Vacation Rundown:
For those of you keeping track of me, well, my vacation went well. Dad and I went ice fishing for the weekend two weeks ago. We caught four nice Northerns...and although my Dad caught the biggest fish (10 1/2 pounder), I had the most action losing four fish at the bottom of the three and half foot thick ice hole. Yes, that sucked, but hey, that's fishing. Saw Bram's grave when I was home. I knew it was his as the tell tale sign of many foot tracks led to it and stopped at it, plus I knew that there was a wreath there. Snow still covers the cemetery, so I was surprised to see that most of the area of Bram's plot was uncovered. I imagine that somehow, Bram appreciates the sun shining down on him without the hindrance of the snow to block the view. Anyway, I talked to him a bit, cried a bit, and then had to go. Saw Phil and Trav, went out for drinks with them, and was witness to some poor idiot celebrating his 21st, with his friends taping the whole thing. I had never seen a guy bellying up to the bar, with an industrial garbage can next to him just in case. And wouldn't you know...he just about filled it with the vomitous mass he consumed. Very nasty. Good trip...and definitely a record time coming home. I left Minot at 8:30 AM, and rolled into Oregon, WI at 8:30PM on the dot. That includes the 20 minute stop in Fargo for gas and food, 2 rest area stops, and 20 minutes in Hudson for fuel and coffee. Definitely a quicker trip without the family tagging along!
My Rant About Today's Teenager:
What Is Up With This Generation?
Alright, let me change the tone of this post to something that I have come to realize about the contemporary teenager today. There is no respect for church at all...Ok, well, not all of them act this way, but many of them unfortunately prove this. I teach 33 confirmation students varying in age from 11 to 14; 7th and 8th graders. I used to think that I would like to teach junior highers confirmation. But, maybe the older I get and the younger they get, I have come to realize that I have no patience for their lack of respect and attention to actually learning about their faith within the church. Now, granted, I am not the most fun or engaging teacher when it comes to the so called curriculum, but when students act as if they are uninterested and disengaged from actually trying to grasp their faith, I then have to wonder whose problem that may be. I have come to learn that most parents want the best for their kids, but many of them treat the church as their spiritual babysitting service, as they assume that we will entirely and unequivocally ram this faith down their bodies and come out changed people. Parents who drop off their kids to church, and who themselves never take a seat in the sanctuary for worship, should not be surprised or offended when I design the requirements to teach about accountability. I have received moronic emails from parents (ok, like two) who do not like me for one, and who want to justify their kids lack of participation as either family issues or sports issues for two. And frankly, their kids behavior in church reflects a lack of care or nurture by the parents in turn to prove to their kids that yes, their faith is important, it gives them hope, and here is why. But, most parents I have come to know, do not feel in the slightest, at all comfortable or willing to even broach the subject of faith. And so, because it's all they know, and it's what they experienced, the parents bring their kids to confirmation assuming we will teach them as long as they can somehow make their way through the requirements however they want to, without showing up for class time, and maybe doing a sermon note or two.
I almost stopped worship tonight. As worship was beginning, I noticed that a group of kids went to sit in the back corner of the sanctuary. I told Paul that I think we may have some trouble with that group, to which he was aware of, but didn't do anything then. So, I get up to preach, read the scriptures, and preach my sermon. Throughout my sermon, I could here them from the pulpit, talking and joking, and carrying on, disrupting other people's worship experience. This continued throughout the remainder of worship, including the time during intercessory prayer. I could hear them from the front, and believe me, it's a good distance. I was incensed. As we are singing the last song, I noticed Paul was not moving. I asked him about that, and he mentioned that he was going to talk to this group. I left him, and greeted the people goodnight. I then asked him about a few minutes later, and he told me exactly what I was thinking...disrespecting worship is not right...their actions were unacceptable, and Paul told them that.
