Gospel Talk | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Free Newsletters:

RSS Feeds |

Audio |

Twitter

Home > 2008 > February

Christianity Today, February, 2008 |

Gospel Talk

Entire area Young Life staff out after evangelism mandate.

Collin Hansen | posted 1/07/2008 08:49AM

2 of 2

Like Torrance and other Reformed theologians, McSwain sees true repentance as a gift from God. Likewise, the Non-Negotiables document says that "our response of repentance is only evidence of our change of heart, not the reason for our salvation." But Campbell and Smith contend that another phrase in the Non-Negotiables—"We believe that only in responding in faith and repentance can Jesus' removal of sin and the imparting of life begin"—amounts to "insidious 'works righteousness' that is alien to the sovereign love and grace of God in Christ at work through the Holy Spirit."

"My reading is that Young Life leadership doesn't have the theological sophistication to know what they're dealing with in Jeff. And it comes across as liberalism," said Smith, author of Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers. "I believe that somebody has decided that they should be afraid that Jeff is a universalist and that he's soft on sin."

Campbell said McSwain and other YL area staff are resuming their efforts under the name Reality Ministries. He remains hopeful that the two sides can reconcile. "If Young Life held out its hand, we'd be only too happy to take it, because we all come from Young Life and that's what we know and care about," he said. "But that's in the hands of Young Life, really."

Young Life's Swenson said the Non-Negotiables will serve as a reference point for staff members, ensuring consistency at YL clubs and camps. "There's a practical element to this that drives a lot of what we're attempting to do," he said.

It remains to be seen how the Non-Negotiables will be implemented in other regions of the country, though some YL leaders outside North Carolina are already expressing concern. Swenson said staff members would not be required to sign it, although it would be appropriate for them to approach their supervisors if they couldn't follow the guidelines in good conscience. Likewise, he said, supervisors could approach staff members if they had concerns about their gospel presentations.

Related Elsewhere:

YouthMinistry.com listed the six Non-Negotiable imperatives in a post on the North Carolina Young Life shakeup.

A final document of Young Life's Non-Negotiables was released on November 8.

More articles about youth ministry are available on our site.

first page |

2 of 2

share this page

February 2008, Vol. 52, No. 2

E-mail this page

Write CT

Print this article

Post a comment

Reader Reviews are below

Subscribe to Christianity Today and get 3 free trial issues. No credit card required.

Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only.

If you decide you want to keep Christianity Today coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive nine more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The three trial issues are yours to keep, regardless.

Click here for international orders

2-for-1 Gifts!

[Reader Reviews]

Average User Rating:

Displaying 1 - 3 of 34 comments.

See all comments

Jeff	Posted: January 20, 2008 7:58 PM

Dennis, I care what Man says regarding "man being a sinner" only in relation to what the Bible says about man. Even a careless skimming of Romans would clearly present the Biblical message that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us", a more thorough examination of the scriptures No Doubt God has used YL to be effective for His ministry,but I applaud the Leadership for being willing to take stock, Biblically, of their non-negotiables. I see a lot of frustration and truly pray that this is not used to divide internally. However, in my reading, I do not see where they are telling how the gospel will be presented, only the clear distinction that man is sinful, seperated from a holy God because of it, in need of salvation through the work of Christ. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Cor 1:18

Parker

Posted: January 15, 2008 4:18 PM

Repentance is not merely changing your mind, it is really turning from sin - in scripture it is connected with action. Paul summarized his gospel like this: "repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance." (Acts 26:20) Or as John the Baptist put it, one must "Bear fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8) Are we saved by works of repentance? Of course not, but faith leads to repentance, and repentance is turning from sin (falteringly, no doubt, but turning from sin nonetheless).

Brian

Posted: January 15, 2008 12:50 AM

Ron and others I am deeply touched and will admit I am deeply grieved, I understand both sides to some degree. I am a very cynical person and after 25 years of "Christian ministry" that cynicism has deepened. I am ashamed of that and I count it a personal character flaw on my part. I was involved in YL for 10 years and to be honest wanted to spend the rest of my life doing that. Personal illness and Frankly driving my local leadership nuts. The local leadership in my area were and are the finest human beings I have ever worked with. On the other hand I have been a special education teacher or have worked with the disabled for 25 years. I have worked at Convalescent hospitals, psyc hospitals, state facilities, group homes and as a special education teacher. So my view is somewhat focused in that area. So I offer this, no I beg people on my knees with all my heart, do not let cynicism build up in your heart, I did, and I was deeply wrong. God bless all involved.

The allotted time for commenting has ended.