Just a clarification from my last post. I realized that I was a little vague as to my explanation. I do believe that in some way there is a personal, volitional experience someone goes through when deciding to follow Christ. Ultimately God knows who will make this decision, but I honestly don’t understand all the theology behind how someone is “saved”. I mean I know all the theological jargon about salvation, but the whole thing seems much more unexplainable, mysterious, and supernatural than that stuff.

My beef with the current, but dying, model of Gospel presentation in youth ministry is the tired and worn method of getting kids to say the “sinner’s prayer” as a cure all to their spiritual condition. And, the idea that this is somehow presenting the Gospel. The “Good News” is so much more than getting a kid saved. Joining in the Kingdom Mission of God is just as much, or more, a part of the Gospel.

Mike King in his book, Presence Centered Youth Ministry calls this decisionism. King goes on to lay out a viable alternative to this method. He writes, “We must move away from premature and manipulated decision making and instead create environments that allow for time and space, where youth are repeatedly ushered into the presence of God. We must allow transformation to come by the Holy Spirit instead of by gimmickry, tricks and manipulation.

I’m not simply trying to get a shock response from readers with this issue. I’m trying to be a good steward of the students He has placed in my care. Part of that is clearly and consistently communicating the Gospel. Presenting the full Gospel is not the easy way, and it’s certainly not going to get large amounts of students to say a prayer. But, it is going to better prepare them for a life-long journey of following Christ and joining His reconciliation mission. Thoughts?

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