I just got back from another wonderful Youth Specialties Convention- I think I have spoken at them for the past 8 years in a row. They are experimenting with some new formats as part of the convention where they still have presentations in workshops and all that - but they also created space for people to have dialog around topics the people attending determine. There were some discussion groups with predetermined topics like one I led about "hell". But most were created there at the conference itself.
It reminded me of some of the earlier Leadership Network events I was part of where you met with like-minded people in similar leadership situations but form all types of different churches in smaller groups of 15-30 people or so. The conversation then gets so much more intense and depthful as we made up the topics we wanted to discuss with each other. But when we create these spaces, it creates an openness and embracement of diversity and differences. I remember in Leadership Network, you had all types of denominations represented - but we all had the same core historical orthodox theology as our commonality. We had lot of diversity on what I would call non-essential things - but stayed together on core historical doctrines. This is what I believe "evangelical" was originally about - but it got turned into all types of other things. But when you are with others different than you and listening to stories, listening to ideas, and gaining insight from others who we may never hear from otherwise - it is wonderful. It is needed more and more today as it breaks down barriers. And we need to break down all kinds of barriers today for the sake of the gospel being known to future generations. We really don't have time to be bickering, resistant to change or pointing fingers at some of the things we do today - when lives are at stake.
I feel we are in a time period of healthy desperation. By desperation I mean that when Christians and the church get desperate about mission - then denominational barriers break down more, our non-essential theological difference don't matter as much (not core historical orthodox theology which does matter, but the non-essential ones). When we become so desperate for people who don't know Jesus, then our attitude and posture changes towards others. When we are so desperate with the reality that there are people who may be spending eternity apart from God - then as our hearts break thinking of that - then our petty differences seems so incredibly insignificant.
How we we argue about musical styles when people's eternal lives are at stake? How can be hog control in a church or create leadership bottlenecks when our selfishness or insecurity can lead to people being empowered and mission being hindered? How can we think that formats of ministry developed 500 years ago (as beautiful as they may be if you are familiar with them) should be retained at the sake of people's lives outside the church being effected as they don't connect with these approaches? How can some grandparents who are Christians care more about their preference of music and "church" being a certain way that they personally prefer and are used to - than they care about their own grandchildren and grandchildren's friends coming to know Jesus as Savior? (If what they personally like is actually repelling stylistically, not theologically, to their grandchildren?)
How can some denominations care more about doing things a certain way with systems developed in past times - than they do about future leaders who may not "fit" their systems of approval and they squelch out and lose innovative leaders? Would they rather see their denomination die while holding onto their rules and order as they go to their grave - rather than rethink what they do so that mission can occur through young leaders who know the current culture and people but may not be able to meet all myriad of very specific requirements they ask for?
How can youth leaders today not be seen as ultimate heroes for being underpaid, generally underappreciated and yet they have so much impact on the church today and the church of the future since so many decisions for Jesus and major life decisions are made during the youth years? When I am around youth leaders I want to cry because I know having been a youth pastor for 9 years what it takes to do that. They serve so much and have so many things they need to be overcoming in today's world as they serve. I think youth leaders may have the most difficult job in a church, quite honestly. They don't bear the weight of the whole church but they bear the weight of teenagers living in a very confusing world and communicating the gospel and being a listening ear to the craziness of life that teenagers are processing.
I love Youth Specialties for taking a risk and trying out some of these new formats and bringing people together. I love Leadership Network for bringing these formats into church leadership. I love that many people who are taking risks today for the gospel. I hate that we put up so many human-made stumbling blocks so often. Forgive me Lord, when I do that. And now I am dashing off to a meeting. Hope this makes sense.
And this is why I am excited to be in the Origins Project too - because it is inter-denominational, we are in agreement on the essential doctrines and have diversity with others. We won't be arguing about theology with each other - but we will be instead be passionate about mission from the theology we all believe in. We are together because we are passionate about Jesus being known amongst new generations and them coming to know Him as Savior in this life and then serving on mission to love and help others in this world. I just so wish we would all be so incredibly desperate for seeing emerging generations come to know Jesus that we would be utterly ashamed at the things we sometimes do and preferentially hold onto and decisions we make which can ultimately lead in preventing or stifling that from happening. I am late. I am typing fast. I have to dash. God help us.
