More Thoughts On Faith Quest
I expected the teens at Faith Quest to be receptive and hungry for God. What surprised me was the reaction of the adults — that and the number of adult "chaperones" in attendance. The adults were into it as much, maybe even more, than the teens. The worship, the messages, the experience as a whole – the adults were dry sponges soaking up the power and presence of the Lord
My impression of the ZOE worship conference is that it has become a youth rally for adults. I’m not saying that as a bad thing. Thousands of adults gather together to experience the power and presence of the Lord – like they did when they were teens at a youth rally.
The reason adults flock to ZOE (again a good thing), the reason adults in greater numbers are attending Faith Quest (probably a good thing as well) is because this type of encounter – experiencing the power and presence of the Lord — is lacking is so many every day church gatherings (a very bad thing).
Think about the culture we’ve allowed to develop. The idea that one particular song is a "camp" song and this other one is a "church" song. Think about the mentality that says "this is allowed at camp or at a retreat or a youth rally but never at church." Think about the diservice we’ve done to our teens by saying the songs that speak to their heart are not good enough for our Sunday God.
If you wonder why teens have lost their voice in this world it is because our narrow minded, compartmentalized way of viewing "true worship" has ripped their voice right out of their throats.
Maybe we should take a hard look at our Sunday God and our Sunday experience? If we are not experiencing the power and presence of God we are not being renewed into the image of God. That’s why many of us love retreats, youth rallies, and worship conferences. For in these venues we engage our great God with heart, soul, mind and strength.
Amen soul brother.
Wait, are you saying that I’m NOT a teenager anymore? I think my wife could convince you otherwise.
Exactly Randy. I love chaperoning teens on youth events because I’m able to recharge my spiritual batteries under the pretense of supervising teens.
One thing that I’m proud about “our Central†is that we’re slowly importing some of the “youth worship†(for lack of a better term) into our “regular†Sunday Worship. In fact, my son sang on our “stealth†praise team two Sunday’s ago. Sorry, proud papa moment.
And yes, the Zoe Conference is a Youth Rally for adults and I wish I could make it this year. Oh well, there’s always our winter youth retreat, Bible Camp, and our trip to the Mid-Ohio Valley Work Camp at OVU. Oh, how could I forget our Long Beach / Pepperdine experience? I’m going to make 3 “Granny shots†in a row this year.
You get a very enthusiastic “AMEN!” from Greg Smith in Long Beach!
I could use some of that recharging right now! So I’m going fishing and get renewed and maybe even sing a little toon as I go. I may get to see ya at a conference or two this year.
I haven’t had an opportunity to attend many of these conferences, but just from the “extra-curricular” activities I have been to, I know I can say “amen,” as well. (Am I allowed to say amen in public?) There is even a different air to a “gospel meeting” than the regular church service. A few years ago, there was a women’s conference at our church, which I did not get to attend because of family duties, but I got the tapes and listened and was uplifted by them. So I can imagine how it would have been to be there in person.
I don’t just agree. I really, really agree.
Really.
I never like coming down from mountaintop worship and it always depresses the heck (heaven?) out of me that my regular Sunday isn’t just as special, just as anticipated.
A lot of it comes from the attitude of the worshipers. When we go to FaithQuest, ZOE, (Emmaus), we EXPECT great worship. I want so much to get our Sunday worship to the same point, where people come with high expectations and give God their very best every time.
You are blessed to be able to participate in those special events and enjoy them and the communion with God they offer.
Maybe I’m feeling grouchy tonight after a long day, but your post rubbed me the wrong way.
I worship with some really small groups of people who can’t compete with Faith Quest or Zoe or even the local Central and College church, neither in depth, sincerity, or whatever else it takes to worship the way you mentioned. We often sing terribly, are not terribly capable of leading in worship, and struggle THROUGH worship time. Do I have to have Worship Envy? No. I enjoy those mountain top times and cherish them. They are meaningful and uplifting. But they don’t become my worship measuring stick.
I refuse to rag or tear down the other times of worship that are “less” significant. To do so is to limit the work of the Spirit in the fellowship of believers. And to limit “good” worship to a Sunday morning or a weekend retreat is not what any of us want to do.
We must be careful not to become consumers of worship. Rather, worship, in its root meaning, is offered to God as loving service. And it will ALL seem awfully pale one day compared to the glory offered to the Lamb in the heavens.
Goodness Brady you do sound grouchy! What’s the matter; the Swiss curling team in a slump?
The point is not competing worship, worship envy, or mountain top experiences as a measuring stick.
The point is in the effort that is made to bring people into the presence of God to experience the power of God. Certainly this has to be a corporate activity.
Regardless of the number of people involved, or the location, worship gatherings that do not engage the heart and the mind are passionless.
I don’t hear you saying this, but we have to quit excusing passionless worship gatherings as "acceptable" worship gatherings.
Randy, thank you for being willing to share at FQ. The stuff about the first FQ and John the Baptist was great.
I think one of the greatest reasons I enjoy participating in youth rallies is because teenagers know they need Yahweh, and they are not afraid to admit it. On the other hand most adults are afraid to admit that they are broken and need to be healed. I am broken, and I like associating myself with people who think they are broken too.
In these settings praise times seem more enthusiastic. But I am ready to praise whenever and wherever regardless of the level of intrest of those around me. Praising is not about what I like, or what gets me going, it is about letting my father know that he is everything to me.