So… we have a wee bit of a problemo these days when it comes to the world’s view of Christianity: it’s just a tad out of wack. Back in ‘ol country, Europe (where the history comes from…) it’s seen as all grey-gloomy cathedrals and somber mumbling worship, apparently. Out in the New World the perception ranges from deep and prejudiced right-wing hardliners to happy-flappy seeker-sensitive marshmallow sessions.
Up here on the African deck it gets eyeballed as quaint and boring, or for spiritual orphans chasing emotional highs. These perceptions seem to be harboured even within the church denominations, ‘cos that’s what is slammed in their faces daily in mags, on the box and in the web. If you think of Hollywood – yes, yes everyone harps on about them, Hollywood bad etc. etc. – but check this: less than what, a percent of the world’s western population pumps out maybe 80% of its television and film – and these guys aren’t all exactly championing the Kingdom and its King.
Sure, these warped perceptions do find their root in the different ways some people have their gathering of the saints, but hey, as long as whatever these people are doing is truly from the heart and smooth with the scriptures then that’s awesome. Different cultures and societies have a sweet variety of expressions of worship and devotion, of servanthood and discipleship. God be praised, He doesn’t want us all to be clone drones. Keeps things interesting. If there is one thing I want to witness is a classic southern Gospel meeting. Apparently it’s epic.
See, the thing is, mass-media usually takes a stock cutout of any… well anything really – hip-hop, skateboarders, footballers, cops whatever – and uses that as its representation of the whole. Stereotype is its friend, cliché it’s bread and butter. It’s kinda like using a budgie to rep for all the birds. But I’d like to see you stick a 300-pound ostrich in a budgie-can without it swallowing your head.
So I digress (and will again, eventually – it’s inevitable). The point is, there are some awesome peeps out there breaking the cheap and nasty mold the church has been shoved into, and taking the life, love and freedom of Christ to the streets, the beaches, the skies, the railings: showing that God doesn’t fit into any moulds we make – because we could never make one big enough. Or unique enough. Or beautiful enough…
Here’s one of ‘em, Brad, and his message:
“You must shine amongst them like stars lighting up the sky, as you offer them the message of life” Philippians 2vs 15
We look at society and it’s full of youth searching for something? Somewhere to belong and feel the love we all crave so deeply within. Jesus hung out with the misfits of society, he even ate dinner with them, but in today’s world so many people want nothing to do with them. We want to fill our pews and youth groups with model citizens and perfect youth that never stumble, while we their youth leaders stumble daily.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not bad as idealism goes, but we are set in the reality where youth do drugs and break things just for fun, where they go skating for hours on end just to escape the realities their broken homes are filled with. They run away searching for something to dull the responsibilities they now have, responsibilities no youth should ever have. We pile excessive amounts of responsibility and expectations on these youths and then have the audacity to complain that kids grow up so fast these days. We spend hours answering the questions no one is asking. Yes, Jesus is the answer but what’s the question?
‘Where to from here?’ is a question I often here people around me asking. Someone always answers ‘anywhere as long as its forward’. Where is forward for me? I need to remember: just because God is by my side does not mean I am moving forward. So the reason I am writing this article and ramblings is forward for me – is a Ministry organization called Son Skate,
Son Skate started out as nothing more than a passion placed on my heart by God for skate boarders and other ‘outcasts’ of society, or at least the stereotyped outcasts.
Son Skate is about building relationships and showing a relevant Jesus through the way we live our lives. It is also about showing an appealing lifestyle that is both fun and necessary to gain eternal life and happiness.
Mission Statement and Vision
To be a Christian witness and presence to the skating and riding community of South Africa!
Son Skate is not a freelance organization, in other words in order for a club to be opened up it has to be run within a local church, this is done for accountability and it allows the church to take ownership of youth and its leaders and allow for fellowship, building relationships and support. I feel it needs to be stated that Son Skate is not the be all and end all, it’s the next step forward for me and God and so many others. We draw along side Son Surf who have been around for more than a number of years, they work with surfers along the shorelines of South Africa and have mission trips abroad. Son Skate and Son Surf are about the people, people that need Jesus more than anything, just like us! We will work alongside anyone that has that passion.
Son Skate has dreams of affecting youth with this thing we call truth, but we are left with the how, and is it even possible? It’s easy enough to get youth to stop external things and to see progress on the outside initially – but for how long? Its difficult and sometimes not instantly noticeable for a long time the inner change that God is bringing about. We are often left feeling bleak about all our efforts, but that’s what faith and prayer is for. It says in the Psalms ‘if you seek me you will find me’, if our youth seek through the temperamental Jesus they see in us, just like Paul says, ‘imitate me as I imitate Christ’ – they will find the real God and he will hold them close.
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shoes says:
Have you thought of adding video to your blog to keep the visitors entertained? I recently read the entire article and it was good…thanks for the share
Apr 05, 2008, 9:35 pm