THis Present Age

This Present Age

SCRIPTURE: And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 11:19

Have you ever taken a good look at the youth of today? Are you happy with what you see? Are you disappointed? If you are unhappy are you doing anything about it? With all of our power and might, those who know the Lord should prepare to minister to the present generation as we tell them about the goodness of the Lord.

The old warriors of the church still sing an old hymn in long meter. The words were written by Charles Wesley, but the old slaves added power and emotion when they sang, "A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify A never dying soul to save and fit it for the sky. To serve the present age, my calling to fulfill; 0 may it all my powers engage to do my Master's will." The words demonstrated a commitment felt by one generation to know God themselves then tell the story to "the present age."

Even though that old song has been passed down for hundreds of years, its             meaning is clear; the mission of the church is to seek the salvation of "this present age. "

Many adults look at the youth of this generation and shake their heads. They conclude that this generation is lost. They see only the negatives. Does that sound like something new? Consider this quote: "Youth today love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, no respect for older people, and talk nonsense when they should be working. Young people do not stand up any longer when adults enter the room. They contradict their parents, talk too much in company, guzzle their food, lay their legs on the table and tyrannize their elders." If that quote seems to describe today's youth, then consider that those words were spoken by the Philosopher Socrates, thousands of years ago, describing the youth of his time.

Each generation has its own mark. Each had its own peculiarities and idiosyncra­sies that were frowned upon by the preceding generation. Whether or not we hailed from the Charleston generation with its finger waved hair, short dresses and beads or whether it was the Boogie- W oogie generation of Count Basie, Louis Armstrong and the jitterbug; each has known its own peculiarities.

There are some who came from the Bobby Sox generation. It was a time of black and white shoes, thick socks. Elvis Presley. Little Richard. and the 55 Chevrolet.

There are some who hailed from the Woodstock Generation: marked by long hair, anti-war protests. Afros, stage plank shoes, and dashikis. Some came from what has been called the "Pepsi generation” who feasted on Kentucky Fried Chicken; listened to Prince and the Purple Rain. Bobby Brown, and Run DMC.

NOw there is before us a new generation, similar to those of the past but is yet different. This new generation is generally described as the Hip Hop Generation. It is a generation of rap music. earringed ears, baggy clothing, R. Kelly. Snoop Doggy Dog, and Beyonce. This is the generation that today's youth are encountering. The temptations they face are similar to those of previous generations, but the advent of technology makes it extremely more difficult to resist and to handle.

The generation before us is no different from the previous in terms of potential and its propensities. It has the potential to do great and powerful things and to achieve excellence. just as previous generations. It also has the propensity or the tendency to deviate, just as the previous generation. This underscores the impor­tance of the church's mission to the present age. "We must tell the story" to this generation.

It is the mission of to day's church leaders to tell the story to "this present age." That brings to mind the l' the little girl who was very close to her grandmother. Grandmother always took time to come to her room, pull up the old rocking chair and read her stories from an old storybook given to her by her mother. The stories were funny. Mother Goose, Little Red Riding Hood, Alice in Wonderland, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. They were all amusing stories. Grandmother would sit in that old rocker and read one each night without fail. After a while Grandmother took sick. Shortly after the little girl learned that grandma was gone to be with God. Only one thought came to her mind. The question plagued her day and night. She knew that grandma was with God. She knew that Grandma was safe. However, the question that bothered her was. "Who will tell the story?" As she came home; that night her mother came into her room and tucked her daughter in bed. Tired. she sat in the old rocking chair. Instantly the little girl sat up in her bed and displayed the biggest smile.   "'Why are you smiling soT' The mother asked. The girl pointed to her mother sitting in grandma' s chair! The little girl pulled out the old storybook that had passed through three generations and put it in her mother's lap. "You are sitting in grandma's chair. You must tell the story!" Instantly the mother began to feel grandma's presence. She opened the book and read. Night after night she repeated the story until her daughter fell fast asleep!

The youth of this present age will be leaders in the church and its various auxiliaries and ministries. This generation must be prepared to witness for Christ in every aspect of their lives including the family, church and the world beyond. Christian youth are being called upon by the millions to rise from their generation and choose to serve a mighty and powerful God who has chosen them to be his witnesses. The challenge to rise up and witness for Christ is what lies before this generation. The challenge to know him in every way and tell others what we know fEces every

.

