About this book the publisher tells us:
Pop worship music. Falling in love with Jesus. Mission trips. Wearing jeans and T-shirts to church. Spiritual searching and church hopping. Faith-based political activism. Seeker-sensitive outreach. These now-commonplace elements of American church life all began as innovative ways to reach young people, yet they have gradually become accepted as important parts of a spiritual ideal for all ages. What on earth has happened?
In The Juvenilization of American Christianity Thomas Bergler traces the way in which, over seventy-five years, youth ministries have breathed new vitality into four major American church traditions — African American, Evangelical, Mainline Protestant, and Roman Catholic. Bergler shows too how this “juvenilization” of churches has led to widespread spiritual immaturity, consumerism, and self-centeredness, popularizing a feel-good faith with neither intergenerational community nor theological literacy. Bergler’s critique further offers constructive suggestions for taming juvenilization.
I can't believe someone has written a book about what I've been thinking for decades. Thank God.
ReplyDeleteWe need to be carful here. I'm a father of 7. I am thankful for youth ministries because children get to associate with other children with common values and discover valuable lessons about their faith. I highly respect adults that are courageous enough to lead these types of ministries. It takes effort and creativity to inspire young minds. There is always a fine balance between teaching them how to live the gospel without these groups becoming merely clubs with a religious theme. Not all youth ministries are the same and we need to be careful not to generalize. Youth programs might be a product of our time and culture but take them out and you will see our youth turn to the fallen world. Let's not forget that our God came down to our level to raise us up-youth ministry is no different.
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