what are we converted by

At the NYMC Graham Stanton gave a workshop titled God's Big Story, is there a simple way to tell it.

He came to the conclusion that it was not easy to tell it with being biased to individualism or community focused.

The main thought i really have been thinking thru though was a premise he gave out.

What you are converted by is what you are converted to.

if you come to know Christ in a conservative Christian Church you will find it hard to fit into a Charismatic Christian Church. with the same in return.

We looked at 2 ways to live and in the analysis, even though it is good, it brings in a Christianity that is singular in focus. there is no mention of Community or family or commitments to them. when we use this 'format' we bring people to Christ and they 'sign up' then we tell them they now have to be part of a community of believers and they can get their feathers ruffled. 'this is not what i said yes to!'

We looked at another 'format' that an American dude called James Choung. He takes the call and response of two ways and takes it to the opposite extreme of community base.

Both have faults and both have positives but what has been niggling away in my mind has been the application of this premise to our ministry and for me towards Youth ministry. what youth are converted by is what they are converted to is true. if you have a youth group that is 'entertainment based and you transition over to discipleship based ministry then there will be a fall out. why because those who came for the games and to blow off steam on a friday night are not interested in learning about God in a way that means they have to 'sit still' on a friday night. not say they aren't Christians but I am saying that that they are converted to God because of the 'fun games'.

The question that comes next and i have not thought it thru, but i have an idea of the answer, is;

how does this reflect on the transition from teenage Christian to Adult Christian, is there a correlation here with the 'loss' of teenagers to the world and the means by which they are converted by.

As i think thru this premise it takes away some of the burden and responsibility i feel with my youth ministry which i took over 18 months ago. it was heavily entertainment based and i am transforming it to Discipleship based ministry. In the process there are a number that are walking away saying things like "Friday is blow off time, Friday is a time to mess around, etc" and We are lifting the bar of expectations and they are not interested because what they originally came for is not what is on offer any more. Yes i am saddened that they are walking away from God but i see that they were converted by the entertainment and found God thru that and therefore struggle to find God without that entertainment.

the struggle i see is that when we have a change in direction with ministry we need to find a way that will not alienate those who are converted by what we are moving from.

God Bless

Cameron