Episode 149: Duty vs Joy - The Changing Landscape of Discipleship - Dave Vander Meulen (Part 2)

“It's not just doing your duty. It's a wholehearted joy in following [Christ] because you know this is bringing glory and honor to God. This is how I've been created to live in the world. And there's joyfulness in doing that—finding joy and peace and living the way God has called you to live. That resonates different with this generation.” -Jason Ruis

Summary of this Episode

Jason is back on the Messy Reformation podcast this week with Rev. Dave Vander Meulen, pastor at Escalon CRC in Escalon, CA. As they continue to talk about various aspects of discipleship and nurturing people, Jason asks for Dave’s thoughts on why the CRC appears to be losing a generation of younger people. Dave points out that in some cases it’s not completely a denominational or congregational fault. If young adults leave home and start life apart from their parents, they may not have the means to afford to stay in that area and need to relocate to an area without a CRC or which they choose to try something different. 

He also acknowledges a massive cultural shift that can be boiled down to doing less. Kids in Christian schools are getting regular chapels and are expected to attend Sunday School. That’s in addition to one, even two services, on Sunday. Many adults now show, even unintentionally, by their non-involvement that kids need those things, but once you’re older, you can quit. Do these adults recognize how their disconnect may impact the future? Are they setting an example that church, even faith, really isn’t that important? 

Jason and Dave share observations about the passion and importance of faith among many older members, and admitting that pinpointing why there’s a generational difference is difficult. Dave wonders what the real reason for the commitment of older generations or people is, and speculates that sometimes those individuals can’t identify why they do what they do. Jason expands on that from his own experience in seeing that young people today are seeking meaning and purpose. If they catch that, they’re more willing to go all-in. The difference seems to be older folks have been shaped by involvement and practice while young people commit to meaning before practice. As we heard last time, one of the difficult aspects of ministry is that we as pastors and people want to see fruit—but we need patience.

Dave highlights something church and school leaders, parents, and church members need to be aware of: are we directing so much towards young people that it risks simply becoming noise? All the things mentioned above are good, but “…all of it wanting to change their lives and shape them into who they are. Well, you just heard seven different messages, and now add to that hopefully they too are in their own devotions and reading something…There’s so much volume there! What is going to actually change their lives?...Sometimes it just becomes background noise that is so easy to ignore because I just heard seven things. I can't run after each one of those different things because they're pulling me in different directions, and I can only focus on so much…It could be [overwhelming] for a lot of people.” He points out that we need to look at how we contribute to that and how we might better focus our voices together. 

As they talk about the goal of getting the main message across, the principle emerges that there is a time for and people who need milk and the same goes for meat. One of the difficulties of church ministry is you have both and the whole spectrum in between that you’re trying to minister to. Jason highlights in 2 Peter 3 that it’s okay to remind people—preaching, teaching, and discipleship does not always have to produce some brand-new idea. One aspect is refreshing and reminding people to not forget something in their walk with Christ. Along with that is remembering that the Holy Spirit must be relied on. It’s easy to focus on our wisdom, intuition, and goals, but he must be at work before and through and after us.

Dave’s final word is an encouragement to be asking, “What does God have for me next?” If the Christian life is growing and building, then what is God showing you to give yourself to “…a little bit more deeply and a little bit more intently that’s going to be good in the long run toward his glory and the building of his kingdom”? That may not always be something life-changing or super exciting, but it will be good for you as you listen and follow the direction of the Holy Spirit.