Apathy

According to the Encarta Dictionary (The dictionary from Microsoft Word) apathy means lack of enthusiasm or energy and also emotional emptiness. Unfortunately, I believe that this can describe the climate for many of America’s youth.

Some of the most popular music that this generation listens to is known as “emo” music. For those of you not familiar with this music, it basically makes kids want to lie around in their room and be depressed. Growing up with bands like Guns & Roses and Pearl Jam I personally think this music is terrible, but that’s neither here nor there.

I get to spend a lot of time with America’s youth on school campuses and churches. During this time I have had two major revelations occur to me. The first one is that many of today’s youth are apathetic and the second is that they want truth in their lives. Of course, when you put the two together, they’re too lazy to go get truth even if it’s found only blocks away.

How then can this situation be resolved? Initially we must realize that there are many legitimate reasons why young people are apathetic. Those reasons vary from loss of a parent(s), drug use, rejection, a lack of personal identity, to various other causes. Many adults, parents specifically, want to know what the cure for this epidemic is.

Well, this is it in a nutshell; we must bring something into their life that is real and true. This generation has played the best video games, heard the best music (In their opinion), and has seen some great inventions. They have seen their parent’s and grandparent’s achievements and failures, and arrogantly believe that this world cannot offer them anything new.

The ironic thing is that they’re right, to a degree. The wisest man, whose name isn’t Jesus, in the bible said this same thing almost 3,000 years ago. He said, “There is nothing new under the sun.”* What people are looking for is satisfaction that will sustain for longer than a few days or even a few years. This is the same reason why the church has had little success impacting this generation.

Too many youth groups have become fixated on lights, games and fluffy feel good sermons. When the fluff becomes the focus, fluff is what you’ll get in return. The funny thing is this, kids don’t want fluff, they want truth! The problem lies in that too many Youth Pastors can’t handle the truth.

I want to challenge those who are in authority over our teenagers. Don’t replace the meat for tofu; challenge them with the Word of God! Kids don’t really want to be apathetic; they just haven’t been given a reason why they shouldn’t.

Finally, a challenge to the youth of this generation, find yourself a good church where you will be challenged and discover the truth about God. He does exist and wants to have a personal relationship with you. He wants to fill you with passion and purpose. Don’t accept fluff!

 

* Ecclesiastes 1:9

~ by crossovera2 on February 26, 2008.