Power Line: Editor, edit thyself.

Power Line blog has two very good articles by William Katz. Mr Katz focuses on what the MSM (Main Stream Media) must do to regain the respect of the average American news consumer. He is dead on (at least as far as he goes). Part 1. Part 2.

Security on the Home Front

This article by James Carafano is a clear reminder that vigilance is the price of freedom. Dr. Carafano's piece does not really set out to be political, so it does not mention the administration that has held the line against terrorism, or the half of congress that seems dead set on knocking down the walls that are currently protecting freedom here and elsewhere.

Dr. Carafano's piece is an eye-opener. I think I have heard of each of these, but the consistent drone of "what have you done for us lately" coming from the left seems to drown out the truth and purge the memory. This is a needed reminder.

Godly Parents or World-like Churches

A recent post on Boundlessline caught my attention. Steve Watters references Dr. Christian Smith in an article in Books and Culture on the widening gap between teens leaving churches and returning when they start having children.

As I read some of Dr. Smith's article I sensed that the prevailing sense is that such a "leaving" is the normal thing to happen, due to several social forces on youth. I do not doubt that these forces may be there. However, I wonder if this is more the result of parents not cultivating the strength in their youth to deal with the forces than the church dealing with its own relevance to these young adults. I do not dispute that churches, in dealing with our culture, must be aware of the forces being brought to bear on the people. But this is true for adults and youth.

In my experience, the more significant force in the life of youth and young adults, is the life-long influence of their parents. It is from Mom and Dad that the value of the fellowship of the saints, and the value of the teaching of God's Word comes. It is here that youth and therefore young adults grow to understand the value of serving God, by seeing Mom and Dad do it, and then doing it with them.

In the early church, the youth ministry was not about having fun, and parties. It was about challenging youth to godliness, and even to such deliberate action that would lead to martyrdom. And the early church flourished, in the midst of the most self-centered and hedonistic culture of its day.

I want the youth ministry here to reach young people, and help them prepare to be young adults. But it seems to me that trying to figure out how we can be relevant to their worldview is missing the point. We may have to do some of that with the young adults we have today. But, this will just continue to spiral down if parents do not seek to pass on their value of God and His church to their children.

How is this done? No room for an extensive treatment here. However, when our families only attend church when there is nothing better to do, when recreation takes the place of the Lord's church, when the attitude is that all we need to do is show up once and we've paid our God off, then we will continue to see the gap widening. And it will not merely widen on an age vector. It will continue to widen in the spirit. Soon, we will have a whole generation, raised by "Christian" parents, who do not know God, nor will they care.

Student Volunter Movement

I came across this opportunity for young adults. Anyone who can get away for this, should consider it. Group: Student Global Impact. This is a ministry of Inter-City Baptist in Allen Park, MI.

Worth Considering

Rod Decker has said some things that pastors often say, but few academics will say, let alone few in academic administration. His article "A Teaching/Ministry Career" is worth the read.