The Biggest Loser & faith development

I had the priviledge of going to the Elder meeting tonight to present the work of the Missional Action Team I've been on since last May, and also to be present at the POF for 4 high school boys.

I cannot sit through POF's without crying. Each boy read a statement of what they believe and shared a bit about the spiritual influences in their lives. Each statment had the same core beliefs, but were as different as each individual in how they articulated those beliefs. It is a beautiful thing to hear these boys speak from their heart about their love for the Lord.

One thing disappointed me, however. Pastor Steve asked them the question "What does it mean to be Reformed" and no-one had an answer. I asked the Seniors this same question several weeks ago at a meeting we had, and no-one had an answer then either. This is not only disappointing, but maddening. These boys (and all my students, generally) have been raised in Christian homes, attended Christian schools and have been somewhat active in the life of our CRC church. How have they gotten to their Senior year and their Profession of Faith without gaining some insight into what it means to be a Reformed Christian?

The blame could be placed several places. The school, the church, the students themselves and the parents. I'm sure all have contributed in one way or another to this shameful truth.

I've browsed at the Christian High religion curriculum lately and been completely discouraged by it. One Senior actually said to me last week that it seemed as though many of the religion teachers wern't all that passionate about their faith. I put a little blame here.

Our church doesn't have an active adult education. If the students don't see their parents engaging in continued study of the word, of doctorine and Biblical truths, why should they have to? I believe many of my students parents are truly faithful and passionate followers of the Lord, I see it lived out in their lives, but I fear that doctorine has lost it's place of importance in our faith. How many parents are spending time talking about this stuff in their homes? I put a little blame here.

I'm the youth pastor. This is my problem. And it's a big problem. I take some of the blame.

A youth pastor friend of mine compares faith to the Biggest Loser. He's speaking my language when he uses this show as a metaphor...I'm a bit obsessed. Anyhow, he says that the contestants on the show wouldn't really listen to or trust Bob & Jillian if they were overweight and rarely exercised. They believe them and are inspired by them, because they truly eat, drink and breath fitness. You just look at them and can see they care about their bodies and how they treat them. They are fit.

When my students look at me, do they see someone who eats, drinks and breaths the word of God? Do they trust what I say or do they look at me as an 'overweight, unfit trainer?

I long to know God's word more. I want to devour it, spend hours studying it every day, just like the contestants spend hours a day in the gym.

I can come up with excuse after excuse for why I don't feel like I'm in 'trainer' shape right now. That's what the contestants do for years - that's why they end up on the Biggest Loser. Yikes.

No more excuses.