Millenials, Losing Faith and Why Love Matters

I never subscribed to the “no-Dating”, extra-Biblical trend of Joshua Harris or bowed to Marty Samson’s creative giftedness with Hillsong. I learned my lesson years ago, after seeing Todd Bentley in person, at a small church in Lyndon, Washington (Just south of Canada).

Todd’s spirit was strong, yet his self-grandios boasting of “annointedness”, focus on materialism and not-so-subtle “hint” at what a blessing it is when people give him new Rolex’s, made my stomach sick for days.

But it wasn’t until his assistant (Still in active ministry) walked up to the book table and approached me with what I can say seemed like creepy intentions…

Let alone the fact that he had a wife and the child he prayed for screamed and screamed to be let loose from his “all-for-show” ineffective praying.

You might say today, I gained a healthy caution about Christian leaders.

Far too many I have seen love the limelight, then either deflate or destroy themselves with egos, sin, or pride.

The men and women I admire and respect most live quiet (but highly effective) lives. They don’t fall from self-made castles build in the name of Christ.

Too many are left bleeding, when the cards of man, world and self-centered (instead of Christ-centered) Christianity begins to fall.

Yet, this culture we live in says, “People have the answers. If we just learn more, grow more, seek to ‘know’ more….somehow our lives will be perfect and all will be well.”

In recent weeks, as predominate Christian leaders are retracting or renouncing their faith, (which has become somewhat of a hyper-culture move or trend) I sat silently, reading too many articles of how…

Christians are shooting their wounded, instead of loving them back to Jesus.

We pull arrows after aiming loud and wide, because in a world of ‘us’ vs. ‘them’, those hurting now don’t belong to us, so why show them compassion or mercy?

But, can I just ask…

What if the ones we shouldn’t be shooting are those earnestly seeking….those disillusioned by faith with honest, sincerity of heart and purpose?

What if the proud making alters to their truth, or their way, leaders pointing to themselves, instead of declaring Jesus, are those we should most fear?

Wolves in sheep clothing, those with smiling faces and ear appeasing theology; what if they are the most dangerous?

He was caring and compassionate, a sincere worshiper who loved Jesus. Today, I read on Facebook how He has become a self-declared athiest. My heart hurt….literally hurts after I read it.

His family is dear to ours.  Yet, all this change came from his tainted history with Christianity, the love He saw in sinners, and the fact that technology is a gaping pit, with the lure of science and culture.

But we loved this Millenial when He served Jesus. And we will love and pray for him still as we know Jesus will pursue Him.

And I wonder, can you tell a true Christian, not by His words or outward appearance, but by if he/she lives a life-style of gives vs. taking, poured out love vs. haording and living self seeking?

• When did love stop becoming the measure?
• When did we stop sitting with people in their questions?
• When did we silence others by our boastfulness? Stop comforting those instead of judging and rejecting them?
• When did we begin shutting out those with different theology? Begin hating those people who don’t believe or look exaclty like we do?

Love stretches wide and far. Love embraces the scars and walks towards those who are hurting, instead of running away.

I will never forget the child that was like my son. His story still grips me. (Read it here) He was a boy not deserving to die, close to my heart, loving, kind….

And yet, I hear the church couldn’t love.

For good reasons, they didn’t embrace and believe like He did on matters as weighty as he dealt with….

But when did the bar fall so far away from ‘love’?

It’s a sad story. One my heart will never forget. Good people left…While the church stood tall, unfazed by it in their pride.

Yet we turn away, blame someone else, and just label it “sin” that takes a young life.

Will we one day see how modern-society, American-style Christianity, is wrong?

There are many like him; Jarrid Wilson, for example. The most recent.

The self-righteous find it convenient to chalk his suicide up as “mental illness” or some other situation.

But I wonder how many in the church had failed Him? And where were those who loved, unconditionally like Jesus, in his life?

My guess is, no one dies prematurely, except from lack of love.

How have you and I been loving others lately?

I read the other day, Christians need to start growing in discernment; the cavern between sheep and goats is growing. God is separating the wheat and tares.

And I have to agree. When a tainted leader comes in the name of Christianity and can draw thousands, while praciticing deceitful sin over and over again…

Then keep preaching in the name of Jesus, while knowingly living accepting evil…

It makes sense why so many Millenials are walking away from faith.

When the drug addict sits outside our church buildings, gets passed frequently, are judged and looked down upon…

Or worse yet, are ignored when they come in our place of worship….

And when large-house-living people feel better with polished living, plastic communities, blind, hidden sin that rejects the broke or imperfect…

Haven’t we gotten it all wrong?

Have we stopped preaching a pure gospel, (One of grace, love and and the power of the blood of Jesus) and as a result we’re now witnessing a watered-down people who simply have lost their way?

Have we forgotten what God has done for us, so we tell funny stories and miss that there are congregants sitting next to us, honestly contemplating suicide?

Has our culture of information, meant to help us, made us more evil?

Have we become proud because of so much knowledge and therefore lifted ourselves up above Jesus…forgetting our worth is in Him?

Have we forsaken the Millenials in our selfishness, while leaving government organizations to parent and “teach” our children?

Where has love been lost?

And why aren’t young people, or anyone else for that matter, seeing a Gospel that is light, bright, loving, and compelling, as in Scripture?

I am the first to say I fail in so many ways at being a perfect representation of Jesus, all the while desperately seeking to have His heart, know His ways, and pour out grace because of the great love He has shown to me….

And yes, I know, Church leaders will fall. Because in the end…

The world will continue to groan for hope and reach for anything to find a Savior.

My guess is, if Jesus tread this earth in well-worn sandals, the places He might go first, would not be political or church buildings.

My guess is He’d walk humbly the streets, finding and sitting with the most broken….

Don’t the sick need most a physician? Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t run from those losing their faith, but is continually pursues them….

So, church friends, why shouldn’t we?