle with the Joker. Batman wants justice! Dent wants fairness. To me, the Christus victor model is indebted with an outrageious act of love in entering into complete soldiartiy with fallen, cursed, oppressed humanity (Gotham city). The victor model aims at entering into real warfare activity against the powers of this fallen and suppressed world. The victor model views Batman in the warfare role rather than in a legal role. The warfare model calls for action. I think that is why Dent cannot handle the intense responsibility and warfare activity that Batman can handle. Dent is not use to the hands on type of action. Dent can handle the legality issues of Gotham really well (as we saw), but cannot handle the fighting and destroying the villians.
In conclusion, I saw Dent’s atonement role more as the legal role and I saw The BATMAN’s atonement role more as the victor/fighter role. To be honest, I like the Christus victor atonement role a lot more because it motivates us to take a serious part in destroying the evils and wrong ways of the world and to resist the powers and to imitate Christ. Yes it is essential to reflect on what Christ did for us, but it is just as essential to reflect what Christ is doing in us and through us.
The problem with the Christus victor model means that we as followers need to get our hands dirty and actually part take in fighting for the Kingdom. The Victor model encourages us to move in participation while the Penal model encourages us to spew out information and talk about what has already been done, not what Christ is doing.
So last night I invited an old student of mine, who is now a national street preacher, to come preach at my youth group. Go figure that one?
To be honest I was a bit unsure how the kids would respond and very skeptical of this type of approach. But I was open to what God could do through this street preacher. In addition, I have never really given my youth group a strong REPENT message.
Needless to say, the street preacher was a hit. They HEARD the true gospel and 70% liked it and the other 30% did not like it. Last night reinforced I am not an evangelist, but a discipler and shepard.
I can honestly say (and I cannot believe I am saying this) that I saw a value in what the street preacher did.
The beautiful thing is that God moved even though the street preacher and I do not share the same theology or philosophy of ministry. Is not that funny? It was not about being right or wrong, it was about how God moved in and through the students.
I was convicted last night that I have become complacent and comfortable as a youth pastor. I have turned into your classic CHURCH youth pastor and I do not like it because I am not your typical CHURCH youth pastor. I have been doing ministry on auto-pilot and that bothers me. I have been in my comfortable church bubble only hanging with church folk.
Over this past year I have been so committed to making THE POINT, that I somehow MISSED THE POINT. So bull horn guy keep blowing your blow horn BUT do it with some humility, discernment, and without anger.
Street preachers are for NOT for everyone. Some need that black and white message and that is why I see the value in what street preachers do. The church needs evangelist, disciplers, apostles, teachers, and pastors just like the corporate world needs business people, engineers, philosophers, architects, lawyers, and consultants.
I am amazed at how we can hold on to something so tight because we think we are right, UNTIL God breaks us. This makes us feel so uncomfortable, which makes us run to Him, faster than ever.
Was last night really about the street preacher’s theology and methodology?
Probably not.
I am in the business of TRYING to understand and relate to why students are the way they are. Every fiber of my being (partnered with the HS, of course) wants to convey the message of Calvary and the Kingdom of God in a way that connects, lands, and hits home.
I am a firm believer that existentialism (endorsed by Soren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Dostoevsky, Heidegger, and Jaspers) has greatly invaded and persuaded the 21st century student culture. Existentialism is the answer to why students are the way they are and how they live their life.
As Walter Kaufman puts it:
Existentialism is the refusal to belong to any school of thought, the repudiation of the adequacy of any body of beliefs whatever, and especially of systems and a marked dissatisfaction with traditional philosophies and theologies as superficial, academic, and remote from life.
Existentialism is influencing our students, which is a BIT problematic. Students are essentially gaining meaning from their experiences. Students have to experience it for themselves before they realize what is wrong or right. I will get drunk and not accept Jesus, until something bad happens. Right now, I am cool and there is no immediate need to change or accept Jesus. My life is just fine as it is.
In my perspective here are some of the many problems pressing students within an existential culture:
Students are…..more depressed than ever. Seriously who is not on PROZAC? We live in a world where those who have the highest percentage of human wealth have the highest concentration of people medicated for depression. Depression is unmet expectations. Things going on in your mind are not matching up to how you are living and feeling.
Students are…..Anti-Religious. I like Jesus, but I do not like the church. If religion can lead to God, than religion can lead people away from God. Religion means rules. If you are religious you are living according to a Holy and Sacred system.
Students are…..becoming more pluralistic and relativistic. Jesus is not the only way. Yes He is my way, but He cannot possibly be the way, truth, and the life for the people in India. Some students think that whatever god you find, is your truth. Some students have a hard time accepting that Jesus is the only way because that communicates a very egocentric and exclusive mentality.
