Youth of today...

[endure4him]

In light of all the new artist popping up everyday (so it seems), I would like some insight from my brothers/sisters on the board.

I have a teenager, who witnessed a young artist on TBN last week while T.D. Jakes and another minister were on promoting the youth fest. Now, mind you me and DH didn't say anything when the young artist was on and everyone was a rocking and reeling (not the wave), I mean really moving uh, huh...anyway, when the song went off my daughter turns to us and says "should they really be doing that in church?" that's the type of dancing the do in the world-mind you she's not saved so she's up on what teens are doing and how they're doing it but is also very aware of how you should carry yourself as one professing the life of Christ.

We answered hap-hazardily not wanting to be judgemental but to be truthful. In our eyes-this is not the way teens should be putting themselves out there as professing christians (at least the ones that are professing), yet we keep hearing, from many up and coming elders, ministers,etc. that we have to have something to draw them-and that it seems to be this "new" thing with the girating of the body (as in the world), to what they have deemed christian rap/music. Now, I will admit some of it is tasteful in a sense but some of it can be kinda outrageous.

What say ye of this "new" way of gaining the attention of our youth for the sake of their souls?

[livinganewlife]

Wuz up endure?

I know this is old fogies but it don't take all that to get to Christ! It is going to take what it took my grandma, my ma, and me to really experience Christ and that is a relationship with the Lord on your knees.....

That rap and all that appeals to our senses but it take something down on the inside that will help you to stand whether your 5, 15, 51, or 105.....

Our emotions is not what going to help us fight the enemy and overcome victoriously in dire situations. Only the Word that we must study to show our ourselves approved.... Dancing and shaking want get it; as the psalmist says thy WORD O Lord have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee....

In the end it is the Word and Jesus, you know it is so strange how we have all these new revelations on how to bring people to Christ when the Bible so clearly tells us that with LOVING KINDNESS have I drawn thee...

[stillfocused]

I show that segment and I did see young and old grooving with that young brother. Yet, how soon we forget these words "out of the mouths of babes". Your daughter saw something that a many young and old don't see..she saw the world she knows coming out of the church. Sadly. because there is very little teaching on " go and sin no more"; that our young people are getting saved; but, they are not coming out of the world because many are telling them; it's okay to fall every now and then and God will forgive you. Going to church..but, not for fellowship with Christ, yet with friends they talk to 10 - 20 times a day and see almost every other day. And it's true rap appeals to the emotions; because very few are listening to the words; yet, the beat..and once the beat gets you..you start " movin and groovin". There iis no word within them, no relationship, no prayer, no nothing..

Your teenager without saying a word has you know what many are saying: I want Jesus and what you're using isn't going to work for me; because it looks too much like the world to me. I need more. When that teen gets saved...watch out because compromise will not be an option.

[auneeqsol]

Hmmmm.....I can agree , while it is true that some of the "new" or "youthful" praise can be kind of "out there" , when it comes to certain types of gospel or "christian" music, I won't go as far as to say a certain kind appeals to ppl's emotions (only). While we all have our opinion....my opinion on that is , your emotions can be stirred up with any kind of gospel music or gospel song, because music evolves around itself, so it's not the music "per se", I guess it would be what message is it sending.

Now I like gospel rap personally, some of it i dont like, but some i do, and I can see how some beats of it or music can get one "crunk" with emotions, but I can also see how some of the foot stompin hand clappin songs can appeal to our emotions too, especially those. Cuz some of us in church as soon as we hear the B3 rev up or the Triton wail...and the drums skip that beat we are in da corner buckin...being emotional because of what God has done, or what God has said to us....so is being emotional necessarily bad? Hmmm it can be , but sometimes it can be good.

We are emotional beings I have learned, but the bottom line which should keep us walking on the straight and narrow should not be our emotions only but our faith. If your faith is rooted and grounded in the most high then you shall not be moved. So if the rap or "youthful" music is getting a godly positive message to give an invitation to Christ across, then thank the Lord , because just because someone gets saved doesnt mean they still dont like certain styles of music anymore, but they would want to listen to it along with a positive message. I thank God for a variety of music , beats and style in the gospel arena, it keeps things with a lil flava!!

[giantsdodie]

We need to stop entertaining people and preach the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ. Now we DO need to listen to the Holy Spirit as to how the GOSPEL should be ministered, but enough with the entertainment.

[nina]

I think that one of the hardest question to answer today, especially for younger people is "What does it mean to be normal?"
Being a teen is already a time where a young person is trying to define themselves, whether believers or not. It's confusing enough as it is, and maybe there are things that are done, with the best intentions, which actually add up to the normal fuzziness of that age...
So, I'm not questionning anybody's intentions, but I do wonder, ultimately, what the long term impact is? And, it goes for the ones who are not saved and the ones who are.
As adults - parents - we do have to be consistant. Just like young ones have to adjust to the outside world, we have to be aware too.
Not everyone will understand the "intent" of what is being done. They will just see it and come to the conclusion, hey, they do it in church... And in absolute, it's true, and hard to deny because so publicized.
Then, we come home to our children and have to explain??? You know that children of any age don't have any problem asking "Why?" as many times as it takes
We can't be flaky about this, imho it's a yes or no answer when we are asked is it ok. It can't be "well, yeah, just a little bit".
So, a way of gaining attention, definitely. In the long run, the right kind of attention? I honestly don't think so...

[stillfocused]

Sadly, the deception creeps when many answer the altar get saved and 2 wks to 3 yrs later they are back in the world. All Christian rap isn't what it's cracked up to be; and just like you got rappers out there giving the Lord all kinds of props for giving them their " gift" and not living it...the same goes for some Christian rappers. I don't care what kind of music you listen to or enjoy if Jesus Christ is not your foundation..you're going to fall. The Holy Spirit will direct you on what kind of music to listen to..I remember when I got saved I loved myself some Luther Vandross..Luther along with other music when in box. I stopped listening to any kind of music that did not feed my spirit what it needed and I am still very careful what I listen to today. We can not continue to tell people that it's okay to listen to someone singing " I want to lick you up and down " and then putting on Juanita singing " He's a wonder in my soul"..talk about a war going within that person's spirit. People are getting saved; but, alot of them are not getting filled with the Holy Spirit.