(Editor’s Note: My schedule requires advance posts this week).
We took
a young volunteer from the room and blindfolded him. We told him that when he returned he could do
anything he wished. He remained outside
the room while we instructed each audience member to think of a simple task for
the volunteer to do. When the volunteer
returned, they were to shout their individual instructions at him from where
they were sitting. Prior to this, we
privately instructed another person to shout a very specific task at the
blindfolded volunteer, as though it were a matter of life and death. This person was to attempt to persuade the
blindfolded volunteer to climb the steps at the back of the auditorium and
embrace an instructor who was standing at the door. He too had to shout this vital message from
where he sat in the audience. The
volunteer was oblivious to any of these instructions and previous arrangements.
The volunteer represented our collective
group of young people, and the audience represented the world of voices
screaming for their attention. The
person with the vital message represented those who are trying to bring the
Gospel message to our youth. When the
blindfolded volunteer was led into the room. the lecture hall exploded in a din
of shouting. Each person tried to get
the volunteer to follow his or her unique instructions. In the midst of the crowd, the voice of the
person with the vital message was lost, and no single message stood out. The blindfolded volunteer stood there, totally
paralyzed by confusion and indecision. He
moved randomly and meaninglessly as he sought to discern a clear and
unmistakable voice in the loud crowd.
We told
the entire audience about the person would attempt to get the volunteer to
accomplish a very vital task. We also
chose another person from the audience to add a new dimension to our experiment.
His goal was to (at all costs) keep the blindfolded
volunteer from doing the vital task. While
the rest of the audience was to remain in their seats, these two people (the
vital task person and the opposing person) were allowed to stand next to the blindfolded
volunteer and shout their different messages. They could get as close as they wished, but
they were not allowed to touch the student. As the blindfolded volunteer was led back into
the room, the shouting began again. This
time, since the two chosen messengers were standing so close, the blindfolded
student could hear both of their messages.
But because the messages were so opposite to each other, the volunteer
seemed confused and hesitant. He
followed one voice for a bit, then he was convinced by the other to go in the
opposite direction. We learned from this
that In order for young people to hear our message we must get close to them. But even then, others with opposing messages are
present and close enough to make their messages heard. Sometimes these people can be peers or relatives,
but only the closest voices can be heard. Even though the blindfolded student took no
decisive action, at least he had heard the message.
The
response to the third phase of our experiment was eye-opening. In this phase everything remained the same,
except that the one with the vital message was allowed to actually touch the
volunteer. He could not pull, push, or
force the volunteer to do his bidding, but he could touch him and encourage him
to follow. The blindfolded volunteer was
led into the room. When he appeared, the
silence erupted into an earsplitting roar. The two messengers stood close, shouting their
opposing words. But the one with the
vital message put his arm gently around the volunteer’s shoulder and leaned in
closely to speak directly into his ear. Almost
without hesitation, the volunteer began to follow his instruction. Occasionally the volunteer paused to listen
as the opposition frantically tried to convince him to turn around. But then, by the gentle guidance of touch, the
one with the vital message led him toward the rear of the auditorium. A moment of frightening realism occurred
spontaneously as the one with the vital message drew closer to the goal. Suddenly, all those in the audience (who up
to this point had been shouting their own individual instruction), joined in spontaneous
unison to keep the volunteer from taking those final steps. The students began to chant together, “Don't
go!” “Don't go!” “Don't go!” This struck me as something quite familiar,
because so many times I’ve witnessed the powerful forces that seek to pull our
youth in different directions joining together to dissuade them from making a
serious commitment to Christ. The chant
grew to a pulsing crescendo, “Don't go!”
“Don't go!” “Don't go!” But the gently guiding hand of the one with
the vital message never left the blindfolded volunteer’s shoulder. At the top of the stairs in the back of the
lecture hall, the one with the vital message leaned over one last time to
whisper in the ear of the volunteer. There
was a moment of hesitation, then the volunteer threw his arms around the
instructor and the auditorium erupted in applause and cheers.
1.
We must meet our children and youth where they are and how they are.
2.
We must avoid condemnatory statements and simply present the gospel.
3.
We must demonstrate proactive love and kindness.
4.
We must be genuine examples of what the Word teaches.
5.
We must train up our children in the way they should go…consistently
speaking God’s Word in and over our family, which is our first mission field.
6.
We must find creative and interesting ways for youth to participate in
church.
7.
We must identify strategies and means to follow-up from childhood to
adulthood.
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