Thursday, August 6, 2009

Anti-Culture

I have entered a strange scenario these past few days. I am up in Norwich at a large New Frontiers hosted youth event called NEWDAY. (Check out http://www.newday.xtn.org ) Basically there are roughly 6500 people here 80% probably under the age of 21 so it is an intense concentration of what would be called the 'youth of today', but let me tell you where the scenario starts to take on strangeness.

Simply put a huge number of these youngsters are 'born again Christians.' Individuals who would say they have had a life-changing encounter with the Living God in the person of Jesus Christ and are therefore somewhat 'different' to most people of their age. They are exceedingly exciteable when it comes to the musical applause/praise of the one who has changed them- Jesus. Can I just say a tent housing 6000 people simply takes off. Now I will tell you what is most strange, what is even 'anti-culture'...

In the group of 30 people we have brought here at least 4 would say they are not 'followers of Jesus.' They are here for a time out with their friends (I would assume this percentage crosses pretty much the broad population here so maybe 600 people here are in the same boat) and a good time with others. But what happens when we are in the formentioned tent is that the power and the wonder of being absorbed into this group of people praising Jesus draws them in and soaks them up in its overflow.

What is happening here and almost certainly never ever happens in the everyday life of a Westerner is that Christianity is the primary feature and definer of culture and people are 'pressured' to want to be of like identity. It's amazing to me.
In the end I know that whether you are alone on a Zimbabwean hill (my story of encounter) or amidst 6000 passionate Christ-lovers it is the sovereign power and drawing love of God that transforms you.
Hope it happens to many here...

Simon

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