[img]https://www.sermonindex.net/images/forum/2004/may/featured_news.gif[/img]Dec. 15, 2005 An Alabama church holds a "Fear Factor" youth ministry event, where teens swallow goldfish and try to escape a locked coffin to learn how to overcome fear in their lives. Actor Stephen Baldwin sheds his bad-boy image, finds God, and starts a group called Livin' It, which encourages young people to skateboard for the Lord. Dozens of Christian rock festivals across the country draw millions of revelers to events that rival the bawdy Lollapolooza.Since when did being a Christian teen become so cool?"The day of the Christian kid being viewed as a nerd are long gone," said Bill Graening, the director of the Alive Festival, a three-day Christian music festival held each summer in Ohio that draws up to 20,000 people a day.At least 80 percent of U.S. teens between the ages of 13 and 17 identify themselves as religious, with the majority identifying as Christian, according to the National Study on Youth and Religion, a six-year project funded by the Lilly Endowment.
_________________SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
That's right- it's cool to "be of this world", and still consider yourself "religious". Forgive my skepticism about "skateboarding for the Lord", and people "shedding bad-boy image, finding God, and starting groups" that are "serving God". Like you can flip a switch from one character to another.I'm really torn on this. The fact that there's an outreach that's drawing up to 20,000 people a day is awesome. But are the fruits real, or are they just "comfortable"?Grace and Peace...
Groh_frog: I, as a teen, share your concern. I live among them, and, being one, can see the issue from the inside out. It's alright to enjoy skateboarding, music rallies, and other events--but, when we return home, the issues of life overload the fun moments and Christianity, where it shows its deepest strength, is no where to be seen.It's not all like this, but the majority of my peers (many who'd love to wring my neck if they read this) don't really have a deepness for God (and I myself am one to raise my hand in that group). For, another statistic not shown is that of the 80-90% of postadolescent "drop-outs" of the faith. It's just no longer "cool" to be found a believer when you wake up and realize you're no long a kid.The Lord needs warriors, laborers, not just jesters and musicians (Amos 6:5,6). David not only praised God, but He was first in prayer, first in repentance, and first to say, "Yahweh is my God"--even when hiding alone in a mountain. May my generation grow up in the Lord with the same heart and mind that fuelled David to act like an archetype of Christ. Amen.Another lamb,Benjamin
Actor Stephen Baldwin sheds his bad-boy image, finds God, and starts a group called Livin' It, which encourages young people to skateboard for the Lord.
I'm really torn on this. The fact that there's an outreach that's drawing up to 20,000 people a day is awesome. But are the fruits real, or are they just "comfortable"?
The fact that there's an outreach that's drawing up to 20,000 people a day is awesome.
Jesus is cool? I believe if we're truly following Jesus we'll be rejected, not accepted.If your a Christian, and all your unsaved buddies think you're cool... then you arent living for Jesus. Something is wrong.I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of man than a fool in the eyes of God.Krispy
This is exactly how my church is. People come have fun and at best have a "form of godliness" but then when it comes down to it they are not there for God they are there for themselves, which isn't a bad thing because hey, Jesus is there for our happiness right! THat is the most grieving thing to think that people actually think this way. Oh that God would revive these churches!!
... and you're there because...?(Only God can direct you to leave, I'm just curious why you havent)Krispy
... and you're there because...?
