Is Modern Youth Ministry Contrary to Scripture?

[Orthodoxy]

There is a controversial new documentary produced by the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches (www.ncfic.org) claiming that modern youth ministry is contrary to Scripture. The NCFIC is making the entire movie available to watch online for free during the month of August.

From the film description:

There is a crisis. Christian youth are rapidly leaving evangelical churches for the world. This well-recognized disaster has been the topic of significant discussion in recent years for both church leaders and modern new media. DIVIDED follows young Christian filmmaker Philip Leclerc on a revealing journey as he seeks answers to what has led his generation away from the church. Traveling across the country conducting research and interviewing church kids, youth ministry experts, evangelists, statisticians, social commentators, and pastors, Philip discovers the shockingly sinister roots of modern, age-segregated church programs, and the equally shocking evidence that the pattern in the Bible for training future generations is at odds with modern church practices. He also discovers a growing number of churches that are abandoning age-segregated Sunday school and youth ministry to embrace the discipleship model that God prescribes in His Word.


I've watched it twice, and the photography and technical aspects of the film are excellent. The message is thought-provoking and challenging. However, the film is extremely controversial. In fact, Tim Challies posted a review (http://www.challies.com/dvd-reviews/divided-the-movie) on his blog that generated a large amount of interest in the evangelical world.

Here is the free video (www.dividedthemovie.com/98711-2) (55 minutes). [They require your email address to watch the movie.]

What are your thoughts?

[Timmy]

Movies are contrary to scripture.

j/k :lol

[scotty]

Possibly so in some circumstances, I guess.

As for me, not buying it. I couldn't be more thankful for our youth ministry. They have their own services on Wenesday nights and one Sunday night a month they lead the service in the main church.

My two daughters recieved the Holy Ghost and were baptized in Jan this year, the influence the youth ministry has had on them is phenominal. They have their own bible studys on Monday nights, game night every Friday night and are constantly arranging meetings almost daily at the local Starbucks or Lemon Tree just to meet up and fellowship. Our youth group (about 26 teens) are a close knit family and it all revolves around the body of Christ. The change they have made in my daughters life I can never be thankful enough for.

[acerrak]

i remember a preacher one time preached against sunday school, he said its not biblical so we shouldnt do it...


the fact is sunday school, youth ministries teens and up, play a important role in the our life.

he does make good points.

The fathers discipling their kids, i have been neglected my duties in that as well

[*AQuietPlace*]

In fact, Tim Challies posted a review (http://www.challies.com/dvd-reviews/divided-the-movie) on his blog

I agree with Tim Challies review 100%.

I leaned toward this mindset (FIC) for several years. It didn't turn out favorable results for us. I am now strongly in the other camp.

[TJJJ]

We have been looking at this view for a while, don't really agree with the principle of the segregated SS. or youth.

Interesting.

[TrmptPraise]

Forgive me as I have not yet reviewed the video. What I see trending in many youth "produced" worship services is an emphasis on the music, the beat, the rhythm, and for lack of a better phrase, "the show." The effort sometimes loses it's focus in whom we are worshiping. I am not saying that the effort is not sincere or impractical for reaching a certain generation, but when the meaning of the lyrics, the purpose of praise and worship is lost in the emotions generated by the music or its production, it troubles me.

[houston]

hmm

[Cindy]

Could it be that we are not teaching our children at home?

6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

8And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. Deuteronomy 6:6-8

[Godsdrummer]

Possibly so in some circumstances, I guess.

As for me, not buying it. I couldn't be more thankful for our youth ministry. They have their own services on Wenesday nights and one Sunday night a month they lead the service in the main church.

My two daughters recieved the Holy Ghost and were baptized in Jan this year, the influence the youth ministry has had on them is phenominal. They have their own bible studys on Monday nights, game night every Friday night and are constantly arranging meetings almost daily at the local Starbucks or Lemon Tree just to meet up and fellowship. Our youth group (about 26 teens) are a close knit family and it all revolves around the body of Christ. The change they have made in my daughters life I can never be thankful enough for.

Scotty
please don't take this personal, but when I have seen young people cause problems in the home it has been my experiance that there are home problems, not saying this is the case in your home. Just the fact that the "youth program" changed your children is cause for reflection. I ask this simple question, what did their youth leader do that you did not do to cause them to dedicate to God?

