Belonging before Belief: Turning the Church’s Understanding of “Conversion” on its Head.

Anyone who understands even a little bit about the teenage world can tell you just how paramount belonging is for young people. Insecurity and doubt runs rampant in this "sub-culture." As my wife and I moved securely into adulthood and thus moved further and further away from adolescents we came to a realization. Those scary cool kids who ignored us were just the "flip side" of the same coin. This "too cool for school" kids were really just insecure, scared teenagers themselves. Maybe they didn't ignore us because they thought they were better than us, maybe they were scared and insecure too. Needless to say, students of all kinds are a little too busy trying to belong to worry about whether or not they have the right "belief system."

The American, evangelistic model traditionally begins with the presentation of the gospel. This is immediately followed by a decision. Joining the community of faith is the final step. We can clearly see the problem with this. There is an old youth ministry saying that clearly shows the problem with this evangelistic system; "Kids don't care what you know until they know that you care."

Perhaps America's church's and their youth workers should be a little less worried about whether or not young people believe the right things and more concerned with whether or not they believe that they belong. If students feel that they belong and are accepted at a church and its youth programs, then the seed has been planted. Lord willing, the Holy Spirit will catch hold and make that seed grow. A Christian worldview is crucial for followers of Christ, but it is only possible in a safe environment where students know that they are unconditionally loved. Otherwise we may simply be throwing them "useless pearls" (Matt 7:6)₁

1: See Dallas Willard's interpretation of Matt 7:6 in chapter 7 of Divine Conspiracy (page 228-230).