Message Recap-Beyond Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

Our message today was geared toward helping youth to feel as though they matter in the church and understanding what they need most. Our pastor recommended a book called Soul Searching, which is recently released and it talks about today's youth and their religious and spiritual lives. From what I gather the book points to the fact that kids look up to their parents more than what society would have people to believe. And what kids are looking for is an authentic relationship with an adult and experiences that show that God matters. I agree with all of this and I guess I don't see it as new information. But it is good information to keep us on track as a church, and as individual families. I guess the reason churches have been noted to fail youth is that they apparently promote "Moralistic/Therapeutic Deism."
Moralistic-Believing religion is about doing good
Therapeutic-Religion is about being happy. Okay, I take personal offense to this one, as a trained therapist who sees the "need to be happy" not a product of "therapy" but an issue of materialism and consumerism. Churches are competing with each other like your favorite products for your loyalty. That is the issue there and the turnoff to teens and adults alike who can see through it. Therapy, in terms of psychotherapy is all about building and creating a safe, supportive relationship that also holds one accountable to changes in thinking and behavior. Therapy is mostly effective due to the relational aspect of it. It is about helping people heal and get unstuck, not about making them happy. Sorry, it just irritates me when people don't understand what therapy is all about and then mock it universally and then propose their own solution (healthy supportive authentic relationships) which is what therapy IS all about, and they claim it as their own new idea. I am glad though that they finally get it; relationships matter, alot!
Deism-God seen as a creature who helps us feel better when things go wrong. Again, I think this is a product of the "feel good church" that wants everyone to feel comfortable and relaxed not at all challenged, lest they go to "the happy church down the road."
So, the problem I think stems from the church trying to function as a business and many adults who have adopted that mindset see nothing wrong with it. That is the way everything functions right? But kids, they haven't had to survive in that kind of world yet, so they can see things with fresh eyes, and what they are being told about God and what they see happening in the church doesn't add up for them.
So, yes, those of us who are creating "church" for our kids, modeling what religion is all about need to take a good hard look at the lessons we are teaching them. They do want to know that God matters, that true transformation takes place in the lives of people, not that church is an entertaining place to be. We've bought into a system that doesn't work in the church. And we've relied on what market research tell us that people want out of their "religious churchgoing experience" rather than trust that God peers deep into the souls of his creation and knows exactly what they need.

Message Recap Ponderings on Spiderman's Peter Parker

Well, It's been a busy week and I haven't posted my Message Recap in a while. Been letting this past one simmer in my mental crockpot for a the past week. You will note that I refer to it on my other blog. It was good and seemed especially relevant as I went out of town Wednesday to talk to a group of moms about what matters most. The message Sunday was entitled "Ponderings on Spiderman's Peter Parker" Yes, we got another movie review in church complete with actual movie footage. How's that for visual aids? So we explored the life of Peter Parker alias "Spiderman" who is everyman turned superhero. Now, everyone wants to be a hero, but there is sacrifice in heroism. You have to give up the good life for the better life. You have to give up the known for the unknown, that which can be seen for that which is unseen. And sometimes, as my pastor said "you have to give up your dreams" When I went to speak at my sister's church to a group of moms about the value of motherhood, everyone went around the room and said what they would be doing if they were not a mom. Most of these women were highly educated with bachelor's or master's degrees. Some used to teach college, others high school, middle school or elementary school. There were women who put medical careers on hold. Some of them had lived lives of adventure previous to having children, traveling, mountain biking, and climbing. But the good life in every case was put on hold for the better life. And dreams, well they were put on hold, modified or let go. Remember Peter Parker- At one point, he doesn't believe that he wants the hero's life anymore. The hero's life can be pretty lonely. You find yourself out of synch with the rest of the world, and misunderstood. And sometimes you might wonder what you are missing out on. Peter Parker steps out of heroism for a while to live once again as everyman. But he knows too much now. He may be everyman but he knows something about darkness in the world and his ability to fight it that he never knew before. And I don't think you can go back once you realize what the stakes are. So he steps back into is spidey costume and chooses the life of the hero. You may wonder why this talk at church. What is the biblical relevance? It was all based on Hebrews 11. You can read the text through the Gateway Bible link to your right on this blog. Hebrews 11 is a list of heroes of the faith. Men who gave up the known for the unknown. Who had a vision for something bigger than mediocrity.
In my own personal bible study this week I came across Matthew 13:44-46 The parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl. This story relates the Kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field. I think hidden is a key word here. Its not out in the open for everyone to see and desire like a fancy sports car. It is hidden, mysterious but of great value, so recognizably great that the man who found it sold all he had (the good life) to purchase the field (the better life). Perhaps he sold what made him appear rich and successful for what appeared to be just a field. For me this was a wake up call to understand value, lasting value, not momentary value. For me, giving up a career to concentrate on motherhood and my family has more lasting value, I hope it turns out to be eternal value than anything I could have gained from a career. I have to march to the beat of a different drummer, but that's okay because I know I am not alone. I just met more women this past week who recognized the value of the hidden treasure of their children and gave up the good life for the better life and bought the field.