From the mouth of a student (who is a Christian but sick of the posers he’s around) I was talking with:

“I don’t consider myself a Christian because I’m too real.”

Powerful quote. I don’t think he really knew the gravity of what he was speaking. As Christians, I think we’ve forgotten (or hidden ourselves behind fig leaves) how to be real. We just try to fit a mold that doesn’t exist beyond the sweet preachy t shirts, bumper stickers, and CD’s found in the Family Christian Bookstores. It’s become the pursuit of ultimate fakeness. As long as we look holy, then we’re good. We’ve gained this goodness, but lost the authenticity. And without authenticity, what are we actually left with?

Any thoughts?

Every once in a while we (as youth leaders) get a glimpse into the mind of a youth.  Here is one of those opportunities I’d like to share with you.

This is not a student of mine, but one of Pastor Brian’s students.   

“What defines somebody as being a “loser?”

 a loser is somebody who. . . . doesnt drink on the weekends with friends. doesnt have a matching shirt with their shoes. stutters in front of girls when asking them on a date. doesnt defend themselves when they’re made fun of. wears a jacket because of the person who gave it to you. A Loser is somebody who. . . . doesnt have a girlfriend for more than 2 months. sits by the phone, hoping somebody will call. thinks that girls are out of his league. wishes for a personality other than his. wishes he could have somebody to love. A Loser is somebody who. . . has a stepfather and a father, neither that smile or hug interacts with his little sisters, instead of his weight training. has never been told “you’re intelligent, smart, and capable” by a guy. joins the military to make his father proud finds out he still thinks your a fag. A loser is somebody who. . . . doesnt lose his virginity by senior year. hasnt tried smoking at least twice. buzzes his own hair because he’s so ashamed. lies to his friends, so that they still embrace you as one. find out theres more to friendship than being cool. A loser is somebody who thinks his friends have left him, when they were there the entire time.. . . . I’m a loser”

I love raw honesty and I wish I knew more losers.

It’s glimpses like this that keep me in the ministry.