So...this retreat didn't have that kind of a night. The youth that went are regular attenders at youth church. Justin didn't feel the need to have a "altar" call, as most/all of the kids are already pretty far into their spiritual journey.
This weekend was full of great small group and large group discussions, and great bonding as a group since it was a smaller group.
So my question is: what is more effective
1. A spiritual high that will have them going stronger than usual for a (usually) limited amount of time.
or
2. No spiritual high, but good bonding time and teaching that is full of life-long truth.
I think both have their benefits. Spiritual highs often result in action that may not happen usually. They are bolder about their faith and more likely to reach out to others. This is a good thing. But, bonding and good teaching is also important. Especially teaching that is geared towards where they are at in their walk.
Does one outweigh the other?
...I guess I don't know.
A BIG thanks to Molly and Lauree for all their help with Judah. I definitely couldn't have done it without them!
3 comments:
Molly looks like she's helping a lot.
"Spiritual highs often result in action that may not happen usually. They are bolder about their faith and more likely to reach out to others."
That is true. As a result of my rampage against "spiritual highs" I forgot the possible benefit as a result. Thanks for your thoughts. :) Oh, and the retreat sounded like a good change from the norm.
i think it's interesting that we use the term "spiritual high", unapologetically ripped off from the connotation of a drug abuse "high".
what good is a "drug abuse high"?
does a "spiritual high" have the same value?
short term pleasure/emotional feelings/sensations of "meeting with GOD"/long-term memories, but not reality...
the need and killing desire to get back to that "high" that seems to be the only solution to the ongoing for GOD... your next "fix"...
maybe our generation of elevating the "spiritual high" has only created "Jesus-Crack-Junkies" going form one high to another, and everything that doesn't give you that high isn't good enough...
[i borrowed the term Jesus-Crack, of course.]
but i do have to say that i DID experience, at BEACH!07, a sort of "spiritual high". when i saw our group meeting the needs and blessing so many other campers, i sensed that "rush
or "GOD-moment", but it was different. healthier.
it's like speaking in tongues edifying the self [first type of spiritual high], and prophecy edifying the body [second type mentioned]
read more on that here.
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