Ministry First, Youth Ministry Second

Last Thursday marked one of the most amazing days of my life. In the span of just a few hours I had two amazing encounters with young adults who were part of students ministries I have been a part of in the past. The encounter was a much needed reminder of just the lasting impact we can have on young people, even if in the moment it doesn't feel like anything "special" is happening. God is not necessarily done using us to minister to young people when they leave are programs. I'm sure we all realize this intellectually, but I think a Godly reminder was still in order for my life.

So, a college student asking questions about where God fits in the messiness that is their life and a former special needs student finding my long lost number in an old cell phone some 5 ½ years after I son him last more than made my day. There is nothing profound about this, but I need to say it, we are involved in ministry first, youth ministry second. Me we never again forget how big God is as we think about the specifics of are ministry job description.

Youth Ministry and the Great Emergence

Upon reading Phyllis Tickle's wonderful little book The Great Emergence something became quite clear to me. Long before I had ever heard the term "Emergent Christianity" I was being taught to wrestle with it through formal religious academia (the most poignant being the de-Hellenization of Chrisitianity). While I would in no way define myself as an Emergent Christian (if we must find a label, it would probably be re-traditionalist or progressive Christian) I must confess that this discovery was not at all troubling to me.

We must realize that "The Great Emergence" is a historical fact (though fluid) and that it is in part, a product of a cultural shift. This means that those in Christian Ministry have no choice but to engage/wrestle with it (if they actually want to minister to the emergent generation, that is). Perhaps what was even more surprising how Tickle's book gave a name to my oppositional behavior in college, the fights with the university chaplain, the uncomfortable conversations with my parents (uncomfortable for them anyways). While it could be argued that my personal tacking of emergent issues was caused or at least kick-started by my formal exposure to it, but I believe a huge part of it was that I was organically part of the struggle. I am a part of the emergent generation and understanding of faith is inherently different from that of my parents, even if I do still call myself and evangelical.

Youth today are even more attached to this emergence, which is why ignoring or viscously opposing it is just not a viable option for today's youth worker. The need to oppose the popular views of science to defend God's sovereignty will absolutely baffle and "turn off" many students. This does not mean that Christianity has nothing to offer this generation, indeed the Emergence is a movement proving that is not the case. Young people wrestling with the emergence will resonate with Christ the center, the unity of the body of Christ and the greatest commandments. Though we cannot ignore or attack the great Emergence we can engage it with our youth without encouraging them to blindly follow suit. Still, engagement is the only option.