As adult Christians, we know that God has a special task for us. However, the youth of "this present age" may not fully know God for themselves or their relationship to him. We must ask him for strength to teach the youth of this generation the power and the majesty of almighty God.

       This text focuses on Moses as he tells the nation of Israel the story of God's

goodness and mercy toward them as people.   The journey of the children of Israel from Canaan to Egypt in a time of famine to huge nation of wilderness nomads, nearly a half million in number is memorable.

Without a doubt, Moses was the pillar of the Israelite nation. His youth was a litany of deeds and accomplishments that included surviving the wilderness, seeing the burning bush, facing Pharaoh, maintaining the wilderness existence for 40 years. However, in his senior years, Moses assumed the role of teacher for the people.

The entire book of Deuteronomy is a written record of Moses' many efforts to tell the story of the Israelite journey. The name "Deuteronomy" means "A second Look." Moses retells the story. It is not simply a recounting of the journey but an account of God's dealings with people. That aspect is what distinguishes biblical history from secular history. While secular history tells the story of man's journey, biblical history tells the story of the journey with respect to God's relationship to the pilgrims. Thus Moses notes it's not so much the telling of the story that is important, as is the emphasis on God's dealings with mankind in the process.

The thrust of these text verses seems to fall in three categories.

Each believer is charged to know the story himself or herself. They are charged to have

the word of God in their hearts and to constantly remind themselves of God's goodness by keeping them visible in glaring ways. Knowing what God has done from first hand experience has the effect of serving as frontlets or guides that keep us from straying too far to the left or to the right.

Each believer is also charged to teach their experience to the next generation; their children. Thus it is not sufficient adult Christians to know what God has done for them, but they must also take advantage of every opportunity to teach the principles of godliness to their children.

The text seems to speak to the mission of the church as it instructs parents: At

any given opportunity the good parent should tell the story. In the morning, noon, or at midnight, they should tell the story. Moses goes even further in Deuteronomy 11 : 19-20 "... speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates."

Believers will be rewarded for their faithfulness to their duty. The reward will come in the form oflong life. In addition, their children and grand children will enjoy a richer happier life because they took the time to tell the story at every opportunity!

Thus, Moses emphasized the importance of telling the story. Adult Christians

Satan Is Busy in This Present Age

Satan is busy causing problems today just as he caused problems for every preceding generation. He is busy interfering in the lives of the youth of this generation.

Satan has a plan to gain new recruits among today's youth. It is designed to lure them into subcultures that often negatively affect their spirituality.

Often the church becomes relaxed, but Satan has been busy. Recent studies have revealed that by the age of 16 the average child will watch 200,000 acts ofviolence on television_ in addition to 33,000 murders, 20,000 sex acts, 35,000 naked bodies and will hear 150,000 songs that will urge him to have sex, drink alcohol, shoot someone, or get high. These are the statistics for the average American youth. Consider the fact that African-American youth spends 50 percent more time watching television and listening to the radio than all others and it is not hard to understand the complexity of our situation.

             This present age is developing a taste for things that are vulgar, violent, and sexy.

  It is reflected in the movies youth like most. Though there were scores ofnew movies

. in the last three years the ones that were favorites of African-American teens were

  those most violent or had plenty of cursing and sex.

In the midst of all these influences. a new counter culture has developed over the

     two decades. called Hip Hop. It is a music driven voice of youth rebellion that reflects

  a language, culture, fashion and hairstyle that is counter to mainstream influences.

The new counter culture attempts to teach youth to go against mainstream cultural standards. If: for example, boys are expected to wear their pants fitted on their waists, Hip Hop urges them to wear them loose on their hips. Instead of wearing shirttails in. Hip Hop suggests that they wear them out. Instead of buckling belts, Hip Hop suggests that they be worn unbuckled or no belts at all. Since it is expected that men do not wear earrings. Hip Hop suggests that men wear earrings. Rather than take hats ofT in the building. Hip Hop suggests that they keep hats on, and turn them backwards.

