What do you think of the lame attempts to make Christianity cool for kids?

Question

I'm talking about the new age 'sing our love of Christ' churches, the lame Christian hard rock bands and the overly jocular Catholic priests. Doesn't this seem to you as a blatant attempt to perpetuate the illusion of Christian beliefs?

Answer 1

What do any of those things you mentioned have to do with kids, Desiree? Or are you just spouting venom? That would make you a hypocrite, you know.

Answer 2

The things that you speak of are not only lame, but are blatantly against what the church is supposed to stand for.

The purpose of the church is not to look 'cool' to kids. 'Cool' does not save souls. 'Cool' does not change lives or hearts, and THAT is what the true church of Jesus Christ is all about.

To bring the world into the church, and try to conform the church to be like the world will result in failure. Failed attempts at a new life, failed attempts at trying to be a 'Christian', and a miserably failed attempt to bring 'truth' to people.

Our church used to be an Assemblies of God church. When the Assemblies of God wanted our pastor ( a very rare godly man ) to start having 'Christian Rock Night', and put black lights, pool tables, etc. in the youth facilities, he told them that there was no way he was going to do that. They tried to force his hand, and he made a break from the Assemblies of God, built a new church, and we are now a Pentecostal church. He told them that you do not change people's lives, nor win souls to Christ by conforming the church to the world. If you are not going to make a difference, and the church is no different than the world, what is the sense in even going?

Needless to say, we have never looked back, and we have never conformed our church to the world. We want to make a difference in the lives of people, and we do just that.

Good question. Gave you a star. Love in Christ to you, and may you find the peace of God in your life.

Answer 3

I think if you have little or no faith of your own, it's pretty hard to convince kids they should have faith.
I remember reading a book some years back (I think the name was "Visions Beyond the Veil")
in which a Christian missionary couple documented a revival among young Chinese orphans in which God was granting the children visions of heaven and hell and the spirit realm.
Jesus Christ said concerning children "of such is the Kingdom of Heaven".
Children have every bit as great a capacity for experiencing spiritual realities as any adult, and usually more so, because they haven't yet been polluted by the skepticism and unbelief of a rebellious world.

Answer 4

You don't want Christians to have fun, do you? You feel better if we all went around with a great big pickle pussed faces, right? We have more reason to be happy than anybody, so don't rain on our parade. I don't care for some Christian rock music, but that is just me. What is wrong with appealing to the tastes of both the young and the old, that is what Jesus did.

Answer 5

A lot of this is nothing other than the apostate churches mistakenly thinking that they have something to learn from the marketing techniques of Madison Avenue. Where there is real love, real power, and the very real presence of God, the silly nonsense is absent as it is wholly unneccessary.

Would to God the building based churches would shut their doors and those who truly love Christ would go back to their homes and meet as the early church did: EXCLUSIVELY IN HOMES! This was the design of Christ and the teaching of the Apostles.

Tom

Answer 6

Yeah, it'd be much better for them to listen to Cradle of Filth or Marilyn Manson.

I'm not sure why so many people hold onto this fallacious idea that contemporary styles of music can't be used to worship God. Do we forget that a lot of John Wesley's hymns were actually to the tune of drinking songs that he rewrote with sacred lyrics? Or do we forget that the King James Bible was once a "modern" translation? If kids can't relate to the manner in which the Gospel is being presented to them, it will be a lot harder for them to really grasp the message. Would it be more effective for us to rant about certain media forms being used to reach kids with the Gospel, or for them to think it's out of date and irrelevant to today's world? I've heard some people say that the Internet is one of the worst things that's happened to this world because it makes pornography so much more easily accessible--sure, if you're looking for it. But the Internet is also the single best tool in the world next to personal relationships to help spread the Gospel. It's better to have Christian rock songs with lyrics that glorify Christ than to have "traditional" songs about anything else. If you're complaining that contemporary methods are being used to convey God's unchanging Gospel, then see how many fewer young people respond because they can't relate to the way you're trying to reach them.

Answer 7

Obviously it is an attempt to reach out to young people, and for those of us who do believe, we of course wish to share our beliefs to others. Much as you in saying "perpetuate the illusion of Christian beliefs" obviously wish to share your beliefs to others.
In what way does this affect you or threaten your beliefs?
How does people singing in church about their love in Christ affect you in a negative way?

Answer 8

what could possibly be cooler than helping kids appreciate God?????

there are some cool things for kids that have substance I do not like making things shallow... I think kids need depth and they respond to shallow things too often in a shallow way

Buddy Davis has some good material for youth
http://www.answersingenesis.org/buddydavis/
I really like Buddy Davis material for kids, like his videos 6 Short Days and One Great adventure

I think many of the vegitale productions are super duper... like the cartoon version of the 300!!! GIDEAN TUBA WARRIOR!!!!
http://store.kathiehillmusic.com/index.php?cPath=2&osCsid=662ce70269259cc39ff931a9d521ac34

Kethy Hill productions makes some super music for kids as does Joni Ericson Tada and many others
http://store.kathiehillmusic.com/index.php?cPath=2&osCsid=662ce70269259cc39ff931a9d521ac34

you gotta be choosy but there is some wonderful stuff for kids

Answer 9

Wait a minute...you think that it is wrong for our kids to express their faith in their MUSIC???????
I can't believe that anyone is actually complaining because Christian kids are enjoying their music.....
Just when I thought I'd heard the most ridiculous Christian bash possible, you go and think up an even more ridiculous one.....
Thank you, dear, for the giggle
and for the two points.....

And may your face reflect the age of your spirit, in spite of Oil of Olay!!

Answer 10

The Catholics aren't as bad as the rest. I taught in a Catholic school for several years and in general, they lay it out for the kids pretty much the same as for the adults. There's little censoring there. Case in point: the annual re-enactment of the stations of the cross, starring members of the fourth grade class. Trust me, no corny music there. Just a 9-year-old boy with red paint on his hands and feet, pretending to die in front of his entire school, teachers, and parents. Good times.