Categories: uncategorized
Date: 03 December 2004 22:36:21
Well tonight was interesting. I went along to an evangelistic event at our church for young people, which involved rock band from some youth mission type thing doing a mix of music & games. The music was actually very good, kiddy grundge & the games & talky thing was enjoyed by the young people which was good.
The bit where they went on to "sell Jesus to the kids" wasn't too full on, which was a relief. I am finding it increasingly unnerving when I see a relationship with God as something which is packaged as (a) really cool, or (b) really simple, and nice which you can buy into without thinking about it. That said, I do believe there is a place for some kind of basic mission, but I think it's more about lifestyle "out there" than sales pitches "in church", where God almost becomes like a timeshare option. However, it's not my place to say how God can / should work, so maybe there is still a place for evangelistic events like this, which at the end of the day meant the young people there had a good time in a safe environment.
As a parent I find it a difficult one; Third Party is starting to get to that age where she will get into the whole sub-culture which being a young person within a church gives (which is 99% healthy), but I hope that through my input @ home, & the experiences I provide her with through Greenbelt & stuff that she sees God is not subject to a nice formular and the faith that (I hope) she has is something unique between her & God in some ways, whilst also being something that relates to the wider community, which she will need to keep authentic rather than just turning it into some kind of cultural badge of acceptability.
That all probably sounds a bit waffly, but what I think I'm saying is that I'm realising that whilst I've been trying to get my own head sorted about what my relationship with "formal church" is I hadn't really taken on board that what I think about conservative evangelical Christianity also impacts my hopes and fears for Third Party. Basically I realise I've been completely self-centred in my exploring so far, & need to take on board the fact my beliefs changing has a knock on effect, I am not an island.