For various reasons two words characterise this past week for me: "suffering" and "sin".
What I've realised is that although neither of them are good, both are reasons for joy. And both are things we often avoid talking about with children and young people.
We're familiar with the invitation in the Scriptures to 'rejoice in sufferings', not because of the sufferings themselves, but because of what the suffering produces: 'because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3-4).
I suspect we're less inclined to rejoice in sin.
I've recently re-read Dietrich Bonhoeffer's classic text on Christian community, Life Together. Again I've been challenged by this statement:
Even when sin and misunderstanding burden the communal life, is not the sinning brother still a brother, with whom I, too, stand under the Word of Christ? Will not his sin be a constant occasion for me to give thanks that both of us may live in the forgiving love of God in Jesus Christ? Thus the very hour of disillusionment with my brother becomes incomparably salutary, because it so thoroughly teaches me that neither of us can ever live by our own words and deeds, but only by that one Word and Deed which really binds us together"”the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ.
Do we really believe that the opportunity to discover the enduring weakness of the flesh in our brothers and sisters is a moment of real goodness? Not that our sin is good, but because the acknowledgement of our mutual sin and mutual need for forgiveness teaches us to fix our eyes only on Christ and what he has done to bring us together.
Sin is a daily feature of our lives. I doubt therefore that it's helpful to make talking about and responding to sin an infrequent occurrence. I don't mean that we need to always walk around with backs bent wearing deep expressions of remorse, or to learn how to perfect elaborate public or private confessions. But I do think that having practical ways of acknowledging sin, through confession, rebuke and forgiveness, will strengthen our fellowship in Christ.
Youth ministry is a good place to practice confession, repentance and forgiveness. Not just because there's plenty of raw material to work with!
We know that young people are searching for identity. One particular way of expressing identity is through forming tribes"”gathering with others who are like them in some particular way, whether it's surfing, skateboarding, checkers or chess. It's easy to find some aspect of Christian (or at least Christianised) culture to turn into a rallying point for a youth ministry"”a style of music, a shared activity, matching t-shirts. All of which can be helpful expressions of a common identity, but all of which can easily become replacements for our unity in the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ.
Could we speak more often of our sin in ways that will be helpful? Could we develop disciplines of confession, learn how to offer loving rebuke, and give time to learn the rhythms of forgiveness?
I suspect that if we did we would create tribes where our fellowship be more honest, and we will be able to see more clearly that we are united only in and through Jesus Christ.
The challenge is to take this idea, true in theory and theology, and express it in practice. I'd love to hear of any community practices that readers have developed or expressed that have helped establish confession, rebuke and forgiveness in your fellowship.
