How to Stay Relevant with an Irrelevant Message

Getting deeper, farther, and yes, into more complex theology will
be more helpful than diving to the bottom of all the troubles of
the average high schooler.

The quest for relevance consumes us all. Nobody wants to be the one out of the loop on what everyone's talking about. At a party sports-haters learn enough about the playoffs so they can name drop like they just checked TSN, the IMDB reminds of that actress who was just in that movie, and in the church we love to analyze the 'issues of today' before we address our listeners. Sit down with a youth pastor and talk about the New Reformed movement or dispensationalism, and you've lost him, but starting talking about dealing with depressions, and he's right with you, remembering that phrase he's been repeating to his youth over the last year, 'breathe deep, smile and keep dancing.' If you were to make a list of everything you thought teens were struggling with today – pornography, cutting, depression...you'll have just made the sermon topic list for the last month at the average city church youth meeting. And who can blame them? No one wants to put their audience to sleep.

This is a far-cry difference from the fiery baptist preachers we remember from fifty years ago who strode into the pulpit with a big Bible, booming voice and an opinionated stance on deep theological issues that caused arguments, church divisions and a host of bitter feelings. But perhaps it is this 'deeper theology' and not the work to be relevant that is going to help us address our issues. All the psychologists and counselors in the world might have great advice but for all their years of experience, they have nothing to compare to Scripture, which is, “breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16).

This means that even the most well targeted talks to the most relevant of issues will never be as profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, or for training in righteousness as some old-fashioned Biblical theology. You want to give your young people something that meets them right where they're at? Give them something real. Give them something living. Give them something sharper than a two edged sword that pierces to the division of joint and marrow. Getting deeper, farther, and, yes, into more complex theology will be more helpful than diving to the bottom of all that troubles the average high schooler. Discipleship means bringing them further in, not coming out to where they are.

I think of the words of Charles Spurgeon,

“I am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never have chosen Him; and I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He never would have chosen me afterwards; and He must have elected me for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find any reason in myself why He should have looked upon me with special love.”

It's a weighty encouragement written in layman's terms, but rooted in theology. Working with someone trapped in depression, self-loathing or looking for love? Here's a Calvinistic exegesis of Ephesians 1 that answers their questions. He's writing on the doctrine of election with an understanding of human depravity. It's all those daunting subjects you looked at in seminary but never thought of teaching your teens. It's the kind of Biblical theology they need.

So the next time someone starts talking Hollywood and you have to google that actor, don't worry, we're all irrelevant on some subject. But when your young people wander up to you with scars three feet deep, wrapped in baggage and shame. Don't start talking about scars, baggage or shame. Reach for your Bible. Talk about what God says about God. Talk about what God says about us. Talk about how exactly the cross works and why. When depression hits, 'He predestined us for adoption' (Eph 1:5) will be a far better rock to stand on than 'breathe deep, smile and keep dancing.'

Interested in more?

Several months ago on this blog we wrote about the correct way to deal with self-esteem issues.

You can check that out here.