MAKE ROOM FOR THE CHAMP, SAVE THE DYING CHURCH

MAKE ROOM FOR THE CHAMP, SAVE THE DYING CHURCH

We were in the middle of this music concert, and every single presenter or group made you salivate for the next. It was all going so fine until a dance group was invited on stage. The way they danced that day, my friend, even yours sincerely was embarrassed on their behalf. They left the stage with mouths agape and minds in bewilderment; everyone checked to be sure we were still seated in a church hall. The programme host could only remark when he took the microphone: “That was something to watch, but, no matter what it looked like, I’d rather that they dance it in church than in the club house.”

Young people are amazing. The way they do things, the way they want to do things keeps the heart of the old throbbing. And because they do not find room for the expression, we constantly see mass exodus from their church of birth to newer churches that allow such expressions. I remember reading a statistics sometimes ago that said the average person attends at least six different churches in a lifetime. Young people without doubt attend much more…in search of fun. Well, there’s very little we can do to stop a youth from being one, but there’s at least something we can do to make the home church more interesting to them.

Dear Pastor, leader and parent, make room for young people in your assembly. They may go out of line, yes, guide them. They want expression, if all you give them is instruction, I assure you, they are not listening most of the time. The youth who is merely being tolerated in his or her church of birth will be celebrated in the embrace of a nearby church. If any of them sing, speaks or carries a special grace, allow them print fliers, posters, and advertise their own. Put them as special guests in your own programmes. Be in the forefront of those celebrating them, or at least, give them the opportunity to do so themselves. Do not be in a hurry to condemn everything they do. Let the Word be the standard by which you correct them; and not your doctrines that you also may have fallen foul of many times. If you believe they are wrong in certain areas, take them back into the Word, and correct them therewith in love. Do not let them interpret your actions as hostility so you don’t lose them. Let them learn, and do not over-correct them. They will make mistakes sure, but they will also get better next time. They may not do things the way you want them to, but if they are working at the same results, encourage them; strategies may differ, as far as they do not break the tenets of the Word, let them try out their own style too.

Your own ways of worship may be boring, maybe not to you, but to them. If you cannot change, no problem, that’s how you know how to worship, continue with that pattern but please don’t be quick to judge them for worshipping in their own ways too – God is not mad at them for worshipping Him the way they know how as far as it is in line with the Word. Everything must not be according to your stereotype – adjust and be tolerant of their unorthodox ways. In the end, we all are working towards the same kingdom.

Lay emphasis only on the Word. Everything must be checked only by the Word not by schisms or personal convictions. If what you claim is unfounded in the Word, it’s your conviction don’t force it on others. Let’s arrest or at least reduce the unending exodus of our youths from their churches of birth into the hands of those who may mislead them eventually so that we do not kill these churches. Please make room for the champ in your place of worship.