Title: Preparing for the Next Generation
Contents
4th week of May (Youth Sunday)
Ready for the next generation
1 Corinthians 12: 12-20
We all live with our own standards and standards of thinking. And I judge others by my thoughts and my own standards. This creates conflict. The church of faith is no exception. There is no substitute for worship by listening to Christian broadcasts or praying alone in a closet because there is a conflict in the fellowship of believers. The church is a community of people with different wounds. We hurt and hurt each other during our gatherings. But through this process, we mature. God wants the saints to mature like this through the community of the church.
If I have my own thoughts and standards, I have to admit that the other person also has their own thoughts and standards. Each church also has a slightly different assertion, and each member has a different opinion. This leads to conflicts and quarrels. But there must be generosity to understand and acknowledge each other.
In the church in Corinth, there were four sects: Ceba (Peterans), Apollos, Paulians, and Christians. Conflicts arose because of ‘faction’ between each other. Paul felt sorry for the division of the church because of such diversity. Seeing this, Paul exclaims, “Nevertheless, we are one.” The church must recognize diversity. However, we must not forget that there is only one thing: “In Jesus Christ we are one”. We, who believe in one God, must acknowledge one another that we are brothers. And only when we work together can the church become beautiful.
In Ephesians 2, it says, “the new man in Christ.” One of the 6.9 billion people caught in the net because of Jesus! The first creation is Adam and Eve, and the second creation is those born again through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Today is 'Youth Sunday'. The first way the church embraces them should not be discrimination. Diversity must be resolved through cooperation, not conflict. Every position in the church is beautiful, and power is revealed when everyone works together. They have different gifts and different environments. When we understand and cooperate with each other in this diversity, the power and revival of the church will come.
It is difficult for older generations to understand the way young people think. However, the transmission of faith is something we cannot back down to our children. Even if culture changes, faith does not change. Young people these days are not happy even if they work hard to go to college. Because difficulties at work await them. Even within the church, young people should not be viewed as simple volunteers, but dreams and visions should be planted in them. In order to do that, we need to invest sparingly in young people. I hope you can look at them with the faith of young people, rather than adapting them to the faith of adults. I hope it will become a church that ponders ‘what can we plant in them?’
Let's plant dreams and hopes in our youth. Let them live 10, 20, and 50 years in the church. To do that, we must try to look at them with a big heart so that the extinguishing lamps can be lit again. And we need to prepare a ground where young people can freely serve and dedicate themselves in the church.