“There is no class in greater danger than the young … Oh, if these youth would but be firm and bold in the practice of virtue; if they would frown down the base advances of the agents of Satan, what a victory might be gained over the world, the flesh, and the devil! God calls upon the youth of today to love and serve him with the whole heart. They need a daily connection with Heaven to keep them unsullied by the corruptions of the last days” (Signs of the Times, February 16, 1882).
The 2023 Youth Camporee at Immanuel Adventist Academy in the Philippines just recently ended. Unfortunately, a lot of these Adventist youth programs encourage questionable and harmful behaviors. Many of the activities that happen in our youth ministries resemble secular and worldly events. It appears as though our youth leaders are looking to our broken culture to learn how we might try to imitate it. In our attempt to provide entertainment, amusements, and diversions, we are without doubt creating a stumbling block for our teenagers.
Kids are subject to many temptations, including “youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22), and much of the physical contact between the boys and girls in the video above can certainly lead to dangerous temptations. That is why parents, pastors, and youth directors have a duty to safeguard our young people from both evil and any “appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
Numerous activities that are prevalent in contemporary culture have gained popularity among young people. Many of these things are directly opposed to our faith (1 Corinthians 2:12; Ephesians 2:2). Instead of embracing what the world does, we must fight against it. Unfortunately, the opposite is happening. Modern youth ministries are finding out what the world is doing in order to incorporate those elements into the church. As a result, these spiritual retreats are becoming centers of entertainment and excitement.
Tragically, this dilemma is happening throughout Adventism. There is a lowering of standards and a shift to embrace what our modern culture is doing. As society disintegrates, too many churches are following in their footsteps in order to appear relevant, hip, and attractive. This is leading to a spiritual decline among our people. Our world is changing, no doubt. Sadly, the religious landscape itself is undergoing similar changes.
Praise the Lord that God doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6), and we as His people must continue with the foundations that were laid for our youth long ago (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). We are living in an hour when God wants to use our youth to help proclaim the Third Angel’s Message and finish the work. It cannot be overstated how important our youth are to the strength and development of the closing work for this world.
With every passing day, this plan for our young people must be emphasized. Their vigor, resourcefulness, and consecration are essential at this critical time in world history. Our young people are one of the most valuable assets of the Advent Movement.
“Those who love God should feel deeply interested in the children and youth. To them God can reveal his truth and salvation … By his Holy Spirit, he is drawing the hearts of the children to himself, while Satan is working to keep them away from him” (Review and Herald, December 17, 1889).
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Sad for sure !!! It appears to me that the adults who plan these things are the ones most responsible, then the parents and then the youth.
The day of God’s vengeance is just upon us. The seal of God will be placed upon the foreheads of those only who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. Those who link in sympathy with the world are eating and drinking with the drunken and will surely be destroyed with the workers of iniquity. “The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” {5T 212.3}
The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God. The Lord commissions His messengers, the men with slaughtering weapons in their hands: “Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.” {5T 211.1}
Here we see that the church–the Lord’s sanctuary–was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God’s power as in former days. Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus “Peace and safety” is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God’s people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together. {5T 211.2}
Let’s all be praying for our beloved SDA church. Praying especially for our youth, pastors and leaders at all levels. We are in great need of the Holy Spirit working in our church. This must be our first prayer. The Holy Spirit is backing off when these worldly type events are happening in the church.
Paul warned us in Ephesians 5:11: “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”
Satan hates all those striving to keep all of God’s commandments. He hates our dear church. In the end, he loses. Jesus and His church wins. Pray and pray and pray my friends. Focus on Jesus and His faith.
I totally agree with your comments. I love our church, our message and our God. May He help us all to be faithful.
As it was in the days of Noah so will be in our closing scenes. Unfortunately, our people will leave the church in droves. The bright side: God has many who will take their place and fill the kingdom with these saints. But this is sad for those who are lost.