Rappin’ With Rick

The final article pertaining to millennials that I want to highlight was found in the “Strangeness of the Month Club” column in The Restoration Herald. The author quotes from a couple of millennial bloggers who share their desire for the church to stop trying to make church “cool”, but who also reveal an even deeper issue that many millennials find objectionable. We begin with the “cool” factor.

“Bass reverberates through the auditorium floor as a heavily-bearded worship leader pauses to invite the congregation, bathed in the light of two giant screens, to tweet using #JesusLIves. The scent of freshly-brewed coffee wafts in from the lobby, where you can order macchiatos and purchase mugs boasting a sleek church logo. The chairs are comfortable, and the music sounds like something from the top of the charts. At the end of the service, someone will win an iPad.”

After noting that this kind of church came about because church attendance plummeted among young adults, the blogger continued, “In response, many churches have sought to lure millennials back by focusing on style points: cooler bands, hipper worship, edgier programming, impressive technology.” She added, “When I left church at age 29, full of doubt and disillusionment, I wasn’t looking for a better- produced Christianity. I was looking for a more authentic Christianity.” Another blogger added, “I want a service that is not sensational, flashy, or particularly ‘relevant.’ I can be entertained anywhere. At church, I do not want to be entertained. I do not want to be the target of anyone’s marketing. I want to be asked to participate in the life an ancient-future community.”

In spite of the fact that we do brew coffee, give away mugs with our logo on them, have two “screens”, and sometimes have a heavily-bearded guitarist on the praise team, I trust we hear what’s being said about trying to be too cool. We do, however, have to draw the line on giving up the “judgmental and exclusive” attitude that many millennials find to be the primary reason they left the church. They really don’t like the fact that we label as sin behaviors and lifestyles they find acceptable.

Sorry, but there’s nothing we can do about that.

God Bless, Rick

The second article on millennials that I found thought provoking is “Ten reasons millennials are backing away from God and Christianity.” It was on FoxNews.com.

The author begins by noting that millennials are the least outwardly religious American generation, where one in four are unaffiliated with any religion. He also notes that of youth raised in “Christian” homes, three-fourths will jettison that faith, at least for a time, after high school.

According to research, the ten reasons they are leaving are:
1. Millennials are eclectic on all fronts, and there is little or no “brand loyalty” in most areas of life.

2. The breakdown of the family has left them without an understanding of the heavenly Father.
3. Militant secularism has taught them that “true” truth claims are divorced from any supernatural context and impose no moral obligation on human behavior.

4. They have had almost no exposure to adults who know what they believe, why they believe it, and are committed to living it out.

5. The church is assumed to be irrelevant and there is no cultural guilt for leaving.
6. Objective moral truth and ethical norms are unknown or rejected.

7. Claiming to have answers about life is viewed as “impolite.”
8. Pop-level atheists have made atheism cool.

9. Tolerance is the new god, and it has become impossible to rationally critique any belief or behavior without a backlash of criticism.

10. The cultural trend toward rejection of God resonates strongly with the desire for autonomy felt in young adulthood.

The author concludes by saying, “Finally, is it really any wonder that kids raised in the churches of the 21st century America aren’t often stirred to lifelong commitment? Most churches are so occupied with “marketing” themselves to prospective attendees that they wouldn’t dream of risking their “brand” by speaking tough-as- nails truth.”

Let’s make certain that we never stop taking the risk.

God Bless, Rick

I recently found three interesting articles about millennials and their relationship with the church. The first one focuses on young believers who live under Communist regimes, the second on American millennials who are backing away from God, and the third is based on a blog by a millennial who says, “Want millennials back in the pews? Stop trying to make church ‘cool’”.

While there isn’t complete agreement on who is a millennial, most would suggest they are those who were born between the early 80s and late 90s or early 2000s. That would make them young adults in their late teens to late 30s. Obviously it’s a demographic we need to be concerned about, so I’m going to highlight thoughts from each article in the next few columns.

The article from Christianity Today noted that there is a growing spiritual hunger in millennials who live where the Communist regime proved unable to deliver on its grand promises of utopian equality, and that these young people are choosing the narrow road of Christianity rather than the broad road of conformity and compromise.

