This pic was taken in Hobart last April. I’ve used it in talks before to illustrate the me-first mentality of our culture and advertising industry. Earth to dmdc reader: the world doesn’t revolve around you – it’s all about Jesus!
[click for full pic]
If I get time later today – I might post an illustration I’m using this Sunday…
it looks like they stole your font too!
No warm fuzzies for guessing where the pic was taken? Hobart? April 2007?
You wouldn’t believe how strong that mentality is with private school kids from Sydney that I have on camp every week. It’s nuts. It is pretty obvious that their parents teach them to work hard for themselves and not others.
hey dale – it’s not just the private school kids! but i know what you mean.
i think that a me-first mentality has seeped into the church – big time! there are families that will move to different churches so that their kids can be better looked after in a better youth ministry. they are consumers of church rather than really part of things and contributing to life.
guthers – man – you get a warm fuzzy for initiative. here goes: you are an incredible smart actuarial dude and have nice hair. (that was pretty much two warm fuzzies)
hey – i should do a warm fuzzy round up one day – and see how many i’ve given out and who’s winning etc…
hmm, do you not think that families with youth-aged (or even just generally) children should be in a church where they’re adequately catered for? if that’s not happening, and the parents don’t have the resources/time/capability/influence to change it, why shouldn’t they instead invest in a church that does have programs for all of their family? somewhere where they can bring friends and they’ll be pointed to jesus in an age-appropriate way?
hey anon. thanks for the comment.
i’ve aimed for the past 4 years as a youth pastor to run a youth ministry that looks after teenagers. the ministry i’ve run has helped many families to bring up their teenagers to trust and love Jesus. and it’s the type of youth ministry that people will move to a church to so their teenager can be a part of it.
but i will always maintain that youth ministry is first and foremost the responsibility of the parent. we clearly communicated to our Christian parents that we were partnering with them… not going to do their job – but help them in their job.
how do we look after the kid from a non-Christian family? in a sense we become the Christian parent and older Christian brother to help them think through how to live as a Christian in the world… loco parentis – in the place of the parents… and in the absence of a Christian parent.
i’m more than happy for families to move to my church if their church doesn’t honour and proclaim Jesus… and if youth ministry entices them – great!!
but i don’t want to suck dry churches that do honour and proclaim Jesus just because we have a flashier and bigger youth ministry. i wonder if in that context – the parent wouldn’t teach their child more by sticking it out?
Christian parents outsource their spiritual responsibility to Christian schools and to youth groups. i have problems with “christian” schooling – i think that parents are relinquishing their responsibility. Is it any wonder why their “christian” kid is shagging around like the rest of the world by the end of school?!?
having said all this… it’s still okay to go to a church with a good youth ministry… it’s still okay (just) to send your kids to a Christian school… as long as the Christian parent doesn’t think that a good school and a good ministry will compensate for not being a Christian parent at home!
does that all make sense?