A monthly message from Fred Lynch. Fred is the founder of GodStyle Productions, a ministry committed to changing youth culture. For more information on Fred, visit his website or check out his latest project, The Epic (the gospel of John translated into rap).
January 2007
Last week 'while in the 'mud' I came across a very common dilemma that I'm sure all of us have had to deal with. Helping a kid 'get back up' once he/she's fallen down. See I've been ministering to a group of young guys; and with the holidays coming up, a few of them had been trying to get themselves ready to stand strong when they got around those old friends and family members who haven't accepted Christ yet. Some were successful; others weren't. It's funny that although we work with adolescents, many of our students have already gone through so much drama (from drinking to smoking to twisted sexual relationships) that I've learned not to put anything past anybody! Even if I'm surprised, I usually tell them that they can't surprise me (then I squint my eyes and get ready for the surprise to come). But what do you do when your disciples 'blow it'? We've talked about protecting students from Satan as well as from the world, but how do you help a student protect himself from...himself? Last month we talked about helping students sabotage the system of consumerism. This month we're going to talk about helping students protect themselves from sabotaging themselves.
we can't afford not to teach our students the art of spiritual vigilance
M.U.D. Reality (Here's what's up)
Many people are deceived into thinking that the strongest triggers to destructive habits come from difficult times, desperate circumstances or painful memories but much of our decadent behavior happens simply when we're just looking for a 'good time'. In other words, we get really wild when our guard is down. Nobody thinks about the consequences of an unmarried pregnancy while at a party, or the odds of violence breaking out at a local park or just falling victim to the old adage: 'wrong place...wrong time'. The truth is we can't afford not to teach our students the art of spiritual vigilance. Jesus said to watch as well as pray and it will keep us from temptation. So here's a tip to help urban disciples 'watch themselves':
* Help students know, show and forgo their own weaknesses *
M.U.D. Battle (Here's why)
Sin gets its strength in the dark. Whether it's an issue that is dark to us personally as in a type of denial or if it's a matter of shame where we purposefully keep it in the dark because we don't feel safe enough to tell someone else our faults; both scenarios breed the type of environment where sin becomes too strong to break on our own and when you least expect it sin knocks us down. As youth workers God has given us such an opportunity to give urban disciples a safe place to both be honest with themselves and others so they can get the mess out of their lives and not sabotage their walk with Christ.
M.U.D. Tip (Here's how)
Help students know their weakness. For the New Year have your students write a list of their weaknesses. This is not a list that says, "I will defeat all of these faults this year!" Do that and you'll only get the wimpy faults on the list. This list is an open honest exercise in knowing who they are and how to protect themselves from their own weaknesses.
Help students show their weakness. Now if you're a preacher, you already know where I'm going with this and you can use the 3 point style in a sermon. Don't worry, I give you permission. This part is simple. Have the student find someone who is trustworthy and can keep them accountable (keeping a secret isn't enough) and have the student share their weakness with that person. It's important to find the right person, someone who is strong in faith, and integrity (you don't want a wishy-washy person, this is serious ministry stuff here).
Help students forgo their weakness. The last part is to forgo which simply means to forsake or abandon. Proverbs 1:17 says, 'When a bird sees a trap being set, it stays away.' By helping a student know their weakness and show their weakness, You've actually helped them in a tremendous way. Much of the rest is up to them to know how to 'stay away', and that my friend is another article. See ya next time in the M.U.D.
FREDDIE FREEBIE:
I have a great offer that I'd like to help distribute this month. It's a new research report that came out from the Magazine Publishers of America. It's the latest market profile of African Americans. This report is full of valuable information that will help you as you work on your program to reach urban youth. I'd encourage you to check it out and if you like it go to the web site and get more information from MPA. You can find it on my site www.GodStyle.com. Visit the download page and you'll find it along with many other goodies.
Sharing the gospel from 'Street to Street',
Fred Lynch III
GodStyle Productions
Fred Lynch is the founder of GodStyle Productions, a ministry committed to changing youth culture. For more information on Fred, visit his website or check out his latest project, The Epic (the gospel of John translated into rap).
