Divided: The Movie Review

I don't think we can argue that youth ministry can't be used because there is not a specific biblical mandate for it in Scripture. The Apostles addressed the issues and culture of their day, when presenting the Gospel and leading churches. They adapted their speech and methods to reach the lost. Paul says he became all things to all men that he might save some. I agree that there are youth ministries that need reform, but I completely disagree that youth ministries need to be thrown out on the premise of them being non-Biblical because of no Biblical mandate for them. The office of preacher/pastor is not teachnically Biblical either. We are told to preach the gospel, but not told to have the position of preacher in our churches. Elders are supposed to lead. The movie also used a logical fallicy by making it look like youth ministries and the family were the only contributors to youth falling away from Christ. They didn't address how culture has drastically changed in the past 100-200 years with the industrial revolution. It has changed the make-up of families for sure, but it's also shifted youth culture. Especially in America, our culture is geared around youth and children. While I know it would be difficult to address all of these issues in a movie, they didn't even state that there are other contributors. I'll be done now.

man, this movie is getting a ton of attention. it is getting a little tiresome everyone blaming everyone else for students walking away from the faith. walking away from the faith is a vital part of the spiritual journey.

in the story of the prodigal son both sons walk away and the father continues to reach out to both of them in their unique forms of rebellion. students must separate their identities and faith from their parents and even from the church of their youth so they can form a faith that is genuinely theirs.

this movie is a cheap shot and simplistic. unfortunatly there is no magic pill or perfect formula for faith development. it is a messy, messy journey, and thankfully it is initiated, sustained, and fulfilled by jesus christ, not by anyone else.

I got to be honest; I'm quite shocked about this, because they have numbers to prove that something is terribly wrong with the fruit youth ministry delivers to the adulthood world community. Even that part about the Sunday School movement, I mean that was a smash in my head. They don't talk about the 'spiritual calling' each of us must have received from the Lord in order to feel like working in youth ministry on a regular basis; that topic should have been taken into account.

In my case, as a middle school youth leader, I'm quite challenged to rethink what are we supposed to achieve in this kids. I myself have seen a generation of kids that we used to have in discipleship and small groups, all of christian families, just part ways with the church as they entered college, one after another. Only 4 of that group(of about 12) still go to church on a regular basis, and just two of them are serving. In my own generation, of all the 'clique' of kids(close to 20) that grew with me at church, less than the half of us still go to church and have a christian testimony.

Don't get me wrong, I believe in youth ministry because it helped me to walk in what now are 'regular'(which is sad) teenager problems like parents divorce, group pressure, loneliness, booze and bad relationships. I'll be forever thankful with my leaders, because they were role models at some point in my life where I felt nobody else was. Back to 2011, we're having parents that have issues themselves as christians, hence not really discipling their kids as God intended.

But the statistics and interviews they show in the documentary are quite shocking; at least enough for me to really think if all this so called 'ministry' we've developed through the years is actually worthing enough in the kingdom of God, if we as youth leaders and youth pastors are bearing the fruit God intended each one of us to do.

I'm just venting myself; don't flame me. Thanks

In addition, I'd add of course that the children need the preaching of the Word and the inter-generational gatherings of the church. These three things - the discipling children by parents in the home, the preached Word, and family-integrated fellowship - are the biblical tools to raise the next generation of children for the Lord.

Brother, let me ask this: If the Gospel is so important and glorious to us, does it not matter that we use the proper tool and methodology to proclaim it?

You wrote, "But if a tool is not being used properly, you don’t blame the tool, you teach the person using the tool." The makers of the movie completely agree.

The question is - What is the tool? "Divided" argues that the Scriptures are sufficient to tell us what tool we must use. And that tool is not youth group, or Sunday school, but the discipleship of children by their parents, at home.

It isn't just that youth groups have been misused. Rather, the very notion of age-segregated, youth ministry led by youth leaders, is not in Scripture. Youth groups can't be reformed, because however much they involve parents, they still follow an unbiblical pattern.

True change must come, when parents are driven to the Cross to see the love of Christ for them, and are moved by this to take the full load of responsibility for discipling their children on themselves. The only biblical youth ministry is the ministry that takes place in the home, with parents using the Word and loving discipline to bring the precious Gospel to their children. This is the thesis of Divided.

We pull parents into our youth ministry every chance we get. We've seen tremendous growth in adults who "chaperone" mission trips, retreats and conferences. What an impact it has on our church when adults stand side-by-side with our youth and share how they've encountered Christ through a trip or an event. As a result of our Sr. High mission trips the past couple of years, some of our team dads have bonded (through construction work and down-time cards and volleyball games, of all things) and have started meeting weekly for their own Men of Integrity Bible Study. Other men of the church were invited to join and now we have a strong men's group - what an example for our young guys! (And it came about through "youth" ministry.) And when those parents share their experience, more parents get interested. For several years now we've had more parents than we actually need, signing up to help with youth activities, events and mission trips. And we never turn any of them away - even pay the way (through scholarships) for some to be with us. Through this the parents get a taste of the spiritual nourishment our students receive, and it encourages them to go deeper in their own faith. As a consequence, we are developing a host of mentors for our students and allowing families the opportunity to participate in "youth" ministry together. Those whose parents can't or won't participate benefit through other adults who commit to being there for them. Sometimes it's not that parents don't want to be involved in their teens' spiritual training...they just don't know how because they haven't received any themselves. Welcome those parents. Pull them in any way you can. And expose them to Jesus, and a living faith. This is the role of the Church - to nurture and disciple, no matter what the age. And just watch those parents step up and be the spiritual leaders that God intended.

Students meet Christ, grow in Christ, and find a safe place of fellowship within youth groups. How is this wrong? This is another example of someone (or brothers in this case) being seemingly enlightened about how the rest of us who are in the trenches fighting for the present and future of our students are somehow missing their boat. I'll stay on the youth ministry ship and off the dingy these guys have just built.