What Do You want to BE?

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” is a question that probably all of us have been asked at some time. It’s also a question that we may also have asked a young person we know. Maybe it’s not such a bad question to ask these days given that young adults today seem to be more intentional than ever about connecting what they want to DO with how they want to BE. Two unintentionally related articles that appeared on the same Saturday this past weekend in The Des Moines Register got me thinking about careers and calling and the difference between “doing” something and “being” something.

“Young mayor feels he has made a difference” (http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090328/NEWS/903280325/-1/archive) is the story of Sam Juhl, now 21, who was first elected mayor of Roland, Iowa in 2005 at the age of 18. Although Juhl acknowledges that he isn’t clear about what career he will pursue in the future, you get the feeling that it will be one like his current role as mayor that will integrate his life’s work with his interest and passion around public service. Reflecting on his career as mayor, Juhl say, "In my little way, in Roland, I've made a difference."

The second article from last Saturday’s Des Moines Register , “You can be called to many careers besides seminary” http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090328/OPINION01/903280305/1035/archive is written by guest columnist Gustav Nelson, the director of Project 21, a program designed to identify and describe new models of congregational life for the 21st century. Nelson, a former executive presbyter of the Des Moines Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA, urges the Church to help members claim God’s calling in their careers instead of suggesting that a true calling is only lived out through a a career as a professional minister. Nelson writes that “The church today is operating on a pre-Reformation mode. It skips over the Reformation in urging members who feel called to ministry to enroll in seminary, instead of realizing that what they already are doing, even in tough times, may be what God has called them to do.”

So, what’s the difference between “doing” and being”? I think one way to get at the difference is to consider the root words behind “occupation” and “vocation” It may be telling that “occupation” come from the same root word as occupy – taking up space; while “vocation” comes from the same root word as “vocal” – to call or summon. What do you think? Do you feel like you’re taking up space in a job or have you been summoned to a career?

Unchristian: What a New Generation Things About Christianity...And Why It Matters

"Christianity has an image problem."

Last Sunday night I sat in our church sanctuary near the back. In front of me were 35 or so mostly grey-haired people listening to three grey-haired people who sang southern gospel music and shared about the “good ol’ songs” and “The Billy Graham Crusades”. I, on the other hand, sat in my pew subtly reading this week’s book—Unchristian, What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity. Admittedly, I didn’t get very far. But after the offering and the altar call, a lady came up to me and asked why more people my age didn’t come to things like this. “Well,” I said, “let me share with you something I’ve just been reading…”

This book came to me highly recommended—several people I trust suggested that Unchristian presented the reality of Christianity’s image problem among young adults. This especially struck home with me—given that most young adults I know are familiar with the Christian faith (most, in fact, had attended worship at some point) but either because of apathy or because of an incident with another Christian have chosen to live life outside the Church. And so when this book set out to help me “find out why these negative perceptions exist, learn how to reverse them in a Christlike manner, and discover practical examples of how Christians can positively contribute to culture,” I read on.

I appreciated the book was based on research from the Barna Group—examining the perceptions of young adults outside and inside the Church. David Kinnaman then described in real ways how Christians foster that perception and healthy, Biblical ways of approaching the issue from a new direction. Here are six top perceptions he addresses:

Hypocritical

Everyone in my church gave me advice about how to raise my son, but a lot of the time they seemed to be reminding me that I have no husband—and besides, most of them were not following their own advice. It made it hard to care what they said. They were not practicing what they preached. – Victoria, 24

PERCEPTION: Christians say one thing but live something entirely different.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians are transparent about their flaws and act first, talk second.

Get Saved!

Christians are too concerned with converting people. They are insincere. All I ever hear is “Get saved!” I tried that whole “Jesus thing” already. It didn’t work for me before, and I am not interested now. – Shawn, 22

PERCEPTION: Christians are insincere and concerned only with converting others.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians cultivate relationships and environments where others can be deeply transformed by God.

Antihomosexual

Many people in the gay community don’t seem to have issues with Jesus but rather with those claiming to represent him today. It’s very much an “us-versus-them” mentality, as if a war has been declared. Of course each side thinks the other fired the opening shot. – Peter, 34

PERCEPTION: Christians show contempt for gays and lesbians.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians show compassion and love to all people, regardless of their lifestyle.

Sheltered

Christians enjoy being their own community. The more they seclude themselves, the less they can function in the real world. So many Christians are caught in the Christian “bubble.” – Jonathan, 22

PERCEPTION: Christians are boring, unintelligent, old-fashioned, and out of touch with reality.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians are engaged, informed, and offer sophisticated responses to the issues people face.

Too Political

Twenty years ago, when I was looking at evangelical Christianity from the inside, it seemed like a movement bursting with energy to spread good news to people. Looking at it from the outside today, this message seems to have been lost in exchange for an aggressive political strategy that demonizes segments of society. – Brandon, 32

PERCEPTION: Christians are primarily motivated by a political agenda and promote right-wing politics.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians are characterized by respecting people, thinking biblically, and finding solutions to complex issues.

