I'm Kind of a Big Deal: Teens and Self-Directed Worship

Today's youth culture is experiencing a worship problem.  The act of worship is not something they lack.  They have no problem worshipping.  However, the object of their worship is misguided and misdirected.  

They live in the midst of a culture that has told them its totally acceptable and even honorable to worship themselves. The worship of self isn't all together obvious.  It's usually quite subtle.  It's difficult to ascertain at first, but once the surface has been scratched, self-directed worship starts to ooze from the cresses of materialism, pride, selfies, "likes", and how many followers one has on Twitter.  

I wonder what would happen if we really starting getting into the lives of these young people who hide behind their smartphones and Facebook statuses.  A lot of the time a Facebook status or Tweet reveals a teenager who is crying out to belong or who wishes someone would notice the pain they feel so deep in their soul.  

Social media has opened up a whole new window into the soul of a teenager and adults who don't care to dig too deeply allow teens to be taught by Google and YouTube instead of by true wisdom and real relationships with adults who can speak truth into their lives.  

Misdirected worship makes selfish, hedonistic people.  Life becomes all about them, what they can gain, and receive instead of what they can give and who they can serve.  

Worship of the one True God causes us to take the focus off ourselves and plugs us into a plan far greater than one that we could ever dream or imagine.  It teaches us to say no to self and yes to sacrifice and service.  It points us to hope and joy in Jesus Christ.  It gives life and peace, real, lasting peace.  Not temporary happiness or fleeting hope.  

We will always worship something.  Teenagers will choose to follow the message of the culture if no other message if being taught to them.  Jesus calls us to live set apart lives.  For us to be in the world, but not of it.  When was the last time you spoke the words of truth into a teenager who has been misguided believing they need to run the race of popularity and self-worship like everyone else?  

They need your wisdom.  They need the hope and joy of Jesus Christ.  They need adults who would be willing to invest in their lives.  To give of their time to teach them.  Lets not allow our children to be taught by the culture anymore.  There is a better way offered in Jesus Christ for all who would call on His name.