Forgive me as I have not yet reviewed the video. What I see trending in many youth "produced" worship services is an emphasis on the music, the beat, the rhythm, and for lack of a better phrase, "the show." The effort sometimes loses it's focus in whom we are worshiping. I am not saying that the effort is not sincere or impractical for reaching a certain generation, but when the meaning of the lyrics, the purpose of praise and worship is lost in the emotions generated by the music or its production, it troubles me.

On the other hand what do you mean by "youth produce" worship services? Sounds to me you are like Micheal when David dance into Jerusalem because the ark of God was brought back. If the effort is sincere, then the meaning of the lyrics must be right. Else it would not be praise, don't get on the emotions generated by the music soap box. As I have been in more Pentecostal services that were all emotion generated by the man behind the pulpit (worship leader) pushing or cheer leading than Carter has liver pill. And then we wonder why our youth like loud music?

In the eyes of God it is praise if it comes from the heart.

[scotty]

Scotty
please don't take this personal, but when I have seen young people cause problems in the home it has been my experiance that there are home problems, not saying this is the case in your home. Just the fact that the "youth program" changed your children is cause for reflection. I ask this simple question, what did their youth leader do that you did not do to cause them to dedicate to God?


Youth services address the issues of youth today. Niether me nor you can do that. We post articles and news reports of the things the youth do today and just shake our heads. My 8th grader come home yesterday talking about how all the kids (6th and 7th graders) on the bus do is cuss and yell profanities. Our youth grow up in this enviornment, yes its different at home, we keep a Godly home and a Godly example. But when our children spend 9 hours a day in a very ungodly environment then yes, I thank God they have the chance to spend time around other youth who offer a Godly example. It is a given we should help one another in fellowship, hold one other accountable. While the teaching in the church is good for all, a youth group service allows for a youth pastor to teach and address issues the youth face today.

We can put our children (5 - 10yrs old) in the tabernacle where, as my 11yr old daughter siad, "I dont understand some of the words he is saying" or we can offer an avenue for them to learn about God on their level of understanding. It is the same with our youth, especially the babes in Christ, we should offer an avenue for them to learn and grow in their level of understanding.

[RandyWayne]

It's funny because growing up in the church as a teen during the 80's we were segregated when I didn't want to be -and put back with the adults when I felt we should not have been.

Example.
We had downstairs Sunday school through our entire senior year of high school. But then during the normal Saturday night youth services EVERYONE was invited because after all, "We're all young at heart", to which you would hear some happy sighs and chuckles from the congregation.

[Godsdrummer]

Youth services address the issues of youth today. Niether me nor you can do that. We post articles and news reports of the things the youth do today and just shake our heads. My 8th grader come home yesterday talking about how all the kids (6th and 7th graders) on the bus do is cuss and yell profanities. Our youth grow up in this enviornment, yes its different at home, we keep a Godly home and a Godly example. But when our children spend 9 hours a day in a very ungodly environment then yes, I thank God they have the chance to spend time around other youth who offer a Godly example. It is a given we should help one another in fellowship, hold one other accountable. While the teaching in the church is good for all, a youth group service allows for a youth pastor to teach and address issues the youth face today.

We can put our children (5 - 10yrs old) in the tabernacle where, as my 11yr old daughter siad, "I dont understand some of the words he is saying" or we can offer an avenue for them to learn about God on their level of understanding. It is the same with our youth, especially the babes in Christ, we should offer an avenue for them to learn and grow in their level of understanding.

I am sorry but you are cutting yourself short if you think you do not have the ability to address the issues of your own children. You are commanded by God's word to teach your own children. And by the way the word "teach" in the verse I am refering to means "to touch the pallete". In other words by example!!!

Why do we think that only those we are told have the ability can get through to the teens of today.

Trust me when I say I am not knocking the youth ministries in churches. They are good, but when we give them responsibilty God gave to us as parents then we are sinning. I realize there are many pro's and con's about this but to many our churches have become a community within a community where we segregate ourselves from the world and expect the world to come to us to get saved. When we were commanded by Jesus to "go", and "we are in the world but not of the world".

Trust me again when I say I know the affect a good youth leader can have on young people, back in the day my wife and I's ministry was with the youth. Manys the time we have youth at our house needing encouragement and advice, we had a very strong youth department that was very active and involved.

