TURNED ON OR TUNED OUT?
DAVE ESTES

Why do my kids “tune me out?” Why won’t they listen? Why do they impatiently ignore all the experience and advice available to them and go right ahead and do what their peers want them to do? Why aren’t they interested in church? Why do they ignore the fellowship of believers and seek excitement elsewhere?

Today, there are approximately 100 million Americans under age 25. The same is true of other nations. Almost half of our population under 25! Why is it almost impossible for adult generations to tell them anything or help them in determining their values?

Time magazine comments on the generation now under 25: “Never before have the young been so assertive, so articulate, so well educated, or so worldly. Never have the young been so free to create their own style of life. No adult can or will tell them what earlier generations were told, ‘This is God, that is good, this is art, that is not done.’” Time, Jan. 6, 1967.

Why are many young people in alarming numbers beginning to decide against “belonging to” the church? Why are those who are members so unconcerned about organized activities and programs. Why are they so unconcerned about doctrine or about being “scriptural?” Why unconcerned about being in the worship services every Sunday? Why do they seem to be against the programs of the church or the leaders of the church? What causes this tuning out on the part of teenagers? What’s going on?

REVOLUTION!! That’s right, revolution. We are in the beginning of a revolution! The young are taking over the world! They are revolting—against the establishment and its rigid institutions. They are responding to the church in the way the church reacted to them. They were “too much” for the church, “too demanding,” so the church ignored them with a “who needs teenagers” attitude. Now they ignore the church. They reason that churches will always be there for certain “adult” needs; they will always have their financial problems and institutional (doctrinal) hang-ups; they will go on doing their thing. But we can follow Jesus without those problems, so who needs them?

What is the new generation looking for? They don’t care about “churchanity,” about buildings, budgets, doctrinal arguments, check lists for purity, or going to endless and pointless meetings. This is not their concept of the teachings of that great revolutionary, Jesus Christ!

They have grown up in the Marshall McLuhan age of instant stimulus. The push-button “electric now” age. They cannot wait for the old institutions to change. That is too slow, too little, too late. They want to be turned on now! They run everywhere searching for that instant cure that satisfies all needs. They turn over this stone and that Stone in their search. They need love, need to be understood, need to be useful. need to find an identity now! They want a sense of community with others. Wasn’t the “church” way back when noted for its service to and communion with others? They want to serve and be of service.

They want to experience “joy” now, not wait until some undetermined time in the future when they are “ready.” They are ready now—they want to participate NOW. They want to commune NOW. They want to love and be loved NOW—not when we are ready to allow it!

The need is for a church sensitive to the young that allows them to participate NOW; to meet their needs now; to minister to others now. They don’t want to be “preached at” spectators. They want to be participants now in whatever ways are relevant.

Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California, is relevant to the young and has baptized more than 1200 young people this summer. Eighteen months ago, there were only about 150 members. Now, almost 2000! They uphold Jesus the revolutionary of the heart, mind, and spirit. They are filled with love for each other and for Jesus. When you talk to one of these turned on Christians, you know they are turning the world upside down NOW!

The question is, “Who is tuned in and who is tuned out?” The church needs to be a compassionate listening post that perceives the needs of each child of God and offers the compassionate love of Jesus to all. This is impossible for an institution, but not for individuals. You are the church. Are you tuned in to Jesus, or to the institutional church? Would you take time to share your living water with a prostitute as Jesus did at that well in Samaria? Do you have the living water to share? If not, Jesus will supply abundantly if you really desire it. Tune in to Jesus—and praise His name in everything you do!