Glory Protected

Last night, I had to do something that I hate to do; I had to discipline my middle school students. The week before, several of them disrespected my adult leaders by not listening to them, talking back to them, and skipping their small group times. I had 3 students walk around the church when they were supposed to be in their groups. I had a few of them tell my adults to "turn around and shut up." It was a rough night. It was an unacceptable night. Because I love the glory of God, the majesty of His Son, and the radiance of His Spirit more than anything or anyone else in this world, I believe I'm called to protect His glory at all costs. So, I had to discipline my students last night. It broke my heart, but it was the right thing to do.

So, last night, I started the night by seperating the talkative group. I then went on to explain to the students how hurt I was by their behavior and how when we come to church, we come to glorify God Almighty. I then went on to say something that some thought to be too harsh. My comment was, "if you come each week only to misbehave, talk, disrespect, etc...then don't come back." One of my adult leaders was shocked. After the program was over, we talked some about it. As I explained to him my reason, I was led to put this on my blog today. I believe above meeting needs, evangelizing, meeting for fellowship, etc...the church's main goal is to glorify God. Since we are the bride of His Son; Jesus Christ, we cannot negate His glory simply to please others. Here is a text to support my statement I made last night:

John 2: 13-25 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; 16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.” 18 The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. 23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

Here, Jesus protects the glory of His Father by driving out those that disrespected His House. I believe we must take this passage and apply it to our church today. If we neglect His glory for the sake of "babysitting," then we possess no zeal for His House. Telling students they can't come back if they continue to disrespect is not a bad thing to say. In fact, I would say it is a loving thing to say, because I'm drawn more to the holiness and worship of my Father more than allowing a continual pattern of disrespect to go on in His House. I do believe that disrespect leads to more evangelism, perhaps more outside then inside the house. However, I wanted to share that I may not be the nicest youth minister in the world when I make statements like I did last night, but my passion above all, is the glory of my Father in Heaven. Church is for His glory.

I'm not a glorified babysitter to students. I'm a minister of the Glorious Gospel that is commissioned to preach Christ Crucified to lost students. My passion is for God to be glorified, His Son to be proclaimed, and His Spirit to draw all churches to be consumed by Him.

Enjoy the rain today,

Dave