If you’ve noticed in the post about Christian Schools several references were made to them being like large youth groups. I know that there are a few good Christians trying to teach youth who are basing their teaching on Scripture. But they are few and far between. The majority of youth groups across this country are more interested in the pizza parties, games and wild ideas than they are studying the Scriptures.

A couple of weeks ago a particular youth group’s activities were brought to my attention entitled Peanut Butter Salvation: Why a Southside MegaChurch Thinks That Goldfish Swallowing and Toe-Licking Will Lead the Next Generation to God.  Honestly, I have read alot of stuff involving our youth especially some sickening things concerning the music directed at the youth when I was preparing the CCM pdf. But I was so disgusted and saddened by this particular article that I couldn’t finish reading it at first.

Why such a reaction? Because I have two teens and a preteen that could very well be involved in these same activities if we had not decided years ago to eliminate youth group activities from our church experience. Although some of my children are strong enough that they would not do something that they felt uncomfortable with, I do know that some would follow the crowd especially if directed to do so by a trusted leader.

The Pilgrim at Defending. Contending. took the information I shared with him and was able to write a very good explanation of some of the issues involved in the typical youth ministry and their activities to get a crowd. While it is not a pretty subject it is very necessary for anyone with youth, or even younger children, to become aware of what is being done in youth groups today. Even if the activities are different the ideas and worldly view behind much of the activities are the same.

A general idea behind these activities is to encourage our children to:

Lose your inhibitions. Young people usually have inhibitions against doing anything too embarrassing or shameful. These exercises are designed to free people from such hang-ups. For some reason, post-Freudian psychologists­ whose “sensitivity groups” are the model for these kinds of exercises­ maintain that such inhibitions are bad. Christians, though, have always insisted that we need to feel inhibited about indulging in things for which we should feel ashamed. This is part of what we mean by developing a conscience. ~ Gene Edward Veith

They are actually encouraging the youth to give into to peer pressure! What many parents are fighting tooth and nail to keep our children from doing. The youth group is encouraging all under the assumed respectability of the “Church”.

Peanut butter salvation and other stupid church tricks.

… just silly men who have never grown up, getting paid to play silly games with kids who will eventually be inoculated against true Biblical Christianity.]

…

[So let me get this straight. Standing up for Jesus requires boldness and fearlessness, but instead of instilling that in the youth by having them actually stand up for Jesus, or even showing them by example, instead you have them perform sick, twisted, and erotic games and this will somehow help them stand up for Jesus? And if they need to perform these juvenile games to stand up for Jesus then does that not mean that you're suggesting to them that their source of strength comes not from God but from them and their willingness to act like fools? Here's a novel idea: Try having them become "fearless" by actually proclaiming Jesus Christ, and start with you by boldly preaching Jesus Christ. Then encourage the one's that are really sincere to take missions trips to countries where standing up for Jesus will get you imprisoned, tortured and/or killed. Somehow I don't think the countless martyrs throughout church history and today needed to lick peanut butter off someone's toes in order to stand up for Jesus.]

Please pass this along to any who feel having their children in a popular youth program in a church will be beneficial to their salvation or spiritual growth. One parent can’t change the direction of the average youth group but several parents standing together just might.

I would also encourage anyone to pull their children from any youth group of this type. You just might be surprised at how your teen grows when actually in a serious, Biblical Bible study.