Students have a deep sense of choice. Think about how many choices we have. America is the land of freedom. Choices are fine, but if given too many there is a higher risk one may not make the RIGHT decision. Because students have their own autonomy this implies their purpose is created from their experiences. If choosing to smoke Marijuana is not harming me, than it does not matter if it is illegal. Remember existentialism revolts against any system of government, rules, or policies. It becomes all about your propagative, your agenda, and your experience.
The challenge for youth pastors is not to reject the ideas of Existentialism but accept them. The notions of Existentialism are in the DNA of the students. It is imperative for the youth pastor to translate and remix and creatively interact with the Existential themes by pointing them towards the cross.
Does this mean we compromise the teachings of Jesus’?
No, not one bit.
You communicate how Jesus can intersect their experiences. You convey that the teachings of Jesus are the best way to live.
The question is can you trust the teachings of Jesus?
I rather the students experience every RELIGION and determine what RELIGION offers the best and holistic life. The problem is that Christianity is the ONLY religion that has a God pursuing you.
The goal of spirituality is not to extract from you all desire and passion. The call of Jesus is the exact opposite—delight in him and he will give you the desires of your heart.
I think we as youth pastors not be afraid of the existential rhetoric. We do not need to got all defensive and upset about it. We do not need to have a 5 week teaching series degrading and arguing against it. We accept it and offer a Jesus that essentially wrecks their existential world view.
This is all I am going to say……
I am super stoked. I am a huge superhero fan.
Some of the pastors here at the Church by the Sea have the opportunity to write a little (170 words) editorial column in the local newspaper, The Independent.
As a youth pastor, I try to make my editorial article youth/family ministry related.
I have realized that something so little as to writing 170 words in a local newspaper, has such a big influence in the community, especially the parents who are not followers of Christ. If you will, I consider this editorial article as my EVANGELISM TRACT.
Here is what I just sumbitted for next week’s paper:
Family Time In Laguna
Many of the vacationers during the summer in Laguna Beach are families with their kids who are spending quality time and doing things together and (hopefully) enjoying one another’s company. Social scientist John DeFrain asked 1,500 kids, “What do you think makes a family happy?” Their most frequent answer: Doing things together.
As a youth worker, I can attest that kids not only value time together, but need to know they are valued and loved.
So how does a parent express their value and love towards their children?
This is a hard question that does not have a simple answer. Parents can give time, energy, efforts, and commitments all while being consistent in expressing love for their children.
Here are 5 ways parents can show their love to their kids:
1. Take them on a date once a month and let them choose the activity.
2. Write something encouraging on a Post-it-note and stick it on their room door.
3. Spend an hour watching their favorite TV show together.
4. Find something about your child’s appearance to compliment.
5. Just say it. Say I love and value you!
Safety first.
How many times have we (as the youth pastor) had to wait for the parent who forgot their liability and legal church form? Oh yes, the tedious liability and legal church forms.
Tedious, but essential.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where people are “sue” happy. And to make it worst a few of my students parents are defense lawyers who could sue my butt if their son/daughter gets hurt. Darn right, I am going to make sure every student who attends an event has the liability form signed!
As youth pastors, how much value should we put on safety? Should safety trump the possible God moment? How much weight and consideration should we give safety?
When I am talking about youth ministry safety, I am not talking about packing 7 kids in a Honda Civic listening to worship songs or any stupid thing the youth pastor will do in order to gain the students approval or acceptance. I am talking about seriously reviewing all of the safety concerns for every youth ministry trip and activity.
For example, next week our high school ministry is scheduled to assist with an orphanage in El Zorillo, Mexico (about 19 miles south of Ensenada on the Transpeninsular Highway). Over the last few months the local news channels reported a few kidnappings in Tijuana, Mexico. Some belief Mexico is unsafe. But seriously it seems like anywhere could be unsafe. Over the past 4 months in Laguna Beach, there have been 8 shootings.
The orphanage and the city we are going to is safe. We are going with an older couple in the church who owns the orphanage and has done this trip many many times. Some of the student’s parents have voiced concern and are a bit worried. Although some of the parents think we should go for it and believe it will be a transformative experience for their son and daughter. My entire church senior leadership thinks we should go for it and has given me the full authority to make the executive decision.
The problem is I am a risk taker. If there is a rule, I am going to break it.
I am always trying to arrange activities that will get these isolated Laguna kids not only uncomfortable, but to realize their life is not so hard.
Any youth event/activity/trip is always under the watch of the youth pastor. Seriously, we could think through all of the “what ifs” when planning a youth trip.
Safety needs to be a priority, but should it be THE priority? Should we as youth pastor allow the fears and anxieties of some parents determine what activities we do?
God is our protection and shield, right? Faith means walking into the unseen and some times that unseen is unpredictable.
I say we pray ask that God send His angels of protection and go for it and watch Him move during our missions trip.
Any ya’ll youth pastors feeling my pain?
My pride is telling me: Jeremy, do you really want to be remembered as the youth pastor who played it safe? Or do you want to be remembered as the youth pastor who made it happen and went big and took a risk?
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