Hubby and I went with my parents last night to see the movie. I would say the whole crowd was Christians. Either way, we watched the movie and it moved me in a way I didn't expect it to. I don't know if any of you have seen it, I really went because my mother wanted to see it. But it's about what was called the Jesus Revolution or Movement that happened in the 70s. Time even wrote an article about the amazing amount of young people that were baptized and came to the Lord during this time. So the movie shows a typical church and pastor and hippies lining up to come to church and how that was perceived by the church members. I'll leave it there in case you choose to see the movie.
As the young "seekers" explore drugs and other things to get a high, one of them says "there is no truth". And that hit me rather hard because my 18yr old nephew and I were talking this weekend and he said the same thing. We don't usually talk on the phone, but got into some deep conversation and it gripped my heart when he said that. He was raised in church, his parents are Christians, his grandparents, but one, are Christians same with aunts and uncles. Yet talking to him he seemed to have a lot of distrust, a fatalistic view of the world, like there is no truth or control. I gently corrected him that God is truth and he conceded enough to say truth was hidden and that God was in control but it didn't see clear to me he believed that.
The thing is I know this is the feeling of the youth today. And I'm wondering how we cross this gap and reach out to this confused and lost generation. They literally don't know what gender they are. How do we reach them? They are looking for love, hope, a place to belong. How can we show the love of God to a young transgender, to a young homosexual, to a confused youth? That's why the Asbury Revival was so important. The youth of today have been lied to, they feel they cannot trust anyone or anything. And the last place they would think to turn to is the church. In fact I would think most would think the church hates them.
Where is our outreach, to the youth or just people of any age? As a church how are you reaching out? If you don't attend a church, how do you personally try to reach the lost? I heard an interesting song years ago and it would do well here. It's called If We are the Body. I will just share a few lines.
But if we are the body
Why aren't his arms reaching?
Why aren't his hands healing?
Why aren't his words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't his feet going?
Why is his love not showing them
There is a way, there is a way
So I'd love to have a discussion about how we reach this generation for Jesus and have another revolution. Any thoughts to share?