Judgmental

Christians talk about hating sin and loving sinners, but the way they go about things, they might as well call it what it is. They hate the sin and the sinner. – Jeff, 25

PERCEPTION: Christians are prideful and quick to find faults in others.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians show grace by finding the good in others and seeing their potential to be Christ followers.

Hypocritical, too concerned with conversion, antihomosexual, sheltered, too political, and judgmental—I have experienced every single one in my church, and I still have hope in the Christian faith. But I can certainly understand why people want to stay clear. But now I’m left to pondering how I can hold a mirror up to myself and others in the Church to work hard re-engage in a relevant way a new generation.

I welcome your thoughts… What do you make of Kinnaman’s list of perceptions? And how would you go about helping a church change its way of doing things in order to change our image in the world?
Peace,
rc

Map Ur YAM

Occasionally, I surf over to the GBOD's Young Adult Network. In case you've not discovered this hidden gem, check out their website or visit their Facebook page.

In my recent visit to the site, two things caught my eye. The first was three words near the top of the page--"discuss relate revolutionize". I do believe that every time I've been a part of the GBOD Young Adult conversations, I feel like I'm on the edge of a revolution. It takes a while for us young adults to move past our cynicism and distrust of the institution, but as we "discuss" and "relate", the energy builds, and I swear we're on our way to a revolution. There's a sense that nothing in this world can stop us. Anyways, the YANetwork is a great way to get connected with some of these YAs who want to take the world by storm.

The second thing that caught my eye was that only one YA Ministry was listed for Iowa. Despite all of the desparaging statements made about the state of Young Adult Ministry in Iowa, I kinda doubt that the only YA ministry is happening at Newton. I kid you not--http://www.yanetwork.org/groupmap.htm .

So here's my challenge. Submit your group to the YA Network--let's see what's going on around the state (just in case we really do want to start a revolution, we'll know who to call). And while you're there check out the rest of the YA Network!

Peace,
rc

Technology, Community, and Young Adult Ministry

Relevant Magazine recently polled its readers with the following question: "Which one piece of technology could you not live without?" And here's how they responded.

And I get excited by some of the possibilities that new technology gives us. Last week, I knew I would be preaching on the verse where Jesus says, "Deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me." I posted a question on Facebook, and a dozen or so people responded--people from all across the US--even building on each other's comments. I brought their thoughts into the sermon, which I then posted back online at our chruch's website. So, I get excited by the creative and collaborative possibilities some of the new technologies give us.

But at the same time, I know these new technologies come with their challenges. Despite the fact that I have email, Facebook, or text message contact with nearly all of the young adults in my church on a regular basis, I can't think of the last time more than a few of us got together in person. We have a web of relationships, but I feel like there's something lacking. And so I wrestle with how to build community given the new tools of technology.

What do you think? Share your experience with technology, community, and young adult ministry. What are some of the pros and cons. And what are you doing that's using new tech to engage people in ministry?

Peace,

rc

Dear Church: a blog from a disillusioned generation

Disillusioned – disappointed at finding out reality does not match one’s ideals.

About once every month or so, I call up a friend, and she talks me down from the ledge. I explain to her how I think God has called me change lives and transform the world, and how I am in the prime of my life, and how I must be insane to believe that I am best utilizing my God-given gifts by working in and through the Church. “Wouldn’t I be more effective with a non-profit or in some way that doesn’t have all the baggage of the institution?” I go on for a bit, and my friend listens and talks me down. She reminds me that despite all of its flaws (and all of our flaws), God can still use it and us to change lives and transform the world. But still, I cycle in and out of disillusionment.

I opened Sarah Cunningham’s Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation knowing that I’d be seeing her at the Unleashed conference in a couple weeks. But as I read through her 14 letters to the organized, institutionalized Church, her words hit home. She introduced the Church to Gen-Xers (“comfortable with competing schools of thought,” “want instant gratification,” and “idealistic to a fault”—how does she know me so well?!?). She wrote of her struggle in and with and against the Church (“Odds are, you once stood in our idealistic Skechers and believed, like my generation, that the church could change the world. And, on many occasions, you struggled and still struggle—just as we do—against the idea that it cannot.”). And I must admit that I have flirted with all of her suggested responses to the disillusionment we feel:

1. Say bon voyage to your local congregation and set out in search of a new one,
2. Velcro yourself back to the local congregation you came from and press on even
harder,
3. Start some type of alternative Christian community with your wild and crazy like-minded friends, or
4. Give up on community altogether and roam around the world like a raving lunatic who is so compulsively opinionated that he can’t find a single person who agrees with his position in life.

And so I hover between options 2 and 3 trying to change lives, change the world, and—God willing—change the Church. And every now and then, I need a friend to convince me that it can happen.

But how about you? Where on the spectrum from encouraged to disillusioned do you stand? What would you include in a letter to the Church? And what do you think is the best response for young adults who feel alienated and disillusioned by the Church they see?