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Open Letter To Stu’s Crew

February 14th, 2005 · 2 Comments · 15 views

To Stu’s Leaders:

This week you’re probably getting ready to take your life group down the fasting path! How much fun is that? (Can e-devos properly communicate sarcasm?) I thought this would be a good time to remind us all of a couple of things.

1. Spiritual Disciplines often become outside markers that other people use to determine inward maturity. The rub is – if we ‘model’ and teach these disciplines like Jesus did – no one should know that we are praying or fasting or marinating on God’s word. Jesus said if you do that in public for man’s approval, you have received your reward.

2. Lifewalk students where you have been or are going. Overflow ministry, remember? I got some great insight from a friend this week. “How wise is it to teach on a discipline that isn’t working for you or you’re not doing?�? Short answer – it isn’t. Plus, authenticity is going to go further than doctrinal purity. Trust me on this one.

3. Keep focusing on the point of disciplines – Jesus. Great – another Sunday School answer. Yes, but it’s true. The danger of the culture we live in is that the “Disciplines” become the focus instead of the encounter with God. That is idolatry at worse, pride at best. Keep running with your crew to the “thin places.�?

Why am I bringing all this up? I’m recalling a recent conversation with a youth pastor friend. When he heard we were going through some spiritual disciplines, his response was “Man! That is awesome! You really are leading your youth group to be deeper and not just a program!�?

I cringed. I didn’t really know how to respond other than to say “yeah, something like that anyway.” I wish I could have that moment back. I think I speak for us all when I say the point is not to have a “deeper youth group” and to run a ministry that baffles the program-aholics. (Although, I do admit that the latter might be a noble goal!)

The point really is to ruin people with Jesus. The point is for my shallow, pitiful example of Christ to pale in the experience of the real thing. Hence, the disciplines.

Keep running!

Tags: spiritual formation · youth ministry

2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Mile20 // Feb 14, 2005 at 12:15 pm

    Not sure there will be much to talk about this week. Last week, almost to the man, they reported an empty relationship with God, at least over the last week. Typical excuses and guilt. You can’t go deep if you are not in the water.

  • 2 I Want It All // Feb 14, 2005 at 3:56 pm

    i’m using it as an excuse not to feed them……the thin place may be that we don’t gain weight. i’m not sure that teens can fully embrace fasting. doesn’t mean that they don’t need to understand the discipline and be able to use the movement to a place of experience instead of substitution.

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