Quote:
Originally Posted by djohnson
Is idolatry the only issue? I don't think so. Was everyone involved? I have no way of knowing this and neither does anyone else. How can we know the hearts and minds of thousands of people?
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Well, since you are the thread starter and you mentioned there might be other factors, let me take the opportunity to talk about some others.
First, I think second-generation failure is a concern for many church leaders and a reality for the LCS. Why does it happen? Why aren't the children of the faithful faithful?
The first reason is probably related to children's natural desire to distinguish themselves from their parents, combined with their seeing the hypocrisy and inconsistences they are privy to by living with their parents. This is probably true in all cases.
In the case of the LCS, I think the problem is likely significantly due to failing to put the message in a form which the young people find compelling and accessible. Kids, it's been show again and again, are attracted to things which relate to them and which fit into their world. This is always a challenge and since the LCS believes in not tinkering with WL's message or delivery, the kids pretty much get the same stuff in the same way the grownups do. This is a great way to encourage failure.
This leads us back to the fact that a church diet consisting mostly of high theology doesn't appeal to everyone. It's been a hard lesson to me, and I think a practical lesson for many pastors, that some people are just, as Lee called them, "mooing cows." Well, guess what? God called you to shepherd those cows and if serving them your high theology seven days a week isn't getting the results you want, maybe that should tell you something. As the Lord told his disciples, "You feed them." If they aren't eating what you are dishing up perhaps you should try a different recipe.
JMHO.