A controversial new film, titled “Divided”, is stirring up youth ministers across the continent. “Divided” seeks to find the solution to the problem within modern youth ministry. In it’s 54 minutes of interviews, it boldly concludes the there isn’t just a problem within modern youth ministry; the problem is modern youth ministry. Personally, this has got my conscience stirring.
According to the movie’s website, Phil Leclerc is on a journey to discover why modern youth ministry is failing. In documentary style, he interviews youth, youth ministers, and pastors. With much research he learns the shocking answer: “modern youth ministry is not founded upon the Word of God but upon the ideas of men.” This, Divided claims, is why 80% of youth kids leave the Church when they become adults.
Divided has a sobering message: Modern youth ministry is not Biblical. If it’s message line up with Scripture, then the implications are extreme for the Church and it’s youth ministers. How extreme? If very idea of what we consider to be youth ministry is not ordained by God, then we have been violating God’s law! It is apparent that we have been following man’s wisdom instead of God’s. Therefore, repentance would be in order. Then a total shift would take place in the format and methodology of properly ministering to youth. That’s the very thing Divided is calling for.
The message of Divided is not one of hopelessness and finger-pointing. The men of the interviews give us this solution: “Conformity to the Scriptures… [is the key] to rescuing youth.” Deuteronomy 6, Psalm 78, Ephesians 6, and others are offered to support this forgotten model of youth ministry. In these passages we read that the duty of instructing children is the parents responsibility. Thus, this gives youth Pastors a new job. No, youth ministers will not be unemployed. Instead, they may find it s fitting position to come alongside parents to disciple their children, as entire families worship and learn together. The short film hopes that this simple solution will bring change to today’s Church.
I Highly recommend that everyone watches this brief documentary. It can be viewed in it’s entirety (until Sept. 15, 2011)www.dividedthemovie.com.
Please consider the integrity of this film. Ponder it’s controversial message. And, of course, look to the Scriptures for verification.
Do you agree/disagree with Divided? Why/Why not? Is it’s message accurate, helpful, harmful, or heretic?
I encourage you to comment and discuss this important movie.
Eli Cork
About Eli Cork
As a child of God my purpose is this: to know Him as Father. The more I know Him the more I want to share His Good News. I am able to do this currently as a children's/youth minister in small town Maple Creek, SK.
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First of all let us agree that there is no biblical support for the existence of youth ministry in church. But lets also be clear that there is nothing in the Bible forbidding youth ministry either.
For me. youth ministry is a way for gifted individuals to practice the “one another” principle that is so prevalent in the New Testament. Church is to be a place where all are to excercise their Holy Spirit gifts to edify other believers in other words build up other believes in their faith. A team of individuals serving in youth ministry and building up the faith of young people are a grace and a necessary means of fellowship in a local body. Why would God give anyone a gift to teach unless he expected them to actually use that gift within the local body. The question is then how do we provide opportunities for said individual to exercise their gifts?
And as for the youth what would we rather them do? Come to church Sunday after sunday listening to a monologue brought on by the Pastor perched atop the altar at the podium? Are Pastors so full of themselves to think that only they can reach the youth of our generation?
I cant help but wonder if those that are against youth ministry are also advocates for a church that is nothing more than a spectator sport where people just show up and take up space while the “clergy” does all of the work. Nothing is more biblical that the clergy/laity divide or the current system of church where the only one exercising his or her gifts within the body is the “pastor”.
Instead of a piece that analyzes and scrutinizes youth ministry, I would suggest instead a piece that analyzes and scrutinizes church as it has come to be known. Is the current way we do church what God intended in the first place? Did God intend for church to be a spectator sport where people just show up Sunday after Sunday to observe what the “ministers” are doing? Do we blame the “failure” of youth ministry on the idea of youth ministry itself, or do we blame the failure on parents whose failure we can blame on church in general. Maybe youth are leaving the church in droves or want nothing to do with God at a certain age due to what they witness and experience at home.
Thanks!
At http://www.dividedthemovie.com there is a question and answer section. I encourage you to check it out, especially regarding your comment about pews and podiums.
the “movie” was the second public opinion about modern youth ministry not working i’ve read or seen recently. one rightly pointed to the larger church as part of the issue in the older generation not investing in younger generations, and that seems to be a good launching point for strategies from here on out. in regards to this “film,” however, there are several things to consider from this.
1. this “filmmaker” had a huge agenda. i read a post from walt mueller that the interview he was given was over an hour long, yet the clip they used was a mere 5 seconds or less. not to mention that the film was backed by the National Center for Family Integrated Churches. it wasn’t objective. it saw everything through a lens. the “director” himself even said his parents pulled him out of the youth ministry. almost all of his positive interviews were on the side in opposition to youth ministry or age-segregated classes.
