|
Post by jonathanhulewicz on May 1, 2007 23:57:01 GMT -5
A very strange philosophy predominates in evangelical youth ministries today, which is that it is legitimate to draw youth to Christ with the world. This is the philosophy of Teen Mania, the sponsor of BattleCry, a movement to “take back the youth generation for Christ.” BattleCry is promoting massive youth rallies in various cities in America. The next is scheduled for April 20-21 in Detroit. Teen Mania founder Ron Luce said: “We connect with teens through culturally-relevant rallies that include top artists, edgy messages, eye-popping images, even pyrotechnics--but we deliver a radically different, counter-culture message” (“Over 30,000 Teens Ready to Overturn Culture War,” Christian Post, April 13, 2007). One of the rock groups scheduled for Detroit is P.O.D. (Payable On Death) whose members are festooned with tattoos and piercings and wear long dreadlocks in direct disobedience to God’s Word. The band claims they play concerts at Ozzyfest and perform with wicked secular groups such as Korn and record on a secular label “to be heard by the lost people.” In fact, P.O.D.’s platinum-selling album The Fundamental Elements of Southtown doesn’t even mention the name of Jesus Christ, let alone give a clear presentation of the gospel. It is confusion to draw youth to Christ by means of the world. What people are won by they are won to. These misled young people are not being won to the holy Christ of the Bible. They are being won to a worldly Jesus who hangs out with them and parties with them and loves rock music and doesn’t care how they look as long as the “heart is right.” This is NOT biblical Christianity. The apostle Paul did not try to reach the people of his generation through “culturally-relevant” means. He didn’t contract one of Rome’s top bands to attract a crowd. He very simply and boldly preached the gospel and did not corrupt the ministry by surrounding it with the things of the world. In fact, there is not one example in the Bible of music being used as a vehicle for evangelism. See Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 11:7, 15; Ephesians 5:11; Philippians 2:15; 1 Timothy 2:9-10; Titus 2:11-15; James 1:27; 4:4; 1 Peter 2:11-12; 3:2; 1 John 2:15-17.
|
|
|
Post by messengermicah on May 2, 2007 13:08:29 GMT -5
AMEN!
|
|
|
Post by sean on May 2, 2007 13:26:29 GMT -5
Any objection to the carryings on of our present gold-calf Christianity is met with the triumphant reply, "But we are winning them!" And winning them to what? To true discipleship? To cross-carrying? To self-denial? To separation from the world? To crucifixion of the flesh? To holy living? To nobility of character? To a despising of the world's treasures? To hard self-discipline? To love for God? To total committal to Christ? Of course the answer to all these questions is no." -A.W. Tozer
|
|
streetfishing
Full Member
Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Posts: 138
|
Post by streetfishing on May 2, 2007 14:24:48 GMT -5
I saw this very thing happen last Fri. nite... Youth for Christ had a youth rally/ concert at one of the local churchs... The nite started with a guest speaker.. who told a funny story about when he was a teen, he followed it with a If you want to give your heart to Jesus message, then on the count of three all of you who want to ask Jesus into your heart stand up.... At that point two girls stood up.. He wanted to know if their youth pastor was there, but they didn't have one or he was not there.. I'm not sure which.. So any way they talked to them for a few minutes and that was it.... Say this little prayer with me and you are saved.. No talk about repentence, sin, the cross... nothing just say a prayer... After that the bands came out and played... the last one ( a group called By the Tree ) did give a message about how the lead singer was living just like the world and needed to get right with God.. and did. But by then the kids had been jumping around and mosh-pitting for 2 hours and didn't even listen to was said.... The really sad part was watching the kids after the event and seeing no kind of change in their actions.... We have to reach todays youth, but it has to be with the true gospel message... or we are face a generation lost
Jim
|
|
1611isperfect
Full Member
Publick preaching in Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 140
|
Post by 1611isperfect on May 2, 2007 14:37:26 GMT -5
I saw this very thing happen last Fri. nite... Youth for Christ had a youth rally/ concert at one of the local churchs... Say this little prayer with me and you are saved.. No talk about repentence, sin, the cross... nothing just say a prayer... by then the kids had been jumping around and mosh-pitting for 2 hours and didn't even listen to was said.... We have to reach todays youth, but it has to be with the true gospel message... or we are face a generation lost Jim Yes, it is very sad. LORD, please help us.
|
|