A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending a prayer service to kickoff what is considered to be revival season in the city I live in. A bit of a traditionalist (at least to the point that I believe that revivals are not ‘shouted up’ but rather ‘prayed down’), I was excited about the idea of people from all over the city coming together to seek the Lord’s anointing through prayer. The service was also of particular interest to me because it had been organized by an auxiliary of young adults & facilitated completely by young believers. Apart from the benediction, there was no participant in the service who was over the age of 25.
Given the creativity that often accompanies youthfulness, the service had some beautifully unconventional aspects to it. Dramatic expression was used to illustrate the reason for the occasion. Spoken Word poetry was incorporated into the liturgy. Mime & Dance were used to minister to the gathered masses. As one might expect, music was an integral part of the experience but the selections were non-traditional & connected to the overall theme of the service: liberation through Jesus Christ from times such as these.
I sat in my seat as I watch youth, some fighting back tears and others failing to do so, testify about how the conditions they live in day to day affect them. Young people bravely stood and testified about how hurt and angry they are about the lack of justice they perceive almost daily. They lovingly challenged their elders to represent what children ought to be instead of asking youth to be things that they themselves have decided not to be. These youth creatively & compassionately brought to light the very real ills of the culture that have made their way into many of our churches. I stood in awe as youth held up signs that made statements like “Stop The Killing” & “Black Lives Matter”. Most of all, these babies correctly connected their relationship with Jesus to a pursuit for justice & demonstrated a lack of tolerance for any type of pacifier. The moment was mighty, moving and meaningful all at once.
As I left the sanctuary and walked down the corridor that would lead to the parking lot, I ran across a young lady who was standing along the hallway wall with tears streaming down her face. I stopped and asked her what was wrong and, on the verge of bursting from her sentiment, she replied “I am so sick of the way things are around me! In my community…all over this country, things are just bad!”. Attempting to both calm and comfort her, I told her that God’s desire is not for things to remain as they are; that things will change for the better. The young queen took a deep breath and said to me “I know they will, Pastor. We are going to change them!” I hugged her and made my way to my car.
As I drove off (because those young people also understand that you don’t have to be in church all day to have church), all I could think about were the tears of this young lady. Her feelings are not foreign feelings at all. All over our nation, young people are taking action to address the societal problems that they face. From planned protests, to marches, to walkouts from schools, to prayer vigils, to confronting congressmen, these young people are attempting to affect change as best they know how. In the wake of gun violence on streets and in schools, politicians being driven profit and not people & inequity being forced down the throat of the people, this current generation, with tired tears in their eyes, have made up in their minds that the times have to change and the time for that change is now.
As we bear witness to the paradigm beginning shifting towards progress, the Divine call upon us is not to be unresponsive to these tears. These tears are the result of futile firings and hidden reinstatements. These tears are the result of policies that endanger life & empower those who try to take it. Dare I say that these tears are born of institutions that are consumed with maintaining their interior instead of ministering to those who are on their exterior. These tears are the same tears Jesus cried when He saw the sinfulness of Jerusalem. Our babies have declared that enough is enough and, in this moment, our job is not to judge what they are doing but instead to wrap our arms around them as they do it.
Our inaction says the same thing to our children that their detractors do: we might care but not enough to do anything about it. We need to stand with these young people as they are attempting to shape their world into a better one. They have made this moment in time their own and, as those who do not separate our Redeemer from the righteousness He lived & died for, we must be willing to stand with them. Whether with our attendance, our resources, or even our service, as they are courageous enough to confront this world while weeping, we must support them in this movement as best we can. We must encourage them, promote them, mentor them without muting them, pray with them and pray for them. Go to the marches but not be so concerned about being in the front that we are unable to have their backs. Our compassion should be its deepest in the face of crying children. And the tears of our children, tears that long for justice and equality should not be dismissed or discounted. These tears, their tears, deserve a response.