Next week, I am sending out progress reports to parents about where kids are at for confirmation requirements. I am also going to mention this incident, and ask that parents be aware that certain actions or behavior reflects on the kids yes, but also the parents. When you act like a three year old, I am going to call you on it because you know better. Although, knowing some parents as I do, and how they raise their kids, perhaps these kids have not grown up in the church, and are just now being exposed to it because Mom and Dad all of a sudden think it's the social and moral thing to do. Trust me, I have parents who think this!!! I do believe that this all comes back to how parents show their faith to be real, alive, active, and committed. If kids see this, they are more willing to experience it for themselves and be respectful about being in community as they learn accountability for service, participation, and presence. I am convinced that if we teach another generation of church consumers, the church will not grow. As parents become more and more fragmented by time demands, their affiliation with any organization will become sporadic and detached. Time is now the most valuable commodity families have the least of. Why? Everyone is busy. No one takes time out to just be together, even say time to come to church for worship. Worship becomes another thing to stick into the schedule when time allows. This is sad, but this is where many families are at. No wonder why my confirmation students do not value or respect their time in church. They have not been taught that church has value and meaning for their lives. It simply becomes just another thing to get past, and move on from.
Anyone care to place a bet as to how many eighth grade confirmation students will come back to church after they confirmed in May? Any takers? Out of 18 confirmation students, I am fairly sure I may have two or three who will make church a regular part of their lives post-confirmation. I am sad, and concerned for this generation who will one day become adults. Will they as adults pass the story of faith onto the next generation or will they become a generation of disappointment, unable to commit themselves to the spiritual transformation churches are in desperate need of? I am afraid that this generation will be unable to articulate a vision for mission and evangelism in the world if they are not exposed to it in any way by means of worship, biblical literacy, and giving of time, money, and gifts. I am worried that this generation will be unable to take Christ into the world because they won't know what to do with him. God, it's difficult to teach these teens that they matter to the church, when they don't want to believe it, or worse yet, when they don't know how to believe in themselves. More later...
For those of you keeping track of me, well, my vacation went well. Dad and I went ice fishing for the weekend two weeks ago. We caught four nice Northerns...and although my Dad caught the biggest fish (10 1/2 pounder), I had the most action losing four fish at the bottom of the three and half foot thick ice hole. Yes, that sucked, but hey, that's fishing. Saw Bram's grave when I was home. I knew it was his as the tell tale sign of many foot tracks led to it and stopped at it, plus I knew that there was a wreath there. Snow still covers the cemetery, so I was surprised to see that most of the area of Bram's plot was uncovered. I imagine that somehow, Bram appreciates the sun shining down on him without the hindrance of the snow to block the view. Anyway, I talked to him a bit, cried a bit, and then had to go. Saw Phil and Trav, went out for drinks with them, and was witness to some poor idiot celebrating his 21st, with his friends taping the whole thing. I had never seen a guy bellying up to the bar, with an industrial garbage can next to him just in case. And wouldn't you know...he just about filled it with the vomitous mass he consumed. Very nasty. Good trip...and definitely a record time coming home. I left Minot at 8:30 AM, and rolled into Oregon, WI at 8:30PM on the dot. That includes the 20 minute stop in Fargo for gas and food, 2 rest area stops, and 20 minutes in Hudson for fuel and coffee. Definitely a quicker trip without the family tagging along!
My Rant About Today's Teenager:
What Is Up With This Generation?
Alright, let me change the tone of this post to something that I have come to realize about the contemporary teenager today. There is no respect for church at all...Ok, well, not all of them act this way, but many of them unfortunately prove this. I teach 33 confirmation students varying in age from 11 to 14; 7th and 8th graders. I used to think that I would like to teach junior highers confirmation. But, maybe the older I get and the younger they get, I have come to realize that I have no patience for their lack of respect and attention to actually learning about their faith within the church. Now, granted, I am not the most fun or engaging teacher when it comes to the so called curriculum, but when students act as if they are uninterested and disengaged from actually trying to grasp their faith, I then have to wonder whose problem that may be. I have come to learn that most parents want the best for their kids, but many of them treat the church as their spiritual babysitting service, as they assume that we will entirely and unequivocally ram this faith down their bodies and come out changed people. Parents who drop off their kids to church, and who themselves never take a seat in the sanctuary for worship, should not be surprised or offended when I design the requirements to teach about accountability. I have received moronic emails from parents (ok, like two) who do not like me for one, and who want to justify their kids lack of participation as either family issues or sports issues for two. And frankly, their kids behavior in church reflects a lack of care or nurture by the parents in turn to prove to their kids that yes, their faith is important, it gives them hope, and here is why. But, most parents I have come to know, do not feel in the slightest, at all comfortable or willing to even broach the subject of faith. And so, because it's all they know, and it's what they experienced, the parents bring their kids to confirmation assuming we will teach them as long as they can somehow make their way through the requirements however they want to, without showing up for class time, and maybe doing a sermon note or two.
