What are 20-somethings in Africa struggling with?

My reflections in this article are borne out of the deep
impression the blog by Jimmy
McCarty made on me. So, I’m wondering and you should too, what
20-somethings around you (or even you) are struggling with, relative to the Missions
Enterprise.

Jimmy said, “Frankly, my
generation is TERRIFIED of the message we believe. We’re afraid of being
rejected, disliked, offensive, looking stupid, not having all the answers,
feeling ignorant, misrepresenting God, saying something wrong, steering someone
the wrong way, making a mistake, disappointing people, disappointing our leaders,
missing an opportunity, having things be us instead of God and not knowing the
difference, of trying something new, of not liking where we end up, of feeling
trapped, of getting caught up in a mediocre encounter at the exact moment the
“big opportunity” comes around, of being associated with an
organization that teaches something we don’t completely understand and if we
DID understand it, we would discover we don’t agree.”

I was just about writing my perspectives in response to
Jimmy’s concerns as my blog for the week when I read the following from Seth
Barnes’ blog. He said exactly what was on my heart as a first response to subject
posed as a question here. “You drink from Seth’s sweet fountain so I’m not surprised
you were thinking alike at this time…” remarked my darling wife. Seth’s a great
wordsmith so I felt it’s just apt to quote him verbatim.

“What’s the difference between
how Jesus mentored his disciples and how we do it in our day? Jesus did it by
teaching his disciples, by modeling life for them, by training and coaching
them, and by giving them specific opportunities to practice their faith. By
contrast, we moderns seem to focus on teaching as the focal point for our spiritual
formation efforts.

The problem is; people as a
general rule don’t change through teaching alone. Sermons are a good place to
lay out the rationale for change and to describe the change process, but
they’re a poor substitute for real life. You need to watch what you’re being
asked to do before you do it.

That’s why Jesus pioneered the
practice of short-term missions (STMs). His whole ministry was a journey, an
extended mission trip. He left home at age 30 and wandered village to village
for three years. And within that journey were smaller journeys intended for his
disciples’ growth. He didn’t send his disciples out in Luke 9 and 10 to
inaugurate his missionary program. That came much later after he had his disciples
wait for the Holy Spirit.”

Writing from an African perspective with my spectacles made in Nigeria, I’ve seen
that when you mix poor leadership by example with the numerous personal fears gnawing at the youth of this age; what you have is a growing breed of grossly
self-centered generation, who claim a deep love for God but don’t hear what He’s saying.

I observe with dismay, a major confusion which springs from the
lack of understanding and even denial, that what pleases and entertains this God
we pretend to love involve the sufferings and huge sacrifices for what He loves, by His lovers. But since
suffering in any way is largely synonymous with poverty in this part of the world; the
words of Dr. Ralph Winter that, “Obedience to the great commission has more
consistently been poisoned by affluence than by anything else…” is more
profound in Africa, where the striving for material comfort has consumed all
other passions.

This is not all. Many 20-somethings and over seem to believe
that what they do defines who they are and worse still, what they seek to
possess and have no control over, holds the key to their happiness in life. So, the idea that the proof of sincere love for God is confirmed by His blessings is a hallmark of present-day belief. Anything less is not acceptable.

This drive is the major thrust of most churches and
fellowships here today. It’s the reason for our prayer vigils, our fastings and
seminars that attract large audience. Listen to our testimonies and celebrations
and you’ll not miss this- we are proudly grooming a generation obsessed with personal
comfort and ease more than life itself. They are willing to go to great lengths
and suffer humiliation for their shriveled dreams than align their heart with
God’s global cause.  

True wealth is what a man has to give away that money cannot
buy. God continues to recruit and deploy to the neediest parts of the earth,
men and women, willing to give their youth and their best because Christ’s global
cause has become the integrating and overriding priority for all that He is for
them.

It’s not only 20-somethings in Africa that seem trapped. A good
majority of Christians feel duped because their beliefs as Disciples of Christ contradict
what they are determined to pursue as civil citizens. A balance is difficult to realize. So, occasional good deeds are
more for conscience sake than acts resulting from a revealed truth or a call. The
solution lies in reconsecration, practical discipleship and above all,
insightful mentoring leadership.

As this messy struggle continues, my prayer is for all that
will dare to die to the pressures of this world and the pleasures it offers,
catch Jesus’ world vision and be fully empowered by His Spirit to
effectively obey Him.

Author: Uche Izuora

I'm inspired by God’s passion for His name in every generation, which provokes global worship through Jesus Christ. Becoming an emotionally healthy and transformative disciple, I aim to mobilize the Church to engage in cross-cultural missions and raise other like-minded disciples who discover themselves in Christ and seek to present and represent Him as Savior and Lord among the nations northward of Uganda. View all posts by Uche Izuora