Saturday, October 23, 2004

Saturday, October 23, 2004

Being in youth group is so much cooler after you've graduated from college. There's none of that weird "I wonder if she likes me" stuff or embarrassing episodes of voices changing, my face isn't broken out and when you're a leader you can make the campfire a cool experience without the endless singings of "Lord, Light the Fire" of whatever that song was...

I just returned from my church youth group cookout/campfire event in the woods of Evensville Mountain, and I'm covered in flour. We played a version of capture the flag where you tag out your opponents with slingshot-like pantyhose filled with flour. Quite creative. And oh yeah, our team won on a "diversion." (evil laughter) The recent dodgeball craze also took hold, and we played a few rounds in the dark. I think we tied with the other team...I'm not sure, but with a name like the "Rabid Squirrels" I don't see any way that my team lost. On a side note, check out Extreme Dodgeball sometime. I'm not sure what station its aired on. It's got all the hokeyness of professional wrestling, except that they use real everyday, "Office Cubicle Mike","Salon Stylist Carol"-type people that are totally serious about kicking some dodgeball tail. The best match I saw was a team of 20something mimes (complete with make-up and no sounds) against a bunch of middle-age coeds dressed in police uniforms. Something tells me these people probably hate their jobs.

In the midst of all the fun, games, pantyhose and flour, and through much of my Saturday, a passage of Scripture rolled around in my head. I'm going through the book of Hebrews on Saturday mornings with my peer group, and we ran across the first few verses of chapter six today. Specifically, verses 1-3 say, "Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instructions about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so."

Much of my high school years were spent in an unusual youth group where doctrine reigned supreme. While other youth groups at the camps we attended were all getting saved, we were debating issues like predestination and free will, pre-, a- and post-millenialism, etc. and, looking back, all of it was done with an aura of elitism. The attaining of knowledge was integral to turning back attacks from "less mature" Christians or people that "need to check out their salvation." Of course, one could look at the church's guidance and say that they were doing exactly what Hebrews 6:1-3 teaches...leaving the elementary truths for further maturity. But here's the catch I see looking back: knowledge spurred by improper motives doesn't equal spiritual maturity.

My parents in Atlanta are leaving the church I grew up in and the church they've attended the last 20 years. Great knowledge abides within its fellowship. The leadership could debate the most intelligent of theologians for days and still leave the conversation standing firm in what they believe. You won't see them flinch. They know the truth, and I probably wouldn't disagree with them on many points...but they're dead. Corruption seems to be running rampant in the leadership, you won't find much joy among its members, and the congregation, leaving by the dozens each week, must be shocked and scared to find that what looks and smells like the proper doctrine needed for godly living is failing miserably to bring about a joyous life. It's a sad story that doesn't seem to have a happy ending in sight any time soon, though I'm excited that my folks have finally decided to leave after many years sitting through the paradoxical "Sunday-morning staleness of truth."

I guess I'm just flabbergasted that, in the pursuit of a more intimate walk with Christ, our own interpretations, though right they may be, can be stumbling blocks and even lead to our downfall. We need to hold on to truth, but only so because of its Source. I really think that if we hold truth to be truth simply because our own intellect confirms it or because it makes us right, then we may be no better off than apostates.

A simple man I see from time to time once told me, "A monkey in a suit doesn't make a preacher. He's not any smarter for looking nicer." And I'm inclined to think that possessing proper doctrine and upholding truth doesn't insure that one has left the "elementary teachings" behind.