Today, the youth ministry at my church is fasting all day in preparation for an event tonight that involves 6 hours of INTENSE bible study known as Secret Church, led by Birmingham pastor David Platt. A number of adults in our church have also committed to fast today, praying for our students. It is a beautiful thing to see students denying themselves in pursuit of God, and even more beautiful to hear of others who are denying themselves on the behalf of those students. I am praying for both the students and those joining them today, and I thought of a passage from C.S. Lewis that applies to the spiritual practice of fasting. I want to share it with you to keep you focused as you fast.
Just Thinking
Tid-bits and Trifles on Faith, Culture, and Church from Whitney Clayton
Category Archives: Youth
A Deadly Need in the Church
This post has a pretty limited audience. I am writing to pastors. I am calling you to work through some tough issues for the sake of the Millennials in your church. In case you do not know, Millennials are the young adults born between 1980 and 2000. Here are a few articles for those interested in learning about our habits in the workplace, our good points, our bad points, and our beliefs. We are an 80 million strong nightmare for most authority figures from the Baby Boomer Generation.
Those authority figures include pastors.
Pivotal Truths for Young People: Losing
When is the last time you heard something that really changed you? As a young person I encountered multiple truths over the past 20 years that have truly changed my life. Most of these truths were given to me by men far greater than I am, and I want to pass them along to young people who may not have the opportunity to hear them.
These truths are pivotal in that they can help you swing from one manner of thinking and acting to another, and each of these represent a major shift in the way I approached my life at the time I received them. I am going to do a series of blog posts over the next few weeks explaining these truths in hopes that other young people will be changed by them as I was changed.
Pivotal Truths for Young People: Read, Travel, and Connect
When is the last time you heard something that really changed you? As a young person I encountered multiple truths over the past 20 years that have truly changed my life. Most of these truths were given to me by men far greater than I am, and I want to pass them along to young people who may not have the opportunity to hear them.
These truths are pivotal in that they can help you swing from one manner of thinking and acting to another, and each of these represent a major shift in the way I approached my life at the time I received them. I am going to do a series of blog posts over the next few weeks explaining these truths in hopes that other young people will be changed by them as I was changed.
Chandler, Platt, and Driscoll: Why them?
I just came back from four great days in Louisville, KY, at the Cross Conference, a conference for college students centered upon the call and task of foreign missions. The plenary sessions were delivered by some of the most popular men among young evangelicals. John Piper opened, Matt Chandler spoke, David Platt electrified, Kevin DeYoung challenged, Richard Chin encouraged, and thousands of college aged students were enthralled. The conference was fantastic. It moved me deeply, challenging me to look at my life and ask difficult questions of myself and my ministry. I will talk more about that in the future as I sort through my thoughts and prayers.
What I want to comment on today is a preaching style that seems to be sweeping the hearts and minds of the millenial generation: namely, the unapologetic and authoritative proclamation of truth. Continue reading
A Question for Young Christians
What frustrates you most about being a young Christian?
There are a lot of problems which, although not limited to young people, usually epitomize youth.
Usually we are the ones who say stupid things, 
do stupid things, 
refuse to learn from our mistakes,
and glorify others who do the same.
*This does not refer to the President; it demonstrates the lunacy of Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber capturing more of our attention than him.
And I am not trying to bash these people. I think they make the same mistakes we do; they just have millions of people watching them do it. I think a lot of us simply struggle with normal difficulties that come from being young. Which is why I ask the question for a bigger project on which I’m working.
So again, what frustrates you most about being a young Christian?
Your issue may not even be something you do. Your frustration may be a difficulty which comes from other people but centers on your youth. You tell me.
I ask this question for two reasons.
1. We live in a culture which idolizes youth (as a life stage), and, like all idolatry, it could dangerously distract you from feeling a subtle unease with the limitations of your age. Because there are limitations.
2. I encounter a major frustration related to my age fairly regularly in ministry, and I wonder if others encounter similar problems.
The frustration I encounter regularly in ministry is my limited knowledge of God’s Word. I know this is most heavily related to my personal study habits, so don’t think I am simply copping out here. I could study more, care more, and devote more to the Bible. But at the same time, I do not expect to respond with the Biblically saturated responses of someone who has followed the Lord for longer than I have been alive.
Just this past Sunday I had a faithful member approach me for advice, which I worked through over a ten minute period, giving a convoluted response to a tough dilemma. Our senior pastor walked by, so I grabbed him to ask his advice also. He quoted one scripture (that I cannot remember ever having read!) and gave all the answer this man needed. It took him 4 seconds! That exemplifies the benefit of years in comparison with the limitation of youth.
Although I encounter my own limitation with God’s Word fairly regularly, I do not think it is my biggest frustration.
My biggest frustration with my own youth is the difficulty I have controlling passion where passion is not necessary. Every anthill seems like a mountain to conquer, and I attack those anthills with gusto! I already see where wisdom tempers and challenges my youthful passion, but it is a long slow walk from youthful immaturity to wizened age. That is my frustration.
I ask you though, what is your greatest frustration with being a young Christian?
Just Thinking 