CHURCH!?!?! YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM!!! - Part IV - Mentoring Isn't Lame: For the Church

I may or may not have made the point that there is a “gap” in the church, specifically around my generation and that my proposed solution to this issue in the church is mentoring. And since we aren't allowed to throw out the church and start over with a new app, we must change and de-bug what we have already.

Now when I say “the church,” I mean the “REAL Authentic, Actual Loving Church.” The church that Jesus will come back for. The church that acts in love to everyone and teaches the truth of the bible. The real church is more important than human arguments, doctrinal disputes, denominations, or church splits anywhere on planet earth.

I’m mentioning this because I grew up, almost literally, in the church and have seen enough to want to quit… and I’m going to now endorse the exact opposite.

We need each other. As Christians, we need a church community. Some days I hate this fact, because as a Gen Y child, the church has little-to-nothing for me to do, let alone sink my teeth into.

But in my “arting” circles, I benefit from community, constructive criticism, and a group that encourages my creating when other people see no value in it. In music I benefit unbelievably from other musicians, new repertoire, and ensembles that push me to learn that next level of performing. It’s exhilarating and those close communities are where we create lasting friendships.

So if musicians and artists have the right to meet, how could I argue against Christians gathering together? Despite how I feel about it some days, God is pro-church.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:19-25

Basically, we can’t/shouldn't walk away from the church, so how can we change it?

Well, for one, we must forget the idea of the “Perfect Church.”

“If I just went to this church, it’d work.”

“I’d so fit in at a place like that.”

“THAT is what I call a worship band.”

“My pastor is a rock star!”

We can’t have a “THE ONE” mentality about church. We must, and SHOULD, view Christ as the one our very hope and salvation rests on. But we can’t see a style of worship or service or ministry as being the one to reach any generation.  There is no perfect church. Yet, how do we change it for the benefit of past generations and the ones that will follow, without falling prey to shock and awe, carnival methods that don’t really have anything to do with the bible or salvation?  

Here’s my point. We must adapt churches to include an “underground system” in their structure. Some churches already have this, but it’s time it got more traction and more common.

What do I mean by underground system?

An underground system is invisible. It’s not loud or obvious, it serves a specific purpose and effects the operations and the functioning of everything it touches. A literal underground system can refer to underground water pipes, or it could refer to a transportation system like subways. Many places have underground power lines, electrical or security systems, etc. It can refer to software operating while you’re unaware of them or even have connotations of revolutions under a government system.

“Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7

Ponder these ideas with me. What if there were an underground system that had the potential to cause exponential “growth” in those that became a part of it? What if like a cell phone plan, you signed up for a trial period and you found out the power source could take you to the next level as a person, as a mom or as a husband or as an employee, but mostly and pervasively,  grew you in your faith in Jesus Christ?

What if we had to tap into an underground system to function and ended up obtaining a power of untapped potential? Not just power, but thriving and fruitful living. What if that source caused you to grow roots down deep in truth? What if all the 18-30-year-olds' in the church knew exactly who to connect with to help them mature in their faith? What if a person at 40 decides their relationship with God has become stale and want help in finding their passion again? What if your church had an “underground system” that in turn built an incredible structure of its very people? Meaning, what if the people in your church were strong in their belief, dedicated in their faith, empowered in Christ because of being connected to the invisible, but powerful source in the church’s underground system?

Pardon the many hypotheses, but what if a female came to me and said she wanted to tap into the underground. I have her give me three things she wants to grow in her life. Her list maybe contains, 1) wisdom; 2) more powerful prayer life and 3) boldness to talk about faith. I go to the mentor list and find a woman in the system that I think might be a good friend to her, as well as having wisdom and the power of prayer in her life. Perhaps the two would learn to be bold in faith together over coffee or ice cream.

How could that not benefit a church community?

What if a man came and gave me the following list, 1) stop dating girls that are bad for my relationship with God; 2) Learn biblical decision making; and 3) learn to live like a Christian - but not a monk. I would connect this man with a mature pillar of a man in the underground system who is straight on and loves memorizing scripture. Perhaps they both love fishing or baseball or chainsaw sculpting and they can talk about real life and girls without being overly priestly.

Who wouldn't want strong men in their church increasing the faith of younger men and then in turn, strengthening the whole church body by being real and intentional in their personal faith?

No. Not just anyone could be your mentor. I’m glad you know that. Not just anyone could be mine. The whole idea is weird. And it’s hardest for those my age who have been in the church since birth. But I want a system in the church where it is not unconventional and awkward to ask for a mentor or extra grandparent. I want it to be a less awful experience to say, “I need a life coach! Hook me up with big sister, to help me and listen and make me feel safe when talking on a spiritual level.”

Personally, I’d have a rigorous test for my list of mentors. I’d scrutinize them with a fine tooth comb and then a microscope. And then shampoo them in the doggie bath.

Anyone could be a mentee. But this underground system of mentors would be the elite pillars of discretion, understanding, love, gentleness, patience, and discernment available within a church body.

These are mentors, not counselors. If someone needs a trained counselor, medical or psychological help, they need a doctor and that is not what these mentors are there for. They are there for those seeking spiritual growth, seeking challenges and deep roots. We can do that on our own with personal prayer and bible study, but for extreme growth, development and maturity, we need help. We need wise counsel and a trusted source who has already walked a life of faith and can give us a hand along the journey. These mentors would be acting very much as Christ did, in that they would be making disciples. They would be helping younger people grow and develop as students of Christ, on a very intentional journey.

I don’t want a church prude who makes me feel bad or someone who can’t be strong for me and give me the sound biblical advice I need. If I decided to tattoo the left side of my face, I don’t want to see a single flash of judgment in that mentor’s face. I want to be safe with that person. No matter how ugly, awful, dirty, hellish, ignorant, silly, complicated or difficult a situation. On the flip side of that, the mentees can’t fear or minimize the power these mentors wield. If you’re afraid of those who are better in an area than you, you cheat yourself of ever learning from their skill and experience.

Or what’s the point? We could just continue as we are, hating the church and struggling alone. Without Christ and without the church, that’s what we’re doing. The church just needs to grow a little in allowing such a system to be implemented. It just needs to grow a bit and prepare for the 18-30 group join them.  The results of an underground system would have no monetary or calculable value. The results would be in strength of the church and the work those strong, deeply-rooted Christians would be doing for the kingdom of God.

Now this is all theory of course, but why couldn't it be a reality? Why can’t we be honest and say we need something in the church to help people - especially Generation Y - mature as well as to go “further up and further in.”

I understand I’m a side-winding fruitcake on most topics, but would it really be that weird and that awful to have a mentor in your life?

We “young’uns” often want to reinvent the wheel and do it all on our own, but that’s not really needed and not much fun. I may want to throw out the church and start fresh, but it’s not necessary nor what God asks of us. So ponder this last thought...

What would happen to “the Church” if the local churches had an invisible, underground system that specifically built up and empowered the younger generations in their personal faith and corporate faithfulness?