like a fire

I have read a bit on a couple of sites about Saddam and his execution. It seems to be the majority view of the Christian blogosphere that he did awful things but that does not merit the death penalty. The Vatican goes so far as to say that it is repaying a crime with a crime.

Having read the Old Testament where God told his people to exterminate certain peoples and even the reference to “an eye for an eye”, I wonder where these beliefs come from. God certainly is the judge and in the OT his law was set as the standard for punishment. Yet, God set men as judges also.
I would never want to be an executioner, but I would never condemn someone to death without knowing my part in it either. This is where I am torn. It is obvious from the Bible that execution is sanctioned. Jesus did throw a new idea on capital punishment with the woman caught in adultery though. So I am working this out in my head and wondering what people think (hint, hint, nudge, nudge).

I have been thinking lately and talking to someone about the gap that exists between teens in many situations. There is always a gap between what people think is different about them and what is actually different. This is as old as jocks against nerds or even ninjas against pirates. For some reason we all just think that we are so different in so many ways than the people around us and teens have this feeling multiplied in the psyche. They think they are so different, that nobody understands them and consequently they feel unloved.

So I am thinking of how to bridge the gap. In this particular situation the gap is mostly money. Extreme money differences like from Ferraris and Bentleys to Aeros and Cavaliers. How do you have a ministry that touches each side where they are and is compelling to both?

Obviously you can’t have the big money event that would be possible for most youth ministries. The rich kids have seen all that and nothing you do will compete with that. Giving away an iPod for an incentive to bring friends wouldn’t even touch their lifestyle. That kind of event might attract the poor but it might also alienate them by showing all that they don’t have. They might not feel comfortable or even welcome. So what kind of event would work?

I wonder what is a common denominator for each group?

Here’s my guess:

They all need love that they probably don’t feel like they getting.
The Beatles had it right. Money can’t buy me love. This is especially true in the extreme sides of economic levels. The extreme poor and rich kids have parents that generally aren’t around or aren’t accessible. Poor parents spend most of their time trying to provide for their families and rich parents spend most of their time making money to support their lifestyle. It’s funny how financial success and failure look so much alike in workload. That leaves teens with lots of time away from family to care for them. I could go done the need of love road, but that would be pedantic.

They all struggle with their identity.
Then there is identity. This is common to almost all teens and most adults for that matter. Someone asked me recently to name five things that will always be true about me - things that have nothing to do with what I do, what I wear, what I drive or where I live. It’s not an easy question.

Both of these are a formula for no intrinsic value that acts out in many ways.

I am asking some friends to help brainstorm this situation and will be posting the results later.