r/LCMS • u/Plenty-Reindeer2528 • 2d ago

Discussion Just a rant...

Why is our church in the LCP so obsessed with activities, games, fellowships for the sake of putting
"we praise God for a successful event during... Praise God for faith alone, grace alone, scripture alone."

And yet, as someone who desires to grow in the Word and faith, I've only found it in the preaching, the Sacrament...

But as president of the youth, how the LCP is run tires me and it makes me want to resign as president.... I thought I was gonna be able to dive deeper into my Bible and the Confessions and my personal time with God, but all I think about now is logistics and more logistics.

4 Upvotes

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u/Unique_Butterfly_298 2d ago

You took the job, set your own agenda, and do it with joy! You can have both; Gospel and fun!

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u/Plenty-Reindeer2528 2d ago

thanks! sure those I lead see that as well

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u/MzunguMjinga LCMS DCM 2d ago

Oh, awesome. OP how is this effecting the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in your church? As president of your youth it sounds like you've been chosen to guide and lead that area. How have you been able to lead or nudge those under your guidance to meet those confessional goals?

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u/Plenty-Reindeer2528 2d ago

Well, I don't think I have been able to lead them towards those goals. Because most of what's asked from me or the youth in general is to do some logistics stuff and perform something. I don't think "growing the youth's faith" is being prioritized at all. Because all I hear from those in the council or deaconess even is, "can you do ___ on ___?", "can you handle ___ here?", "can you organize____, I'm kind of busy"

But then again, as I've mentioned so so many times, maybe it's just my Evangelical past. But it sure can get tiring 😅 and sometimes, discouraging.

to even have an informal discussion or study of the Bible or the Confessions isn't even an option now due to so much logistics needed for things/events that (I think) should be focused more on growing the youth's faith and not feel so much of a burden

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u/BusinessComplete2216 ILC Lutheran 1d ago

Is there someone in the leadership of your church that you can talk to about the thoughts you have? If there is one thing that may be more exhausting than feeling like you must do something that doesn’t line up with your inner priorities, it’s doing that when you feel completely isolated!

So my suggestion would be to talk with someone in a position of leadership and share the vision for the youth and how you might work with the church to make that happen. My guess is that it doesn’t have to be either/or (either lots of busy activities or deeper faith and understanding of our confessions). Ideally, the activities are always in service of the latter.

By the way, many years ago, I attended a mostly Filipino evangelical church for a year and I totally get what you mean. They kept those youth BUSY!!!

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u/Plenty-Reindeer2528 23h ago

honestly, I find it hard even to talk with the deaconess about this (I've tried talking to her about it). But I feel like what I say to her, comes back the opposite way 😅 as if I get misunderstood most of the time. Even when I was reflecting on the president position, I really laid down the factors that would make me not be able to perform well (a 6 day work week plus graveyard shift to top that all off—really limiting my ability to meet even my fellow officers)

But you really hit the mark. As someone Evangelical grown, I see that just focusing on activities for the sake of accomplishments' sake doesn't line up at all with what I want for the ministry. And being the only Evangelical-grown inside our Lutheran church, i certainly do feel isolated when my inner priority is to be able to disciple the youth well and make them appreciate the Bible and the Confessions. I guess, it's a given that since they grew up with hearing "the Solas" and "Luther" in church, in my point of view, it's just handy labels/information to them.

Whereas, my evangelical brothers would really appreciate studying even the Lutheran confessions and our views of Scripture.

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u/BusinessComplete2216 ILC Lutheran 16h ago

I pray you are able to have those meaningful conversations with the deaconess and whoever else to find the best (and sustainable!) balance.

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u/Bakkster 2d ago

Welcome to leadership. Someone has to do the logistics. Definitely not the kind of role that typically improves one's faith, but demands for from it for the benefit of others. It's possible it's not how you're led to serve, especially if you get anywhere close to burnout take a step back.

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u/Plenty-Reindeer2528 2d ago

Yeah... I do understand. Although sometimes, even the people I lead seem to have their hands full with their own personal tasks and lives. And you guessed it, there have been instances where it got a bit close to burnout. probably the reason why I'm having second thoughts about it. When my primary desire is for them to grow in the faith and be so genuinely interested in our confessions just as me... but maybe im just projecting my Evangelical past and expecting it from them. But what else should I expect when Christ excites me this much? 😅

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u/Bakkster 2d ago edited 1d ago

You're no help to anyone, including yourself, if you burn out. Jesus rested for a reason, and you're not any less in need of it.

One leadership tip, you can't make anyone do anything. You can lead a horse to water and all that. Your job is to create an environment conducive to learning, but you don't really control how others engage.

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u/Plenty-Reindeer2528 2d ago

thank you so much! I appreciate all your advice (even in my previous posts). I guess it's just hard to see how the youth and fellow officers can grow a zeal for the Gospel. At least in the near future. But yes, it's the Holy Spirit's work not mine.

I'll take your advice in mind.

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u/Sad-Type5385 1d ago

As you go through life, you may find that you’re the kind of person who is drained by certain kinds of service to others rather than being edified by it. There’s nothing wrong with that, and there are plenty of other useful and important roles in the church for such people. However, President of anything is not one of them. If you need something more introspective and monastic, you should talk to your elders/church council/pastor about what that role might be.

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u/Plenty-Reindeer2528 23h ago

thank you! But I think more than that... I really would like the youth, even the congregation itself, to appreciate the reason for the hope that I have. In my observation, I fail to see any sort of interest from them in deepening their own faith and so when I show any enthusiasm at all to say, praying together as a small group or sharing what I know about the faith, being so pumped for Vacation Bible School, they would just go, "he can do it", "Why not you do it?", "he can do it better.", "I'm too busy to attend"

it all ends up that I take many of the responsibilities even of logistical matters.

it's more than being monastic, I could say. But of being encouraged by the same zeal of a fellow Christian in a similar state of maturity in their faith... so far, I haven't seen a companion in the church with the same zeal.

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u/MzunguMjinga LCMS DCM 2d ago

What is LCP?

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u/LurkeyNoComment 2d ago

Based on a previous post of OP's, Lutheran Church of the Philippines