CRN.Info and Analysis

the ODMs have been harping on Youth Specialties for a while now. Their recent rant was over an advertisement for their annual leadership conference, The Core.

Youth Specialities CORE 2008 Generation Change Youth Conference is “calling students to change their world” and to Generate Hope, Peace, Love, Change, A new mind, A new heart, A new me, Justice. The plenary sessions include:

• THE JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION
• CREATING A TRANSFORMATIONAL YOUTH MINISTRY
• CHANGED PEOPLE ARE MEANT TO BRING CHANGE in terms of “Listen to God”, “Truly Deep Justice”, “Discovering your holy discontent” and “Joining God in Global Transformation”

Of course they brought up all the typical arguments of how meditating on scripture is a horrible thing, and guided prayer could never be a biblical concept. They gave this in response:

How can you generate the changes itemized in the introductory paragraph? Only through the blood of Christ, repentance and by the sanctification of the Holy Spirit as the believer learns to mortify the flesh and live the exchanged life as a new creation in Christ. But you won’t find that at the Core Conference.

Now, being a respectable “research” organization, I am sure they have done the background work and found that the blood of Christ, repentance and sanctification of the Holy Spirit are topics that are off-limits at The Core. Having gone to this event, I can tell you that this is far from the truth. Also, apparently the ODMs do not hold a very high view of scripture. In fact, it is the living word of God that bring about life transformation, and that is ultimately what Youth Specialties is trying to give the Youth today.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.Praise be to you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.

I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.

I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.

Sounds like meditating on scripture, recounting the word of God and listening for the voice of God may be a heretical concept to the ODMs, but certainly not to scripture. Which leaves me wondering… what is the big deal with this again?

This video is pretty self-explanatory, and I guess it shows the idiocy of clinging to our pet theologies a little too tightly.  Props to Ben Witherington for pointing this gem out.

Disclaimer:  This language may be somewhat offensive, but be assured this is a real sermon and not a joke.

Found this on Mark Driscoll’s blog, thought it was interesting:

I got a call from Pastor Rick Warren last week. He called simply to see if there was anything he could do to help. His kindness was humbling and helpful. I asked him how he handled his critics and he had a great insight that in our day criticism has changed. He explained that there was a day when a critic would have to sit down and write a letter and then mail it into a newspaper. With limited space, the paper would then be able to only print a fraction of the letters they received. The printed letters were often not read and quickly became dated. However, Warren said, in our day criticism is marked by the following four factors:

1. Instant
2. Constant
3. Global
4. Permanent

Warren then went on to explain that, as Jesus experienced, the strongest criticism for any Christian leader comes from rigid religious people. When I asked him what someone should do when facing criticism, he gave the following insightful points:

1. Turn your critics into coaches by hearing what they are saying and humbly considering if there is any truth in their criticisms to learn from.
2. Never engage the critics on their terms because it only escalates the conflict and is not productive.
3. Be very careful with firing off emails or leaving voicemails and responding out of anger in a way that you will later regret.
4. Shout louder than your critics to define yourself and do not allow them to define you.

I want to publicly thank Warren for giving me some good advice and taking time out of his busy schedule to speak into my life and ministry. I also pass his wisdom along to other Christian leaders

thanks ianmcn for the submission. If you find a story on the inter-web that you think is worth publishing here, make sure to make note of it on our “submissions” page.