I almost stopped worship tonight. As worship was beginning, I noticed that a group of kids went to sit in the back corner of the sanctuary. I told Paul that I think we may have some trouble with that group, to which he was aware of, but didn't do anything then. So, I get up to preach, read the scriptures, and preach my sermon. Throughout my sermon, I could here them from the pulpit, talking and joking, and carrying on, disrupting other people's worship experience. This continued throughout the remainder of worship, including the time during intercessory prayer. I could hear them from the front, and believe me, it's a good distance. I was incensed. As we are singing the last song, I noticed Paul was not moving. I asked him about that, and he mentioned that he was going to talk to this group. I left him, and greeted the people goodnight. I then asked him about a few minutes later, and he told me exactly what I was thinking...disrespecting worship is not right...their actions were unacceptable, and Paul told them that.
Next week, I am sending out progress reports to parents about where kids are at for confirmation requirements. I am also going to mention this incident, and ask that parents be aware that certain actions or behavior reflects on the kids yes, but also the parents. When you act like a three year old, I am going to call you on it because you know better. Although, knowing some parents as I do, and how they raise their kids, perhaps these kids have not grown up in the church, and are just now being exposed to it because Mom and Dad all of a sudden think it's the social and moral thing to do. Trust me, I have parents who think this!!! I do believe that this all comes back to how parents show their faith to be real, alive, active, and committed. If kids see this, they are more willing to experience it for themselves and be respectful about being in community as they learn accountability for service, participation, and presence. I am convinced that if we teach another generation of church consumers, the church will not grow. As parents become more and more fragmented by time demands, their affiliation with any organization will become sporadic and detached. Time is now the most valuable commodity families have the least of. Why? Everyone is busy. No one takes time out to just be together, even say time to come to church for worship. Worship becomes another thing to stick into the schedule when time allows. This is sad, but this is where many families are at. No wonder why my confirmation students do not value or respect their time in church. They have not been taught that church has value and meaning for their lives. It simply becomes just another thing to get past, and move on from.
Anyone care to place a bet as to how many eighth grade confirmation students will come back to church after they confirmed in May? Any takers? Out of 18 confirmation students, I am fairly sure I may have two or three who will make church a regular part of their lives post-confirmation. I am sad, and concerned for this generation who will one day become adults. Will they as adults pass the story of faith onto the next generation or will they become a generation of disappointment, unable to commit themselves to the spiritual transformation churches are in desperate need of? I am afraid that this generation will be unable to articulate a vision for mission and evangelism in the world if they are not exposed to it in any way by means of worship, biblical literacy, and giving of time, money, and gifts. I am worried that this generation will be unable to take Christ into the world because they won't know what to do with him. God, it's difficult to teach these teens that they matter to the church, when they don't want to believe it, or worse yet, when they don't know how to believe in themselves. More later...
1 comment:
Hey Jason, you hit on one of my major pet peeves in most churches, confirmation! Personally, I think most churches are wasting a lot of time with it (so far in my informal research I've found one church that seems to get it - and that's the church I'll be interning with in the fall). Now, don't go saying, I don't think we need confirmation - because I think it's important, but I think we're missing the mark.
You've nailed some of the major problems ... no investment from parents, kids aren't interested, it's seen as a "moral teaching ground" ... how do we change that? I think we as leaders in congregations need to call for reform ... we need to be willing to say that confirmation is no longer a "rite of passage". I could go on for pages, but I'll spare you the sermon ... but if you want some ideas, let me know - just trust they are ideas that won't be popular with many, but they'll get the job done!
Holy Discontented,
The RevDrum
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