Orange Blog #6 - Fueled Passion thru Christ! Part One

October 24 2011, 9:14 am | JT Scott

Our solar system is moving 490,000 miles per hour around the center of our galaxy.

The earth is moving around the sun at 67,000 miles per hour.

The surface of the earth at the equator moves at a speed of 1000 miles per hour around the earth's axis.

That's a whole lot of moving for one planet!

You may say, "Who cares?" That's exactly the point. For an earth that moves so quickly, it seems like too many people are stuck.  They need to move more radically, deliberately, and passionately to engage with those who live in the world around them.

Why is there a crisis when it comes to our passion?  Why isn't this generation more compassionate?  It could be that while the world is spinning one way, we are turning the passion dial in the wrong direction. Instead of turning passion up, we are turning it down.  It could be we have stifled passion in the next generation without even realizing it.  For any leader or parent who wants to stifle passion in kids, here are some suggestions:

Isolate them from people who are different from them.

Protect them from risky experiences.

Make sure you do for them what they can do for themselves.

Create as many church programs as possible to keep them out of trouble.

Keep them from leading anything significant while they're young.

This generation is in danger of getting stuck in a version of Christianity that is never challenging, dangerous, or adventurous.  What if Christianity has become too carpeted, air conditioned, and sanitized? We have spent so much time telling teenagers what they shouldn't do, we haven't let them experience what God wants to do through them.

 If you want to fuel spiritual passion in this generation, don't teach them about ministry, teach them while you DO ministry with them.

If you want kids to feel significant, don't tell them they are significant, give them something significant to do.

If you want students to walk away understanding what it means to BE the church, give them more opportunities to BE the church before they walk away.

The church should sharpen its skills to INCITE WONDER, PROVOKE DISCOVERY, AND FUEL PASSION in the hearts of the next generation.

 

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