The cigarette and alcohol have targeted African American youth as easy prey and have finance many segments of he Hip I-lop Movement. Alcohol companies who influence youth to drink secretly back many ofthe rappers. The rap group 8-BaJl is backed by Eight Ball Old English 800 Malt Liquor; Ice Cube was promoted by St.lves Malt Liquor: and it is no coincidence that a few years ago when Snoop Dog started singing about the joys of "Gin and luice" that packages of gin and juice began showing up in liquor stores around the country.

Even sadder, hundreds of thousands of youth are graduating from Hip Hop to levels in which they must prove that they are willing to do anything to prove that they have the ':iuice" or ultimate courage. This includes, drugs, promiscuity, even murder.

_Satan has a grip on millions of young people in this present age who are caught up so tight they cannot turn loose.

TheChurch'sChallenge

In the midst of this generation there is a small nucleus of youth who are standing firm for Christ. These youth, the missionaries oftheir generation, must be groomed to witness to their peers in this present age.

That makes the challenge ofthe church even more formidable. Its mission is clear and succinct. The words of Moses are even clearer today than they were when he spoke them in the Book of Deuteronomy. We must "teach" this present age.

How? What can the church do?

       The church can return to the concepts of our forefathers in rearing our children.

Hillary Clinton discovered the principle and wrote about it in her book, "It takes a village." She learned what our fore parents already knew; everyone around a child influences and contributes to his growth and development. The church must adopt the village approach to youth. We must involve ourselves in the entire lives of the youth in our care and nurture their faith.

We must teach, through hands on activities in real time.

       We must utilize proven tools to reach and teach. Organizations such as Girl Scouts

and Boy Scouts have proven to be useful tools used by churches around the world to reach youth with a spiritual message while they have fun. We must use scouting in a greater way.             '

We must involve ourselves in the education and Christian education of our youth.

Churches must become concerned about the academic performance oftheir youth as well as their Christian education. Programs for after school tutoring, ACT Prep and other academic based project will help them in school. At the same time Sunday School, bible study and youth Christian Education will help them grow spiritually. We must increase our involvement in the Christian Education and secular education of our youth.

The mission ofthe church is to minister to this present age with the word of God in a meaningful way that tells the story of what God has done in the past and what he is doing today.

Testify to this Present Age

Finally, brothers and sisters, the church has the obligation to answer the question

that this generation begs for an answer, "Who will tell us the story?"

    The church's response should be the same as that of Isaiah, "If the Lord needs

somebody, here am I Lord, send me!"

Who will tell this generation that Jesus is calling out to them, reminding them that

he has great work for them to do?

   Who will challenge this present age to step out of their generation into his elite

group of young Christian warriors as a part of the Chosen generation?

            If

When Satan starts influencing our young they must be prepared to answer. Wht,'I14 _

Satan plants the idea that there is "nothing wrong with a little bump and grind" the! Christian youth remembers that the word of God says, "'The body is the temple ofthe ' Holy GhosC.

Christian youth have their own "bump and grind" We bump Satan out ofthe way

and "Grind" him under our feet

\Vho will tell this generation that we serve a God who turns:

Darkness into light: failure into success:

Weakness into strength: lost hope into fulfilled dreams:

Who will tell the story of the goodness of the Lord?

Who will tell the world that those who trust in the Lord can:

-Face the unfaceable: conquer the unconquerable

-Bear the unbearable: suffer the insufferable

The Lord needs believers in this generation who are willing to use all available

means to witness to this present age that God is still a good God!

Who will tell the story of how God take poor families from North Carolina, Louisiana and Mississippi and hundreds of places around the world and lift them up'

      to high heights!

      Who will tell the story told by our forefathers?

      Whoever tells the story must decide to live the life and walk the walk, before they

try to talk the talk!

If you are going to tell thc story. you must know Jesus for yourself1

You can't tell your story until you can tell his story!

Tell them about Jesus, the Lily of the Valley!

Tell them about Jesus. the bright and morning star!

Tell them hmv he died on Calvary! Tell them how he arose after three days and!

nights!

Who will tell the story to this present age?

The church should say. "Here we are, Lord.. .send usI"