September 25, 2009

Adolescent Abandonment, Not in the Church?

As seen below, the story of Holden provides an image of youth abandonment. In the shadow of youth such as Holden lies the question: is there such thing as adolescent abandonment within the church?

For the good part of youth ministries past, the youth have been placed into what can only be described as a “youth church service,” far away from the “adult service,” further adding to youth abandonment because youth are again being forced away from any type of adult community. Research has shown that while youth services fulfill the needs and desires of youth to have their own safe space where they can be youth, it has a massive side affect, it can future disconnect youth from the church body. By the time youth graduate from high school many do not feel a part of the larger church body. So therefore, upon graduating from high school and being forced into the “big church service,” students do not feel like they belong.1 Upon entering into the larger church service, youth quickly do not feel at home because not only do they not see the person they called pastor for years, but they do not see anyone that they know or anyone who knows them. For anyone, entering into a church where they know no one can be lonely, but it is even lonelier for a person going through the transition from high school to post-high school.

It is both heartbreaking and mindboggling that one of the loneliest places for youth; a place where they feel almost completely disconnected from adults, is within the church. One would think that the church should be a place where students can feel completely welcome and embraced, yet sadly; the intuitional church looks much more like society. Therefore, it is no wonder that once youth are cast out of youth group into the larger church body; they flee toward any type of community that will invite them in.

In the book, Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers, Chap Clark states that through his research he has found that one of the main reasons youth go to parties is because they are seeking community with others. This should break anyone’s heart.2 Why is it that youth have to venture into the dark places of high school and college parties to find community instead of into the church?

May the church be a place where youth find community, not only with other students, but also with adults. May the church not be a place of abandonment, but of hope and God’s redemption displayed by the body of Christ, our Lord.

(In the next posting we will explore how the church might change to no longer be a place of abandonment.)

1 For great information and research on this topic see http://fulleryouthinstitute.org/college-transition/
2 Clark, Chap, Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers, (Baker Academics, Grand Rapids, 2004), 158- 168

September 22, 2009

A Tale of Adventure, Abandonment, & Truth

Kicked out of his prep school because of his grades, Holden Caulfield, age 17, is traveling around New York City killing time before he will return home for Christmas break. For a majority of Holden’s life he has bounced from prep school to prep school for one reason or another, but mostly because of his struggle to find any drive to do well in school. Holden is afraid of returning home too early because he is worried how his parents will react because he has been kicked out from another school. Holden therefore decides to go on an adventure that leads him from his school into the city of New York and eventually back to where it all started, his home. Behind the antics of this seventeen-year-old are deep hurt and pain that stem from his parents’ or any adult’s lack of involvement in his life. The adventures of Holden Caulfield, as told by Holden himself in the book Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, have become a tale all to true.

At first Holden appears to be a child crying out for attention by acting out against everyone and everything in his environment. Yet, as the reader continues, the character of Holden becomes much more complex. While the reader can never really tell if Holden’s tales are truly what they appear to be, through Holden’s depiction of his own story a teenager who is searching for true connection with another, looking for his purpose in life, trying to discover grace, and find love. In fact the boy character goes to extreme measures for even human interaction, even buying a prostitute one night, just to have someone to talk to. It is never clear why Holden is the way he is, but there is a clear lack of adult influence, community, and trust in his life. One point in the story that this becomes very clear is when Holden, while seeking a place to stay, turns to an old teacher, who after giving him advice about life, does something that makes Holden feel taken advantage of. While it is not clear whether Holden is justified in his feelings, what becomes evident is his total lack of trust in all adults. In fact, this one event leaves Holden with the desire to run further away from the life he has known and the parents who raised him.

As I read I could not help but think of today’s youth and how much of their hurts and desires are perfectly depicted within Holden’s character. I was reminded of a time when I sat down and had a conversation with some youth during a visit to a local high school during the school’s lunch time. As I sat there and listened to the cries and hearts of ten youth who told me about their disconnection from any adults in their life, use of drugs and alcohol to feel something and have fun, their lack of trust even in their closet friends, and their desire for grace and love from anyone willing to hear broke my heart. I remember thinking to myself, how have we allowed this to happen? Many of today’s youth have drifted far away from just the antics of a person going through adolescence, but are now dealing with much more. Current youth are being forced to cope with the hurt and pain that has been passed from generation to generation, still left unredeemed by the only one who can redeem them.

During my reading of J.D. Salinger’s book I began to see the faces of the youth in my community in the tales of Holden, in the hurt, pain, and abandonment of a boy on the run in search of adventure and someone, anyone, who might show him love.

May the Church be that person. May the Church be the one’s who give hope to the hopeless and show love to those teens who need love. May the Church join in the work of God in the world and manifest the Kingdom of God in world of today’s teens.

September 15, 2009

My Hope: A conversation

Let me introduce myself, my name is Steven Johnson and I have a heart for youth, families, and the church. I don't really call myself a visionary, but I have visions for the church. I don't really believe I have the best ideas, but I have good ones. I don't think I know all, but I know some things. All I am is a person who loves God, works hard to love and serve others, and has a passion and call to serve youth and families. This is why I write. This is why this blog exists, for ideas, conversation, thoughts that circle around the topics that effect youth and families in today's world. My hope is that somehow this blog will be used by God as he furthers his Kingdom in the world. May you, whomever you are, join in the conversation with me...and may his Kingdom come.