In the previous post, we discovered who the real person behind seeing numbers as success is. The fact…
What do your students think about when they think about God?
The longer I am in ministry, the more convinced I become that students in our Youth Ministries simply do not correctly understand the character and the nature of God. This has major ramifications.
In fact, almost every situation I seem to find myself counseling students comes back to a poor understanding of the genuine character and nature of God. Students seem to understand God as being one of three ways:
An all loving God who stands in heaven blowing kisses at all those who pass by.
This causes major issues for them when life seems to take a turn for the worst. A prosperity driven God, if you will. It doesn’t cause a problem because God isn’t all loving; it is a problem, because their understanding of what love is leads them to a misunderstanding of the God who loves them.
As a result they have no way to process what they are experiencing in regards to their faith. This is obviously unhealthy, and can quickly turn a student away from their faith.
A disinterested God who doesn’t really care
A position that God is out there somewhere, but isn’t really involved in my life or doesn’t care is a common view I find students holding. Many may not even realize they feel this way. They may not express it in so may words, but it’s there.
You’ll hear it in statements made about not “feeling” God when they pray or worship. They may see others who seem to experience God in ways they can’t seem to. They understand Jesus loves them; they believe He died for them; they just don’t think He is interested in their daily lives.
As a result they struggle to find their place with other believers. They struggle to read their Bibles. Often times it turns to bitterness when they feel like they need God, and He seems nowhere to be found.
A mean old grumpy man who stands and waits for them to mess up
This comes largely from the guilt and shame students continually carry. In general, we don’t do students in our Youth Ministry any favors here. We often run to the actions rather than the heart. We try to fix them from the outside in.
As a result we end up reminding them (which they do not need) of all the ways they are failing to be “good Christians.” In the midst of this is an impossible standard none of us could meet. Moralistic Deism is a no win situation, and is in complete opposition to the true character and nature of God and the gospel.
Students live defeated lives, and never experience the joy that God gives.
We must constantly steer students to the character and nature of God.
Students must see God for who He is. They must see Him as compassionate, merciful, just, righteous, wrathful, forgiving, loving, and good. They must understand that God is for them. Not because they are the point, but because He is. He is magnified in them when they honor Him and make much of Him in all of life.
If they fail to understand the answer to the question of “what is God really like?” then they will fail altogether. We will fail them if we do not rightly steer them to this.
