Maybe it shouldn't make me proud to hear my students expressing some righteous indignation, but I admit that I felt that way today. Righteous anger can sometimes really be nothing more than pride not-so-subtly rearing its ugly head, but it can also be a sign of maturity. So, let me explain what happened and why the attitude of my junior and senior Bible class encouraged me that they are growing.
Today, we had a speaker come into our chapel to share about the 30 Hour Famine ministry of World Vision. (http://30hourfamine.org/) He actually seemed like a really solid, humble guy and I enjoyed his presentation on social justice stemming from Micah 6:8. I want to be totally clear here and state that I think the work that World Vision does to create awareness about hunger and to raise funds to feed the needy is wonderful. The purpose of the speaker's visit was to encourage students to attend a 30 Hour Famine event at a local church. (To summarize this event, students get pledges for every hour that they don't eat during this teen-centered event. They do some community work during the night and a lock-in is held where kids hang out and fast.) I think it's a good way for kids to become aware of a need in a tangible way, so I support the kids participating. What I found a little off-putting---and I later found out ruffled my students feathers as well---was that after a great presentation the students were encouraged by the speaker to attend the event because they would have a "sweet juice bar" and several great bands for the kids to listen to. Now, it probably sounds like I'm just picking everything apart and being a jerk. I'm not. I just know that my kids don't need that kind of incentive to help others.
Later, when I talked to my class, they were quick to mention how they felt a little patronized by the incentives to participate. One student said, "I don't need all that to do what's right..." Another commented that it didn't sound like "suffering if I get a juice bar." Sometimes, I think, we don't give teenagers enough credit. We assume we have to put together a cool event or flashy worship service or attractive youth room in order to get kids to be willing to do something "Christian." This isn't true. Kids are spiritually astute enough to know that something is missing in their lives when God is not there. They are hungry for significance and wholeness. They aren't opposed to considering Christ as an answer to the void in their lives. When you get a solid group of Christian kids like we have at VCA, their hearts are already moved towards helping the helpless. They need awareness. Awareness IS the incentive to act.
These principles apply to adults too. People know they are missing something. If what we provide is more about aesthetics and less about authenticity, we will find people quickly becoming unamused and moving on to the next form of entertainment. If we're really the Church, we don't need the bells and whistles to be moved by the Spirit. That goes for our kids too...
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