"CAMP CHAOS" which is meant for the very intense youth of the tri-county area that deal with emotional (anger) and mental problems. My group is made up of 7, 8 and 9 year old boys. We have now spent 6 weeks, 3 days a week with our group. I say "we" because I have two partners to try and contain the group which can range from 5 to 9 in number each day. We have been very successful this year in the eyes of our boss, which feels fulfilling.
At any rate- Today as we were wrapping up our activities, two girls came up to my partner and I asking if it were ok to tell the kids a Bible Story. We agreed to the request curious to see the reaction of kids that literally have NO attention span. The girls started in with the same old ABC's of Christianity that kids are taught early on. I listened intently thinking about my past involvement in the ministry. I was careful to remind myself that it may be just as wrong to be critical and cynical than anything else. I about blew my top when the girls explained that the sin the Bible was talking about was much like "borrowing your neighbors bike without asking". I started to notice that the story was working towards a "saving moment" or something of the sort and readily mentioned that we needed to get the kids home on time (which really is a big issue with the mostly unstable parents).
The girls' story was basically a mention of God and His love, highlighted by our separation from God due to sin, which is the separating factor between us and Heaven. They used the example of borrowing the neighbors bike without permission as a realistic reason that a person would be separated from God for all of eternity!!! I thought about this for the latter portion of the day. First of all, did the girls believe this, or was it them trying to be relevant and using an easy example? If they believe it, does this strand of scare tactic theology really give them the "life abundant" or "lakiam" (check that spelling, its been a while :)) Do they live in fear constantly, that things so petty would go so severely punished? Do they even conceive of the severity of the Hell they are warning of? Secondly, what are those kids now to think? They have a life full of constant struggle and in my humble opinion, them borrowing a bike without permission at some point in life compared to what some of them have been put through, or have put people through is bogus. Sin is real, I believe that, but in a context that has some perspective! It is no wonder that so many youth, as well as adults for that matter give up on a "Christian" life. How could one who struggles daily with simple things in life satisfy this God, especially when some people of the church are first in line to criticize actions of those who are ultra -sensitive in the first place.
Again, I have to be careful to not be over-critical and cynical. Yet, I am again reminded why it is that I could not come to terms with being a paid Minister of the church. Notice the lower case "c" in church.
A final thought open for comment: Where is the line on what is and what isn't sin. Is it a post-modern relativity, or is it black and white? And, doesn't this type of education in young people literally devalue the Bible's message?
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