2. to say that modern youth ministry is contrary to scripture almost stands as a misinterpretation of the bible. just because there isn’t an outline for how youth ministry should work in the bible does not mean it is not beneficial or edifying. I agree that the family is the first line of spiritual development and that the youth ministry should be there to support and reinforce the things being taught in the home. but to blatantly say that youth ministry is contrary to scripture is completely pompous. if that’s the case, then let’s do away with projectors, podiums, pews, offices, and everything else that’s in our buildings. there’s nothing in the bible about them, so they must be contrary to scripture, right??
3. i would still encourage youth ministers to see this film. there are many good questions raised and ideas that need to be thought through. as one sided as it was, it caused me to reevaluate some of what i do as a youth minister. your blood may boil the entire time, but i was able to find some very insightful ideas and concepts from it.
simply put, there can’t just be one way to do life together in our churches. what works for @ Brian with his 20 students would probably not work for me with my 45 or so. this “film” would argue there is only one way, and that arrogance should be squashed. the new testament church didn’t do everything identically. families should always be where it begins. our modern youth ministries should be the reinforcements to parents. there can’t be two competing visions going on, one for the church and one for the youth. the vision has to be consistent. make sure the things that happen in your youth ministry are on par with what happens in the rest of the church, theologically, musically, discipleship-wise, etc. that’s where the biggest success will come from.
Read the book “The Master Plan of Evangelism” by Robert Coleman
This just a stem of the problem. The root of the problem is the church is no longer making disciples. So if the men of the church aren’t being discipled, why do you think they are discipling their children? Because they don’t know how! Preaching from the pulpit is only one avenue of making disciples and unfortunately the rest has been neglected because it is hard to dig into someones life and help them grow in their relationship with Christ. But to stand up front and give a message is easy.
My opinion of the documentary is that they bring up some valid points, but take it to the extreme. Let’s go and make disciples as was Christ’s last command to us!
oops my bad! I’ll take a look. I have not been good at keepin up with everyone – lol
I’m not with YS anymore. (I’m with @youthcartel now) There is plenty of research currently being done. Have you looked at StickyFaith.org?
I’m not with YS anymore. (I’m with @youthcartel now) There is plenty of research currently being done. Have you looked at StickyFaith.org?
Thanks Adam for sharing. Every film maker has an agenda and a point to get across. It would be great to see more research on it. Would Youth Specialties like to do it? I will gladly share a post on my site with YS’s research and findings. It’s healthy to challenge our philosophies of doing ministry. But I think whatever philosophy that you come up with make sure that it has the backings of your church’s leadership which means some of them may have to work with you to come up with your process for doing youth ministry in your church.
I would have liked to have seen some hints at integrity with this “film.” Just like Michael Moore, you can make a “documentary style” say anything if you film long enough and cut it just right. Ask yourself, were the youth ministers interviewed in this film told what the film was about? What questions were they asked that didn’t make the cut? Were participants given an opportunity to screen their comments in context before it was published? That’s not what I’m hearing from those interviewed. As many of them have written about after seeing it, that’s not what happened.
It seems to me that the “film” (more of an infomercial) started with a premise and then tried to go out and find “proof” and wrapped it up under the guise that since youth ministry isn’t commanded in the bible it must be unbiblical. (As if say, making documentaries, is?)
While there are shadows of important things to be discussed in youth ministry featured in the “film” it’s important that we look one another in the eye and have those conversations. Let’s do actual research and help inform churches instead of trying to scare them into firing someone, OK?
i watched the movie about two weeks ago, we have decided that have get togethers mabey on fri nights to still have the fellowship but have them sit with the adults on sundays and wendsdays ill try to keep everyone informed how it all worked out
Interesting… Lots of things to think and pray over
Brian, that’s so encouraging to hear, that you took your convictions seriously. Right now I am wrestling with this idea. I have a midweek children’s group. But I’m now considering a new, Biblical methodology (if indeed what I am currently working with is unbiblical).
Yes, please keep us informed. I believe God will bless you for this action.
PS. When did you first watch this movie?
I would like for you to keep us updated on how this happens in your youth ministry, what kind of challenges you face, and maybe a process for change. It will be interesting to see all reactions to this.
i am a youth pastor in oregon with about 20 students, i watched the movie and totally agree with what they are saying, so i talked to my pastor and he agreed, the youth will be sitting with the adults come the new year.