But again the bottom line is if your children do not gain a love and relationship with God, God will not hold the pastor or the youth pastor responsible but he will hold you responsible.

Again I am not making these statements in a derougatory maner at you but using your post to spring board to all others.

[Godsdrummer]

It's funny because growing up in the church as a teen during the 80's we were segregated when I didn't want to be -and put back with the adults when I felt we should not have been.

Example.
We had downstairs Sunday school through our entire senior year of high school. But then during the normal Saturday night youth services EVERYONE was invited because after all, "We're all young at heart", to which you would hear some happy sighs and chuckles from the congregation.

Sounds like you church was like ours, but our youth services were on Thursday night. To top that off my pastor preached you needed to be in church every time the church doors opened, "forsake not the assembling" so yes we had most everyone there too.

[shag]

Youth services address the issues of youth today. Niether me nor you can do that. We post articles and news reports of the things the youth do today and just shake our heads. My 8th grader come home yesterday talking about how all the kids (6th and 7th graders) on the bus do is cuss and yell profanities. Our youth grow up in this enviornment, yes its different at home, we keep a Godly home and a Godly example. But when our children spend 9 hours a day in a very ungodly environment then yes, I thank God they have the chance to spend time around other youth who offer a Godly example. It is a given we should help one another in fellowship, hold one other accountable. While the teaching in the church is good for all, a youth group service allows for a youth pastor to teach and address issues the youth face today.

We can put our children (5 - 10yrs old) in the tabernacle where, as my 11yr old daughter siad, "I dont understand some of the words he is saying" or we can offer an avenue for them to learn about God on their level of understanding. It is the same with our youth, especially the babes in Christ, we should offer an avenue for them to learn and grow in their level of understanding.



Which is one of the biggest reasons we chose to homeschool, (with a Christian based curriculum). After school is out, our kids often spend a couple hours playing with all the neighbor kids. Weve been pretty blessed as of late, 2-3 new neighbors moved in with families having 3-4 children and all are Christian families, makes for good clean fun time for the kids.
(Theyre involved with other christian homeschoolers, sports, biblequizzing ...)

As far as church sunday school & youth ministry, Im not real impressed(for many reasons I dont have time to list) tho we still take them. I have a few issues with what they put in the kids heads, but I still think the good outweighs the bad, so we still take them. I consider it our job to train the kids, and hopefully they also get some good from sunday school school and youth ministry/events.

.02




The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. :thumbsup

[scotty]

I am sorry but you are cutting yourself short if you think you do not have the ability to address the issues of your own children. You are commanded by God's word to teach your own children. And by the way the word "teach" in the verse I am refering to means "to touch the pallete". In other words by example!!!

Why do we think that only those we are told have the ability can get through to the teens of today.

Trust me when I say I am not knocking the youth ministries in churches. They are good, but when we give them responsibilty God gave to us as parents then we are sinning. I realize there are many pro's and con's about this but to many our churches have become a community within a community where we segregate ourselves from the world and expect the world to come to us to get saved. When we were commanded by Jesus to "go", and "we are in the world but not of the world".

Trust me again when I say I know the affect a good youth leader can have on young people, back in the day my wife and I's ministry was with the youth. Manys the time we have youth at our house needing encouragement and advice, we had a very strong youth department that was very active and involved.

But again the bottom line is if your children do not gain a love and relationship with God, God will not hold the pastor or the youth pastor responsible but he will hold you responsible.

Again I am not making these statements in a derougatory maner at you but using your post to spring board to all others.

Glad to hear, because your definately reading more into my post than is there.

Appreciate your responses though. :thumbsup

[Godsdrummer]

Glad to hear, because your definately reading more into my post than is there.

Appreciate your responses though. :thumbsup

Lol

Ya I know happens to me alot It seems that we are truly on the same page, and yes I was reading more into the post to try and get a few points out. I do that a lot. As my primary reason is not to argue but to show there are more ideas that are right then what we have been told. To many of us just take the word from the pulpit as God's word and don't check it out ours selves. I know I did that for 20+ years.

My intent then is to get people to question things themselves in doing so they will have to study and ask God for direction. building a deeper realtionship with God instead of mans traditions.

So I too thank you for your imput.

[Kensapp]

There are modern youth ministries who contrary to scripture have other beliefs.