Bob's Blog

Charles Colson was asked the question on what makes a pastor great. He responded by saying,"They have a love for people in the church. They have a heart for discipleship, and that's what makes them great pastors." When asked what he tells inmates in his ministry to look for in churches his response was,"Number one is a church that believes in and preaches the Bible...Second, it should be a place where disciples are made...and number three, discipline. Discipline in terms of both holding people accountable and teaching."

I agree with what Colson shared and believe that more than any time of our history we are in need of great pastors and great churches. If I were to ask the same question to a Christian in their twenties they might say it differently but would likely agree with him. In fact, I do ask these questions of young believers and I know they would agree with him. There is a reason authors like Piper and Driscoll are popular among young evangelicals or that Puritan writers such as Baxter or Edwards are in demand on many evangelical college campuses (I was in a bookstore of one of these campuses and over heard two students talking about where they could find books by John Owens).

What are you teaching your young people in church? Don't be afraid of challenging them (and yourself) with deep and difficult teachings. Theology is not dead teaching (unless you teach like your dead). One of the most influential college age conference in America is called Passion. Some of the biggest names in modern worship lead thousands of young people at this conference, but it's not only the worship they come for, they also come to be taught in the Word. One of their favorite teachers at Passion is John Piper, a preacher in his fifties that looks more like an professor than an icon for young evangelicals. He not only preaches with heat but loves those that he teaches, and they can sense that from him. Great pastors love their church. Great churches love to teach. A winning combination for making great disciples. Nothing new here that can't be found in Scripture.

If you're looking for reading material that deals with a younger generation and the Church, and is not reminding you why they hate the Church or why we are losing this generation, then you might find these two books encouraging. Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck's recent book Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutional and Organized Religion and Collin Hansen's Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalists Journey with the New Calvinists are just a couple of books that are refuting the more recent writings that take a more bleak outlook of younger Christians in America.

DeYoung and Kluck's book take a familiar tract as in their last book, Why We're Not Emergent, by combining personal stories that are humorist with key insightful arguments backed by sound doctrine. The chapters are divided between the two authors with each taking on a personal topic combating the quick and easy way some books have written off the Church. Whether you agree with them or just are curious on hearing from a different younger perspective, I recommend that anyone who works with a younger twenty-something churched generation pick up a copy and enjoy the ride.

If you're anti-Calvin (or Luther, Edwards, the Puritans, mom, apple pie, etc...), you'll probably not be as into this book as you would with DeYoung's or Kluck but you'll be missing out on a thought provoking read. There is something to be said about tradition and history. Tradition reminds us of being connected to something or someone bigger than ourselves, and history reveals the length and depth of our roots. Today, the argument for young evangelicals centers on what will the Church look like in the future? Will it be hanging out in a "journey cafe" that invokes Millerism (re: Donald Miller or Rob Bell...these guys are more hip then Brian McLaren). Or will the church reflect a more Piperist theology (re: John Piper) hearkening back to a time when preachers were teachers and reformers were Reformed. There is a movement with younger Evangelicals who look back not only to a more "vintage" Christianity but to a more "reformed vintage" Christianity. A great read no matter what your Christian heritage.