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"Amanda" - you couldn't be more wrong regarding your comment to scripture being errant. This is a great example of why Christians need to know apologetics (including our youth). The translation argument is perhaps the weakest argument that folks like the Jesus Seminar and others like them can make. Your statement is based on the argument that today's bible started say from Greek to Latin to Sans....etc. That is not the case. When we get a translation, we go back to the original Greek texts so that we have a 1st generation translation. Furthermore, the idea that texts were altered by conspiritorious monks doesn't hold up either. For this theory to hold up, our monks would have to have stolen all the original texts in the 3 original languages (Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic), tell the same lie on all texts, in all 3 languages and ge all the texts back without getting caught or showing thier ink work. Now they have to live 100 years. Then, they would have to get the 2nd-3rd century texts in other languages that the bible was translated in (Syriac, Coptic, Latin) and tell the same lie they told in all the texts in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic and not get caught or show their ink work, now they have to live 200 years. And before our conspiratorious monks were done, they would have to get all the writings from the early church fathers (which is estimated that we could have 95-98% of the NT just from thier writings) and tell the same lies they told in Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Syrica, Coptic, Latin in all those texts then, get those documents back where they came from and don't get caught or show thier ink work. Now they have to live 300-400 years. The argument that there's a translation problem with the bible does not hold up. Scripture is inerrant. You need to read no further than 2 Peter 1:16-21 "For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased"-- and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morrning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." 2 Peter 1:16-21 (NASB)
Jaycen 12:09:37pm on 9/23/2008
OffensiveI just want to remind everyone that even scripture is errant. Everytime the scripture is translated and passed down, it was changed just ever so slightly. And the nuances and meanings of words have changed as well. This is one of the biggest reasons not to live in the bunker. The holy spirit works "when two or more are gathered." Discernment helps you avoid the pitfalls of being human. We need to be in coversation with each other (congregations),with other faiths,with God, and with culture. When we are in full community, we can then see the fullness of God's vision.
Amanda 12:03:26pm on 3/12/2008
Offensivewell..i agreed on what the writer says. I'm 18 years old and I am from Malaysia.In my country, alot of churches, mostly traditional ones or churches that have older elders usually have bunker mentality. I am experiencing those things that had mentioned above fisrt handedly as I am studying in a university but I have always remembered my youth pastor always used this 'wise words' from the bible to keep us in-check with ourselves all the time. I would like to share it with all of u here. "everything is pemissible, but not everything is beneficial" from which verse..i can't seem to remember..i'm sorry.
mabel 11:12:53am on 12/26/2007
OffensiveI used to think like Walt thinks. Not anymore. Please read this whole entry with a smile and soft overtones in the inflection--that's how I am writing it. I won't argue with some of the points made. It probably wouldn't be fruitful. I'll simply say this: one can be "in the world" without checking out movies with objectional content, watching MTV and reading "Rolling Stone" (etc.). I hope that it's not considered "Pharisseeism" to take serioiusly the personal conviction that David modeled when he said that he would not purposefully or voluntarily ever again view content that is "wicked" (Psalm 101:1-4). He was as engaged in the culture as one can get--he was the king! I think being "in the culture" has to do with being aware of trends, relationally accessible and biblically wise. So, of course, I want to be like Jesus, too. He befriended the broken without ever participating in brokenness--and He's the ultimate "in but not of" model. He shows us that we don't have to visit a brothel to love and help the harlot. Jesus spent a lot of time in the bunkers of prayer, deepening relationships with other believers and hard-core teaching ministry. He certainly ventured out "to seek and to save that which was lost." He was aware of their culture and very relevant. I'm so broken! May God give us His wisdom. May we balance Christ's call to "be holy" with His passion to "seek and to save."
Jon 11:12:46am on 12/07/2007
OffensiveExcellent article, my friend. The MATRIX film helped me climb out of the bunker. It showed me how to make the connection with culture's longing for the metaphysical. Your perspective is right on. (GCTS, DMIN, 2003) Roger.
