I have received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback on my book — A New Kind of Youth Ministry — since YS released it in the fall. I have also had some really sharp critical thinkers invite me to dialog about some of my thoughts and I am enjoying those conversations. I look forward to building on them and beginning others. I am learning a ton…

I have to admit though, I am a little surprised by two of the comments that I have either had directly stated to me or I have learned about through the ole’ “I know a guy and he said this…” kind of approach. I take great stock in the first type of feedback (direct and conversational) trying to listen intently to see what I can learn. The latter type of feedback is really not all that helpful since there is really no way to directly respond or begin a conversation that either defends my position or allows me to further explain. Anyway, I appreciate all of the feedback I am getting and it is really fun to be in dialog with so many youth workers.

So, here are two the comments that have taken me by surprise…

COMMENT #1- “You are a decontructionist and your writing is negatively influencing youth ministry because you do not present a model to construct.”

RESPONSE: Well, while I may look at the current state of youth ministry with a critical mind (and heart) it is not intended to be with a critical spirit. I have great hope for youth ministry. I confess that my hopes and dreams might even be categorized as a naive optimism at times– but I long to see us more effectively helping students find and follow Jesus. It sounds a bit defensive I suppose, but I certainly am not trying to express or portray an “all things negative” attitude about YM, the church, modernity or anything else. As far as not presenting a model in the book goes, well I think the model that any youth workers implements in ministry must be:

1. grounded in the mission of God and built on the entire biblical narrative
2. reflective of the life and mission of Jesus (Luke 4)
3. consistent with the early churches initial design (Acts 1-4 specifically) and
4. dependent on your ministry and community context

I believe in models (strategies). I do not think that there is a one, one-size-fits-all model that the Bible (the gospels or any other part of the text) presents and commands that we must obey. I believe there are commandments, values, virtues and principles that we must apply to our life and ministry but the model that you or I choose to employ will not be the same simply because our ministry and community contexts (theological traditions, capacity, starting points, learning methods, socio-economic status, ethic diversity, etc…) are really quite different– and I like that. So, I do not think it is as important or even helpful for me to present a model. I hope that helping people think through the major tenets of YM and thinking about biblical values will be more effective and lead to greater change and ultimately, greater impact.

NOTE: If you want to introduce yourself to the model I have developed (ENROUTE) and I am training through Sonlife, go to: www.sonlife.com/enroute and find out where there is one near you. We are constantly adding new locations so if you do not see one near you in the immediate future, check back in a week or two.

COMMENT # 2: “If I implemented what you talk about in your book, I would have to leave the church.”

RESPONSE: Ouch! That one hurts a bit. I was hoping to breathe life into the church when I wrote my book not take air out of it… Anyway, this is one of those comments that I heard from a guy who said someone he knows heard somebody say that another might have said, etc. so I do not take much stock in it– but I do want to respond and vent a bit (isn’t that what blogs are for!).

So for the sake of simplicity I say this, maybe if you feel that way you have a skewed perspective of what the church is (maybe I do?). The church is not something that you work at, attend, go to, or have an office at, etc. the church is who you are –no, it is who we are. I don’t think that the ideas and concepts I present in the book keep you (us) from being the church.

I love the church and I love being a part of the church. I contend that we have great room for effective use of our time and energy within the church as we join God in his mission to restore the world, but I love that he has called me into a beautiful people with a wonderful identity and purpose…

Thoughts?