A lot of churches these days go on and on about God's Love, and then proceed to blot out all other aspects - His wrath, The Law (which while of diminished importance is still relevant in this day and age), the worlds' hate of Him. The SFEC Youth Camp this year had 'Amazing Love' as the camp theme.
Imagine my scepticism.
Alright, alright, so God's love is the core of Christianity, and I admit I take it for granted at times. But it has been overhyped, has it not?
The trip to Lundu was a swimming pool on an August day - a break from St Thomas's and straddled with people of varying levels of insanity (Christians). Some slept, others played games, I went through my drama script with my iPod blaring Maroon5NicholasTeoBlocParty.
Sugar Daddy snoring.Two things of note when we arrived:
1. The welcoming commitee consisted of one (non-human) hospitality officer, and he was a camwhore.
2. And ... my phone had no signal.
Eric was camp commander; Elaine, Joanna, Daphne for worship; Max with food ... I was games.
The icebreaker was stilted. I've only worked with kids before, so there was this learning curve involved for games with the teens. We headed to the beach to play Dodgeball.
We ended up very wet.
Out of the sea - pitter patter off the beach, with sandy toes and smelly feet. And a jump into the swimming pool,
The pool was very disappointing. I could dive and swim its entire length without resurfacing, which goes to show you how big my lungs are (or how small the pool is). And it was shallow. Water up to my chest - no chance of anyone drowning. It must've been a big let down for Ik Sung ("- only I can save you people")
The session at night was slightly marred by my running nose. Mac started off the session with a WHAT, asking us what do you think Love is?
The answers were scattered all over the logical spectrum:
"Love is blind." - You all BUTA people, you!
"Love is a metaphysical connection between two or more people, or between self and soul, or between objects and people, or -" - this was me joking with Paul. Because we're debate geeks like that.
"Love is patient, love is kind, love is ..." - You'll find the King James Version of the Bible doesn't use the word Love - but more on that later.
"Eww ... mushy stuff!"
Then, - Mac being Mac - we got hit by a bus:
Is love God or is God love?The cogs in my brain froze for a few minutes. What the heck?!
"God is love. Love is God is wrong, but the statement can be correct if you add an of between is and God."So much for starters. Mac told us how he handles relationships within his youth (as opposed to the youth falling in love with teens from opposite the road). Josh is a leader there, wonder how he fares up ... *strokes chin* Anyway, here's how he does it:
Mac sits down with each of the couples and asks them questions: Where do you see this relationship going in the next 5 years? You interested in the Chicken ke, or the Chase? He's had parents call him up to break couples up, because they're unhappy with their kid's significant other. And the very first thing he wants to know is if the relationship is fueled by sexual undertones. A slide from his presentation:
True Love is ...Imagine absorbing that when you're half dead and blowing your innards out through your nose.
- not sexual in nature
- it is a decision
- it longs to see the betterment of the other person, and
- it is Christian character
Ugh.
*
The second day was cloudy. Steel skies and cold rain. No games for the rest of the camp (Thank God!), and this meant we had more time to concentrate on the sessions.
On the beach. Paul was behind me, staring at the waves.And what mind blowing sessions they were!
My notes on the 2nd session (WHY) were sparce - I think I was mulling over what he was talking about too much. But this is what I got in my notepad:
Romans 5:1-5 (glory in afflictions)We took a break, and practised for the youth presentations later that night.
Young love -> fast burning fire; explosion
Old love -> candle (?) cup overflowing <- prefer this one Friendship as a foundation for a relationship
Third session: How.
If the other sessions so far were a hit to the head, this one was probably with brains blown out. Mac opened with what he calls the Closet Christian:
We are in danger of looking inwards too much we forget are to carry a message to the world.Oh dear. Oh dear, dear, dear. Mathew 5:13-16: We are to be seen and not merely heard. How many Christians are treating their religion like yoga or self empowerment? "Come join my church! The feeding there is good! And we have line dancers! Free lunch! Rich businessmen who network with Christian values!"
A question he threw at us: If Jesus walked into your church right now, what would he ask?
"I am back?" Someone suggested.
Mac shook his head - "I think he would have asked: 'Where are the sinners?'"
If your church does not have the sinful and the leftovers, the dregs and the castaways of society, then your church has failed. Your church is a comfortable cocoon of Christians who live in their little world of wanting to grow closer to God, who are no longer light in the darkness, salt of the world. Your church is a conglomeration of people who want to find God's love for themselves.
Your church is a Closet.
We were silent.
*
We slept late, played Ping Pang Wah, visited bedrooms like open houses (I liked bouncing on the girl's beds - you could always find a chocolate bar or a pink teddy or a Nicholas Teo/Wu Zun infested phone amongst the blankets), and other crazy stuff.
But it was those quiet sessions, those late night chats and prayers with Max, Paul, and Elaine ... those sessions with nothing but us and the night sky and God that is imprinted in my memory. I pulled them aside the first night to pray for the Worship team - we had encountered a few hiccups here and there. And we were reminded that no matter how beautifully we sing, how great our chord progression is, how cool our musical arrangements were, it is the Dude upstairs that matters.I have a tendency to forget that.
What a great way to be reminded.
