GEN Z - And...ME!
The EXPLOITATION of A GENERATION
What happens when a group of young people get elevated by leaders from one platform - when they have largely been ignored entirely by everyone else? Should they be excited - read ingratiated - to those who actually notice them? Or should they be more discerning and ask the hard question of why?
Move Aside Millennials
The shameful exploitation of the young, up and coming “next Gen” - Z - (for now, anyway - until they age out…Sorry Millennials!) that is happening currently from so many Christian pulpits and platforms today is absolutely appalling! When I see all of these - generally - old, white men running around on stage in an attempt to look young, “hip,” relevant and - LORD, help us all! - cool...I find myself shaking my head and cringing in sheer horror of the shameless spectacle. Increasingly, something else rises up in my heart. Anger. Absolute anger.
Fog Machines, Light Shows & Camo Hoodies
Watching these geriatric men (read Gen X and older) bobbing around on stage, replete with fog machines, pulsing lights and the latest in hipster “camo” hoodies, one thing becomes embarrassingly and crystal clear. And it is this. These guys need the youth to stay on the platforms that they and their friends have erected. Since the world they have created has been completely and utterly built by their own hands, they are now responsible to keep themselves at the center of it - by whatever means necessary. This absolutely necessitates hitching their wagons (read personal ministries) to the stars of the upcoming- the shiny, the new, the latest and greatest. Sadly - and shamefully! - this is NOT because you are gifted, talented, or chosen by GOD Himself - though you might be and those things are likely true in some measure. Unfortunately, this isn’t about you - or worse, GOD! - at all. This is about being - most importantly STAYING - current AND relevant. And everybody knows that youth know what is - and is not - relevant.
There’s A New - YOUNGER - Kid in Town
If you are reading this as a member of Gen Z, I am talking to you. Be wise as serpents, dear ones! Pay attention to what is being spoken to you - and WHO EXACTLY is doing the speaking! They are USING YOU FOR YOUR YOUTH. Like a group of elderly vampires looking for fresh young blood - or a bear wandering the forest looking for fresh meat...It is not lost on me that the new “movement’ (read BOWEL) is focused on THE BLOOD...Hmmm. Interesting AND ironic.
In Their SIGHTS
YOU ARE BEING TARGETED FOR EXPLOITATION. I for one want to warn you of a lesson I learned at great personal expense in many real and lasting ways.
It is this - If it looks and sounds too good to be true - it generally is.
GOD doesn’t use people, Beloved! He doesn’t need to - HE IS GOD. More importantly, He is too kind, good and holy as our perfect Leader, King and FATHER! His love is given freely to you - not sucked out of you.
He doesn’t need you to be relevant, current or popular...In fact, He doesn’t need you at all. Or me. Or any of us, for that matter.
HE IS GOD. And you - and all of us - as cool as you/we are, ARE NOT.
WHEW! This should come as a GINORMOUS RELIEF. It certainly is to me.
BE WISE AS SERPENTS
Don’t let anyone who lies, puffs up, brags or manipulates you IN THE NAME OF JESUS continue in their unbiblical, immoral and unethical charade. Learn the Scriptures they presume to preach FOR YOURSELVES. Hold them accountable when they twist, manipulate, omit and add to the Word of GOD - and try to get you to do the same. Be Bereans! Pray for wisdom! Hide GOD’S WORD in your hearts! Learn the difference between the Truth of JESUS and His Gospel - and the lies of man and what he peddles instead.
I am praying these things for us all.
GOD is faithful - to Himself. Invite Him into Your heart. Then watch Him do it.
To GOD Be ALL the GLORY,
B