For many years I have been doing focused reading in the area of Christology. During that time I have come to admire Ben Witherington as he has made many valuable contributions in that field.
So, I was very pleased when I discovered his blog some time back. Now I enjoy reading his blog as well as his books.
Today he posted his thoughts on a topic that we have discussed several times here — our disappearing youth.
I include a small excerpt below in hopes that it will spark your interest and that you will go on over to his place and read the whole article.
My word today to Youth Ministers is this— one key to retaining the youth is this— have they been captivated, caught up in love, wonder and praise of the Lord, or have they merely been entertained? There is a difference. Does the event not merely make them dance but make them kneel and confess their sins and pray? Does the event not merely move their emotions but challenge their thinking? Does it bring them to repentance, or are you offering some kind of forgiveness withoutrepentance, crown without a cross, encounter without commitment? And are you integrating them into a caring Christian community where they will be planted deeply, richly in God’s Word? The key to retention is surrounding a new Christian with a caring, supportive and yes challenging Christian environment that involves more than just worship. It also needs to involve some profound Christian education, as our youth will never get that from our culture these days. Youth ministry is often failing because in general the Church’s Christian education is failing. Less than a third, on average, of people who go to worship stay for Sunday school or Bible study or its equivalent. We should have noticed this warning sign a long time ago.