Roger 3:11:49pm on 11/27/2007
OffensiveMy cousin some times visited church with us as kids. Even as a child I understood that there was a seed of Gods word being planted in his heart. Obviously I was glad, and had a sence of satisfaction. That is until I met with him recently after not seeing him for many years.We are both grown men with families now. We were reminising on the past,when he told me about what he remembered most about my child hood church and their teachings .I was infuriated.The word of God should not be mixed with our personal preferences. We must inshure that every student we teach,leaves with Gods word in their heart. Thats what should be in their memories decades after the teachings. That is the seed that can grow if planted on fertile soil. Our own judgements in time may be proven wrong.
micky 5:11:43am on 11/21/2007
OffensiveI definitely agree with this article, because culture is like a bridge that we as youth leaders can use to get to the youth we are trying to minister too. If we can identify with bands they are listening to and movies they are seeing, it's an amazing way to start conversations with them. Thankfully, bands like Underoath, As I Lay Dying and more are both popular with teens as well as sporting amazing Christian values in their music, culture is somewhat more "christian-friendly" than it used to be. At the same time, as another comment said, using discernment is a good thing. If people stray to far from the bunker, we can get lost and step on a land mine. To stay grounded in the Bible, and not stray from the true gospel is key. The way we teach the gospel MUST change with each generation, but the actual gospel MUST stay the same as it was two thousand years ago. Culture has a great way of being popular, but also a great pull to water down the things we teach our youth. Peace be upon you.
Brad 2:11:14pm on 11/19/2007
OffensiveI am taking a Contemporary Culture class for my Masters of Christian Ministry degree. I was actually resenting being forced to watch "certain R-rated movies." My eyes were opened when I went to NetFlix to order them and realized all 8 of them were in the top 25! They were movies I had never even heard of! I need to dig my head out of the sand and be in the world but not of the world. How can I shine the light of Christ into dark places if I don't know where to point the light? Thanks for a great article! It helped put all my concerns into perspective.
Karen 7:11:12am on 11/15/2007
OffensiveFor some people living OUTSIDE of the Bunker CAN be dangerous. (i.e. what may be spiritually harmful for them) I think individual discernment is KEY.
Jamie 5:11:25pm on 11/14/2007
OffensiveOn rereading my last comment I feel I came across harshly to the author. I do want to commend him on this article as it does expose the problem of not being in the culture at all. This absence of knowledge can limit our ability as youth leaders to minister to our students. However, I really wanted to bring up the other side of the issue. There is definitely a middle ground that must be achieved. I do lean toward Tony in trying to create a church culture that is focused on the spiritual disciplines. Though we cannot neglect the culture as it is having an influence on our students and we must be aware of it. Thank you Walt for a very thought procoking and well written article :)
Travis 4:11:57pm on 11/14/2007
OffensiveI am just starting out in ministry and am at a church to work with families who have children in elem - h.s. The church does not have many families w/ children or teens. In getting started do I want to foster a youth culture that will draw them in because in many ways it mirrors what they like or instead do I expect that our church is daily concerned with creating a "Christian culture". By that I mean a way of life that is directly addressed and influence by practices that come to us from Christ and those faithful followers down through the centuries. Practices such as eating together at the Lord's supper, forgiveness, fasting, prayer (private, and corporate), reading/studying scripture (private and corporate), living simply, visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, etc. Practices such as these really help to give us the ability to discern our place in the dominate culture. With out developing these particular skills and practices it is difficult to have any particular rational for who we are as people who are sent as missionaries into the world.
tony 3:11:57pm on 11/14/2007
OffensiveWim 1:11:53pm on 11/14/2007
OffensiveThis is without a doubt a very tough issue as Jill said. One of the primary problems with this issue is learning how to engage in culture without necessarily endorsing culture. If you have a student that is listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and you start listening to them as well as many other secular bands that are promoting horrible values your listening and being aware of the music can be viewed as making it ok. If you then go and condemn the artists who are clearly leading people into sin that may seperate you and isolate you further from the students. A second problem with this is where do you draw the line. If a group of people in the church go to a strip club regularly to you go and check it out, see what it is all about. How about watching a movie with alot of nudity? How about watching a movie with a little nudity? Do you do it? Where exactly is the line for studying youth culture. Under the motivated by fear section it also talks about the shepherd protecting the sheep. That may be true, but clearly God does not desire us to throw ourselves into temptation. Satan will surely seize every opportunity to lead people astray. Youth workers must be cautious when participating in secular activities. Someone who has a problem with swearing should probably not watch Good Will Hunting regardless of how many of their students learn from it. In short this is far from a clean topic. There are so many aspects of this discussion that were not touched on in this article. We must remember that when Jesus was engaged in the culture he very often condemned the behavior openly. At times he did it in love and at other times he did it in anger. Though it is important to understand and learn about youth culture it is something that must be done with great prayer, thought, and discernment.
Travis 1:11:02pm on 11/14/2007
OffensiveThis is a tough issue to grapple with. I'm grateful to people like Walt Mueller for their insights.
Jill 1:11:07pm on 11/14/2007
OffensiveThis really gave me a lot to think about. Growing up in the church I have always struggled with "bunker" mentality.
Susan 10:11:30am on 11/14/2007
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