Rant

This past Sunday I ended up ranting/lecturing in front of my students.  They, as they tend to do occasionally, decided that Sunday was the day to laugh and giggle during Sunday school and make fun of the other people (myself included) in the room .

I can recall a time when such fits would anger me because I had spent so much time preparing our time together.  Didn’t they know how much time I had spent planning this time to teach?  Why weren’t they listening to me?  I had SO much wisdom to share with them.  Didn’t they know how much better life would be if they sat still for a while?  Shouldn’t they affirm me after the amazing job I was doing?

In essence I wondered, “Why aren’t these students recognizing and affirming my work…or me?” Pathetic.  Trust me, I know.  Praise the Lord for their sake and mine that I have matured beyond this point.  But these were not the questions that were racing through my mind this past weekend.

Rather, the questions that were running through my mind were, “Why are these students more interested in Rebecca Black’s music video Friday instead of the Bible?  Why do they spend more time memorizing movie quotes than they do scripture?  Is the depth of their dreams for life wrapped up into Jersey Shore?  Is that show the ultimate?  Is life all about looking good and having fun for them?”  The reality of the situation (pun intended) is that for many of them life is about those things.  They are bombarded with messages about what matters and what’s valuable in this life, and as many of us know, the world does not value Jesus’ message much.

And again, as is often the case with youth pastors, my heart hurt for these young people.  God has a good plan for their lives.  Scripture has a valuable word to speak to them.  The potential pay off of their joining Jesus’ revolution of redemption and love is enormous.

“Your life has purpose beyond making people laugh.  You have meaning beyond what you can imagine.  Wouldn’t you just be open to hearing about how you matter?  Would you please be open to listening to how Jesus loves the other students in this room?  Can you please silent yourself enough to know how you might make a difference in this world?  Do you care about being all that you can be in Christ?”

So I broke the teaching/discussion about three quarters of the way through and ranted asking those questions.  I probably also said something brilliant like, “Do you really think Lada Gaga and Rebecca Black have more to offer to you than Jesus Christ?”  Yet I live another day to try and get across to these students how significant they are and how exciting life in Jesus is.

Lord, please teach me and lead me to minister faithfully and effectively so that these students don’t miss out on life in Christ.  Bless your church with fruit O God.

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