July/August 2007
FEATURES
A vision for growth at Granger Community
Church Riley B. Case travels through the genesis of a
megachurch.
Social justice through the eyes of Wesley Irv A. Brendlinger celebrates the rich heritage of active holiness.
Praying people bring God’s answers Margaret Therkelsen offers a candid look at crisis and comfort.
Contract and covenant: In search of American identity Richard John Neuhaus plumbs the depths of a national theology.
Evel Knievel’s leap of faith Steve Beard applauds the baptism of a daredevil.
COLUMNS
Editorial General Conference and specific questions
Next Generation The dangers of transparency
RENEW Women’s Network Retain the label—before it’s lost
The Great Commission In the home of an Imam
From the Heart There’s no place like home
DEPARTMENTS
News Analysis Women’s Division showcases radical speakers
News
Cuban Methodists thrive but feel effect of embargo
State of the Church report reveals hope and concern
United Methodists join in Sudan water mission project
I was talking recently with a friend who told me that he had driven past a car that was stalled on the side of the road. He said, "I hate to admit this, but as I passed by I wasn't even tempted to help the person since I was running late for a meeting and definitely in a hurry. I thought, 'Oh, bummer for that person' and kept driving. Then, when I got to the restaurant, not only was I late, but the person I was meeting was even later. Now, I felt guilty for not stopping to help the old lady trapped in the burning car (just kidding, she wasn't that old)." He went on to say, "Someday I'll use that failure as a personal illustration to talk about being sensitive to the needs of others. It's a perfect picture of what not to do."
And you know what? He was right. It probably would be good for his students to hear about that kind of blunder. Not only does it offer a real-life illustration, but it's more powerful because the youth pastor is not the hero of the story. This illustration is much more powerful than one you could read and/or memorize from an illustration book titled, Mean People: True Stories of Unkind Humans. It's powerful because it's personal.
Teenagers need to hear more failure stories from the men and women they admire. When teenagers know you're not perfect, it will increase your credibility. You actually give them hope that they can fail and still "succeed" as a follower of Jesus Christ. But that kind of transparency must be shaped by guidelines if students are going to see "through" us, and be able to glimpse the grace and goodness of God. Here are some simple guidelines that can help us understand the shape of healthy transparency:
1. Self-exposure must have a purpose. Transparency is not just about saying everything we feel or think. The front of a youth group is no place for a leader to work out his or her own issues. We don't speak just to get something "off our chest." The goal must be edification, not self-expression.
Will Willimon reminds us: "It is not my task primarily to "share myself" with my people, certainly not to heed the facile advice of those who say, 'Just be yourself.' As Mark Twain said, 'About the worst advice one can give anybody is, "Just be yourself."' Fortunately, as I enter into the struggles of my people, I have considerably more to offer than myself. I have the witness of the saints, the faith of the church, the wisdom of the ages."
2. Make sure that every confession of failure is joined with a clear intention to do better. The glory of the gospel is that by the death of Jesus we are saved "just as we are." But, at least as glorious, is the fact that by the life of Jesus in us we are not bound to stay as we are (Romans 5:9-10; 8:8-17).
It's obvious to everyone that the baby has dirty diapers. When the child is honest enough and aware enough to admit that-that is certainly progress. But, when the child is once again cleaned up and embraced by the father, the greater progress still is that the child exercises enough self-control to stop making the mess. We should be honest enough to admit, to use Mike Yaconelli's phrase, that ours is a "messy spirituality." But, the great news of God's sanctifying Spirit is that little by little He helps us to clean up our mess. It's true: God loves us as we are, but He doesn't intend to leave us as we are.
Again, Willimon says: "Often, when a pastor commits some public sin, there is someone around to trivialize the lapse by saying, 'Well, pastors are only human.' This is not only a curious abuse of the word human, but also a degradation of the ministerial vocation. Pastors are called to be more than human, as are all the baptized. The waters of baptism-the imposition of hands upon the head and the gift of the Holy Spirit-make us even more than human, or more accurately, truly human."
3. Our transparency must point students to Christ. We don't share our problems so people will notice how much we've given up, how wild we were, how humble we are, how honest we are willing to be. The nature of real transparency is that it allows students to see through us so that they can more clearly see Christ.
4. Some confessions simply are not suited for public consumption. Talk to your prayer group of peers. Talk to your pastor. Talk to your counselor.
Talk to your spiritual director. But don't dump on a youth group a load they shouldn't be asked to bear.
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