Youth Diaspora

So last week, as a requested birthday present from our son Jesse who just turned 18, we gave him permission not to have to come to church with us every Sunday. We never made him go. He never really questioned it. But close to his 18th birthday, he asked for this as a gift, and we gave it to him. He still wants to come when he can play drums in the worship band though. Which got me thinking…

The other day I picked up a couple of people from the airport who were flying in for a memorial service for Nato. One was Nato’s sister. Very cool people. Both in their twenties. I felt an immediate bond with them. We talked a little bit about Jesus, faith, spirituality, theology and the church, along with a myriad of other things. Neither of them attend any church. Like so many other young adults that I know. I love them. My heart is for them. These are my mission field!Even though I feel our church is quite progressive and radical in many ways, we still aren’t near what we could be. More vision, courage and decision is required. You see, it isn’t that I want these young adults to attend my church. For some reason, even though they don’t attend, I already feel they are a part of the church. They are what I would call the Diaspora… which literally means they are the seeds spread throughout the world… those living outside the visible church. I feel our church is surrounded by such people… young people who have faith but aren’t a part of a visible local community of believers. I feel they would have something to gain from being a part of a community. More than that though, I think that the community would have something to gain from them.

Church needs to be redefined. I don’t just mean renamed or restructured. It’s not enough to change the format or change the bosses. Our hearts need to change. Radically! Now!

The photograph is taken from the Fashion Collection of my friend, Mark Hemmings.