After then noting that revolution is in the air around the globe, and that class struggles are driving millennials who are rightfully concerned about their future, the author contrasted the difference between changes brought about by revolution and revelation. She also warned that many young people are attracted to the ideas of historical Marxist revolutionaries, despite the philosophy’s historic tendency toward violence to achieve and maintain control.

Jesus came to bring change, and His teachings are truly revolutionary, but Christian millennials in Communist countries realize that revolution alone leads to tyranny and dehumanizes the opponent. Under revolution alone, power is merely shifted from one set of hands to another, and it’s only when revolution is empowered by Christ’s transformative power that it can produce something better.

I pray that American millennials will learn from their peers who have witnessed the failure of totalitarian socialism, and that we can set before them an accurate picture of revolutionary Christianity.

God Bless, Rick

The current issue of Christianity Today has a most unusual front cover. It declares, “The Most Astonishing Easter Miracle: and it’s not the empty tomb.” Obviously I had to read the article.

The article noted that during the 40 days after the resurrection Jesus only made ten appearances. Those appearances changed history and demonstrated that Jesus was truly alive again, but during that time He was absent much more than He was physically present. The author also noted that Jesus doesn’t seem to put too much stock in His resurrection body, telling Mary not to hold on to Him, and telling Thomas that those who would believe in Him without seeing Him would be even more blessed than he. The author then goes on to write:

“The bodily resurrection is not first and foremost intended to dazzle. It’s not a spiritual spectacular designed to knock our spiritual socks off. It clearly doesn’t do that, as the Gospel writers note. When Jesus appears to the 11 to give the Great Commission, for example, Matthew notes that while some worshiped him, some still doubted. And Luke notes that Jesus had to give ‘many convincing proofs that he was alive.’ His resurrection appearances were not a slam dunk for faith.”

After noting the crucial importance of the resurrection, he continues: “Still, why does Jesus seemingly downplay or relativize his bodily resurrection? Because he knew that what was coming was more miraculous and astonishing still. He was not satisfied to be a mere object of wonder and worship, someone we observe and marvel at from afar. Someone we could merely touch, see, and hear as someone separate from us. He did not want to establish a religion that memorialized this miracle, set it in lifeless stone.

“No, the great miracle that the gospel proclaims is not merely that Christ lived bodily after the Crucifixion but that he lives dynamically in us today. The Resurrection is one with the Ascension and Pentecost— we cannot grasp the meaning of the Resurrection in isolation, because these two other events display an even greater miracle: Christ in us, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27).”

God Bless, Rick

It all started with the ark. The carpet needed to be replaced, and Jeff Thompson agreed to play Noah. Once he got the ark apart he panicked a bit, as Noah must have done when faced with a task he had never experienced before. There are a lot of intimidating angles in the ark, but Jeff persevered and got it done. Thanks, Jeff, for getting the ark kid worthy again.

As the ark was being readied, work was beginning in the nursery bathroom as well. Cory Moore was the first to volunteer, so he got the job. (Thanks go to Reed Morris and Will Bartels for also volunteering.) Cory took out the old cabinet and sink, patched the hole that had been covered by grillwork behind the toilet, scraped up the old tile, (a job that would have tested the patience of Job), and put on a fresh coat of paint. Next will come new tile on the floor, and a new vanity with drawers and a molded countertop; which may be delayed a bit since I just got an email from the salesman indicating that he couldn’t remember which side to put the sink on!

Since we didn’t want any rooms in the nursery complex left behind, paint was purchased for all of them. Jack Stucki has volunteered to give up several sabbath days to paint the walls, and Julie is going to touch up the mural behind the ark.

Then, just as grass appeared over all the earth after the flood, new carpet should be seen springing up in the hallways, classrooms, and fellowship hall. Yes, your faithful stewardship is going to make it possible for the carpeting to finally be replaced, and for new cove base to be installed. We are now in the process of getting bids for carpet tiles and tear out and install, but not to worry, you’ll still be given a chance to get on board. Help will be needed to take up the baseboards, which may not be made of gopher wood but certainly look as if they have been gnawed on by gophers, and to move everything as the carpet flows from room to room.

Be watching for signs that the day is drawing near, and be ready to respond when the call goes out that it’s time.

God Bless, Rick