Editorial: Church–Youths = Lifeless,

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

3087 Edition

April 25-May 1, 2011

Editorial

Editorial: Church – Youths = Lifeless, 

Translated by Lydia Ma

An Indian film recently made headlines when it became one of the highest 
grossing foreign films in Taiwan. 3 Idiots chronicles the life of three Indian 
undergraduates as they take on their country’s education system, value system, 
and popular culture that are so twisted they only value the superficial rather 
than the essential.

Ranchoddan (also known as Rancho) is one of the protagonists in this movie and 
he’s a talented student who often likes to challenges those in authority. For 
example, one scene in the movie shows his Mechanics professor asking the class 
for the accurate definition of “machine”.

Rancho raises his hand and says, “Anything that can make tasks simpler and less 
time-consuming is by definition a machine.” He then starts playing with his 
pants’ zipper as if to make a point and adds, “This zipper could be a sort of 
machine.” 

Rancho’s answer predictably infuriates his professor who considers his answer 
baloney and expels him from the class. Another student then manages to recite 
the “textbook answer” and earns an approving nod from the professor.

Many Christians today would probably find this scene familiar… within their own 
churches. Some people love to spew out one church law after another during 
discussion meetings, yet what they actually succeed in accomplishing is killing 
the spirit of the law. Such people seem more familiar with PCT church laws than 
the Bible sometimes.

Though knowing church laws is good, insistence with the letter of the law 
sometimes actually dampens growth of churches or fellow church members – the 
original intent of such laws. Such laws were also created to facilitate 
missions and faith confessions and outreach ministries, but sometimes during 
General Assembly meetings, they can become tools to beat one another.

On May 1, 2011, barely one week after this year’s General Assembly Annual 
Meeting, PCT churches commemorated Youth Ministries Sunday and reviewed the 
important role youths played in the summer of 1948 in the formation of an 
united PCT General Assembly. Those youths, much like Ranchoddan, were youths 
with passion, vision, and faith. Without their insistence and courage, there’d 
be no General Assembly today.

Watching the movie 3 Idiots, I cannot help but wonder if the church has similar 
problems. Has the church become rigid and inflexible and stuck in old patterns? 
As a church, we need to give youths space so they can think on their own, speak 
freely about their thoughts, and feel welcome in our churches. Without the 
presence of youths – some of whom church elders would consider completely 
“weird” people – our churches risk losing much influence and vitality. 

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