25 June, Youth and Campus Ministry Class

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Though I couldn't join the class discussion on various issues in doing ministry to youth, I somehow could reflect myself on those topics.Almost all our classmates, except from fellow students from Myanmar and India, shared our reflection on the movie "Saved" (the whole class watched the movie last wednesday). The point of discussion was on the role of Mandy Moore (as Mary Faith or Fay something like that). The role she played was more or less similar to the spirituality of the young people who are involve in the charismatic youth mission today. For example, the pop culture infilterated the worship style. We can't make much difference today between praise and worship group or rock band performing in a concert. Yes, Jesus is Rock! but not the rock of rock & roll. In fact, Jesus is beyond any songs and praise. I am not crtitical about the Praise and Worship but I am concern about the infilteration. Like one youth was misled in the movie, thinking having sex with her gay-boyfriend was the will of God. Than one may ask, what is the will of God? Something true! something noble! something great!and the more somethings! But don't we understant that we can't understant God's will unless it is reveal to us throught Scripture and godly guidance from godly people. One may ask who is godly then? WHosoever fear God and whosoever faithful to God and God's call. It can be pastors, evangelists, lay people! Our logic is not a good guide for knowing God's will. Holy Scripture and Holy Spirit are the only faithful guide who can lead us to know God's will. Mandy Moore's attitude has something to do with her upbringing. However, I am not trying to say, our upbringing is all that matter in our attitude but many times our attitude traced back to our upbringing. Our childhood is very important. If we look Moore from another angle, we can appreciate her zeal in sharing her faith. The only problem here is she is too obsess with what she believe to be true.Another intriguing topic is the way how we open our ministry to the young people. Our instructor was right when she said that most of our evangelistic meetings start with a warning of being in SIN. Certainly, the Filipinos young people will have a problem in this method. However, for instance, like India, we valued the instructions of elders and gurus very much. Most of the times, their instructions were followed without much questions. This is so in the assumtion that they were telling from their experience. So it is same with the gospel, when evangelist or pastor preached that we need to get save from our sinful life, so that we can enjoy being in God. So we readily acknowledge our sinful life and confess it. Infact, no matter how scare or not, we fell guilty of our wrong doing and certainly want to get ride of it. If I don't have anything really bad, I just quitly sit back the pew and continue listening. For many of us, it is a warning for our better. Our parents are usually deciplinarian in nature. So we grew up listening to many threats and warnings. May be we are use to it when someone warn about the deadly hell etcetera etcetera. It scare the hell out of it! Surely, our message should be in context. Someitmes, we need to be warn and sometimes we need to be lifted up.About masturbation!I would say, it is sin. Because it start with all in our mind. If our mind is not dirty, how can we probably come up with such idea. IT IS SIN.

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