Negative Pattern

Does this chart reflect the spiritual condition of your youth group?

6th trait: Unfaithfulness

Whenever we talk about unfaithfulness we're quick to think of an extramarital relationship.

Well, with that in mind , let's bring it to the spiritual realm. Let's look at the case of King Saul.

'Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance.' 1 Chronicles 10:13.

Saul betrayed God by consulting a medium. That's exactly what some youths do to God. They confess their love for Him in church but elsewhere they betray Him with a friend, boyfriend/girlfriend, music, lies, deceit, rebellion, MySpace, Facebook, cell phone, etc.

Yes, that's what they do. Don't be surprised if I say so. I've seen cases where youths would leave the YPG meeting right in the middle of an important message in order to answer their phone. Others have enough time to be by the computer talking to friends for hours but don't have time to read the Bible.

Let me give you a more clear example. Let's say you've just arrived at home after a long day at school. You are tired, you feel drained. All you want to do is to lay down and sleep all the way through to the next day, if you could. But you can't because you've got to revise or do some homework for the next day.

In spite of the tiredness you push yourself for you know you need the grades to pass. Then you end up going to sleep very late that day, knowing that you have to wake up by 7am and leave the house by 7.30am next day, otherwise the school won't allow you in. So, what do you do? Decide to wake up later than usual because you went to bed late? No, you don't do that. You wake up right on time no matter what. Why? Simply because the school's principal, teachers and your parents will all be on your case, not to mention the risk you're taking in failing your tests.

My question is: why do they do that for grades but not for God? Why do they have to arrive late in church? Why is it that they are more FAITHFUL to their career than to God?

Think.

5th trait: Rebelliousness

'For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”

1 Samuel 15:23

This was a message sent by God to King Saul, through the prophet Samuel. Saul became very rebellious, to the point of being rejected by God. As we can see on the verse above, Saul refused to obey God, by doing his own thing. God couldn't tolerate that. Here, God makes a very strong comparison between the sin of rebellion and witchcraft.

He compares the person who attends church on a regular basis, reads the Bible, pray, evangelise and give tithe and offerings to a witch-doctor. How come? Why would God compare such person with someone who, in the name of the devil and his demons, makes animals sacrifices, and sometimes even human sacrifices? Why? The first person 'looks' so holy in comparison to the latter, so why would God do that? Because the latter might do what she does out of ignorance. A person offers herself to demons and spirits because she doesn't know better. But the so called 'Christian' knows the truth, fulfil all the religious duties mentioned above and yet rebels. Notice that Saul REJECTED God's words. He simply chose not to obey. There are many youths who attend church who have been rejected by God because they choose what to obey and when to obey, whenever it favours them. Many have been rejected by God because of this bad attitude.

Open your eyes. Don't let the sin of rebellion control you. Repent and decide to obey God's word no matter the cost.

Remember that we've known the truth. No excuses!

Invictus

I went to the cinema together with my wife to watch this fabulous movie which depicts part of Nelson Mandela's story of forgiveness and resilience after the apartheid. A must-watch film.

You can find below the poem Mandela quoted in his time in prison.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Nelson Mandela

4th trait: Recklessness

Reckless: (of a person or their actions) without thinking or caring about the consequences of an action.

It's typical of a youth who is reckless not to plan ahead. This is one of the most common problems among teenagers. They do first and think after, when it should be the opposite.

Let me be more specific, let's take as an example the youth who sleeps around, without caring much for what can happen to him/her each time they have sex. The result is as old as Adam: pregnancy! Only after finding out they're having a child together is when they begin to think of the consequences of that action. How foolish is that! Because of recklessness is that we have adolescents behind bars, in hospitals, addicted to drugs and many who are cold in their faith.

Think before you act. Don't fool yourself.

Food for thought: 'The wise watch their steps and avoid evil; fools are headstrong and reckless.' Prov 14:16

3rd trait - Immorality

Young people nowadays have been the most significant victims of the spirit of immorality in this world. As usual, the devil aims his filthy darts at the youths as they are fresh and full of vigour. He has used music, movies and many other weapons in order to spread immorality among young people. Actually, sexual immorality is wide-spread among them.

Let me give you an example. We saw the case of that 18 year-old girl who committed suicide after her ex-boyfriend sent her nude pictures to the entire school and friends. The new trend is called 'sexting'. They took nude pictures and sent to each other. Pretty immoral right? Well, after they broke up he wanted to get back on her. She couldn't take the mockery and verbal abuse from people in school anymore.

One thing leads to another. Friends, shut the doors of your life to immorality and always remember: the wages of sin is death. (Rom 6:23).