Almost Christian

I spent quite awhile reading this book. Not because it was boring and impossible but because it gave me so much to think about. I knew that this book delved into the sociological research of Christian Smith and Melinda Denton that exposes that the nature of America's teens is to be moralistic therapeutic deists instead of Christians. It is. But it is more. It is a thought-provoking book written for parents, youth workers, and all Christians who love and care about the generation of teens/young adults in our country.

Years of working with youth has left me a little discouraged. Kenda Creasy Dean, the author, gets that. It is clear that churches are much of the problem. They have aimed too small where youth are concerned, coming up with special programs that don't expect too much of them and puts the focus squarely on youth themselves rather than Jesus, and the world around them that He loves. Dean cites how her research led her to see how much youth wanted real relationships with adult mentors and not just a youth program. She was excited. She shared her findings with her church and provided a sign up sheet for adults to mentor a teen. One person signed up. It is a problem. Much of the church would like to just assign teens to professional youth workers. (Whom in my experience rarely are "professionals" and often lack the wisdom to run a well-rounded ministry.)

Probably most indicative though were that the youth/young adults of America are really just reflective of the culture at large. And particularly of their parents. Highly committed Christian youth typically come from highly committed Christian parents. There are exceptions, of course, either way.

The section of the book that most inspired me was based on the book Interpretation and Obedience by Walter Brueggemann (whose book on praying the psalms is one of my favorites). This book is now on my list to read. "...Brueggemann argues that the cultural conditions of postmodernity require the church to function as a bilingual community, conversant in both the traditions of the church and the narratives of the dominant culture." This bilingualism approach is based on the model of 2 Kings 18-19 in which the Assyrians have surrounded Jerusalem. The Assyrian negotiator stands on the wall taunting God and giving conditions for surrender. The Hebrews are engaged in negotiating with him in Aramaic which is "the official imperial language of those who dismiss Yahweh." But behind the wall, down on the ground the conversation going on is happening in Hebrew. Yahweh is being addressed, and the people are recounting God's faithfulness by telling their stories. "God calls God's people both to converse fluently behind the wall, using the Christian community's distinctive language, perceptions, and assumptions, and to take part in the conversation on the wall, which requires competence in the language, perceptions, and assumptions of the broader culture."

I loved this. I can so clearly visualize this truth because I have seen so many failures in the two extremes. I know a host of families who were terrified of the culture and built a cultural moat around their households and thought that if they blocked anything from the outside culture they could protect their kids from the negative aspects of it. And then I know the families who did the opposite, blindly turned their children loose into the dominant culture without ever building up their repertoire of faith knowledge. (Yes, they went to Sunday school but since most children's church/Sunday schools don't get past a snack, a craft, and a brief Bible story in which absolutely no relevance to anyone's life is ever discussed, well, what can you expect?) Both kinds of parents seem to have trouble talking to their kids about issues. Dean's book points out that while we can expect children and teens to parrot the beliefs of their parents because they realize that it benefits them, that eventually when they continue to talk about their faith, it is more likely to become real, their own. And thus the bilingual aspect is so critical. And it is also critical because faith that is not missional is not Christian faith.

This book caused me to reflect on my own youth experience. There is an intangible quality to how a child comes to faith. But for all the things in which I can influence my children to grow up in the faith, I will gladly use my influence. I had a youth group in high school/early college that taught me some valuable things; but it had pitfalls. I seem to have missed those dark holes and I think it was because of my parents and their absolute fearlessness to discuss any topic with me. (Ok, my mom. My dad was quaking in his shoes a lot of the time but when he talked, I knew it was hard for him and I really listened..)

During these young years, I know I'm called to live out my faith in front of my little ones and teach them the faith. More and more I will be called to translate for them; how their faith affects what they watch, whom they date, how they spend their money, how they make their money. My hope is that they will be bilingual, ready to share their faith with a world in ways I could never dream.