Related articles and links |  1 of 6

After reading Andres Tapia's "Reaching the First Post-Christian Generation [Sept. 12], I was left with a sense of great hope and expectation. This was one of the most relevant and practical articles that I have read in CT in a long while. As one saved through the ministry of Billy Graham and raised on the campus evangelism of IV and CCC, I appreciate the insight and advice of the young Xer-ministers intertwined in your article. For too long, we as the evangelical church have spent too much energy on style over substance and too much time concentrating on our message rather than on relationships. As a 45-year-old pastor, I look forward to the positive changes that this "X-generation" will bring to my own life and ministry as well as to the church of Jesus Christ.

- Pastor Dale R. Yancy

Hope Chapel Foursquare Church

Merrimack, N.H.

********************

I was excited when I saw the cover on your September 12 issue. After reading the volumes of analysis of my generation poured out by the "mainstream" media, I was ready for one with some hope.

Unfortunately, while Andres Tapia's article did an excellent job of highlighting a new and desperate mission field, it left me wondering where I and my friends fit in. Please know that not all Xers (a term I hate only slightly less than busters) are disillusioned, disenfranchised, and depressed. There are those of us out there who actually are hopeful about the world, who like life in today's high-tech, knowledge-heavy society, and who don't worship grunge rock groups. The reason we are so hopeful is that we have been called by a living Christ and a sovereign God to work to bring the kingdom to come. And we are not alone in this effort, thanks to a Holy Comforter.

Furthermore, in spite of the fact that the "busters" may not believe in absolute truth, the gospel is just that and cannot be diluted. I think that is one of the most appealing things to my generation about the message of Christ: it proclaims a high standard in a world where standards are defined as either relative or "bad" and calls us to live above the level of mediocrity. We cannot be faithful servants of that message when we bend so far to accommodate that we can no longer stand for anything.

- Carrie A. Brown

Beaufort, S.C.

********************

As a 21-year-old Christian in college, I am a verified member of the so-called Generation X. The most emphatic statement I can reiterate from the article is that the church must change its approach to us. We need more atypical role models rather than the traditional "All American" representatives of the Bible.

The church must understand that music is our life. It helps us escape from the pain of divorce, abuse, and so on. Many of my prayers and work for Jesus come from listening to popular "grunge" bands-as the media have labeled them. It all goes back to the approach.

There is hope. We need uplifting messages, not lectures from preachers. We need contemporary music, not ancient music. We need acceptance in the church and to feel that anyone-no matter the hair length, clothes style, or music preference-can be or is already a Christian.

- Jennifer Whiddon

Mobile, Ala.

********************

Too heavy an emphasis on doctrine is hardly evangelicalism's problem; in fact, one might argue that an emphasis on vague, low-content experience is what gives rise to concerns about packaging and terminology. It's not just the words and worship style that need to change (and they do need to); it's our personal encounter with a timeless God that needs changing as well.

next page... |  1 of 6

share this page

November 14 1994, Vol. 38, No. 13