I’m frustrated with seeing this post, over and over again,
“I just started here at the church and the former youth pastor has invited all the current students to a new youth group they’re starting. I’m devastated.”
If you are the offending youth pastor who does this this, you’re a loser. Let me offer you 3 reasons why stealing is unethical, unbiblical and why you’re only hurting yourself.
Breach of Trust
Matthew 7:12 – “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
I don’t understand how you missed this verse in the Bible but if you steal from others, others will steal from you. Another verse you might have missed is,
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” Galatians 6:7,8
Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative emphasizes acting according to principles that could be universally applied. Summed up,
“the maxim guiding your action should be applicable to everyone, all the time, without contradiction; essentially, “act as you would want everyone else to act.“ Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
If you break trust with your former congregation and the students they once served you cannot expect the same level of trust and respect from others. In other words you are setting yourself up for a major backfire.
Disrupting Community
1 Corinthians 1:10-12
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.””
From the very beginning of Paul’s letter to Corinth he is addressing division and specifically the issue of who who should people follow.
Whether you are “stealing” students, and by stealing I mean enticing or outright asking students to come to your new work or new church, you are causing division. You are uprooting young shoots, whom God planted, and causing a division in the heart of those students and or families,
“Should I stay or go?” is not a question they should have to answer but because you put it there, now they do.
The body of Christ is supposed to be working together as one unified community. Dividing a community for personal gain or ego disrupts the unity and purpose of the church.
Self-Serving Motives
Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Why? Why do you need THESE students can you not win students to Christ on your own? Is it because your mad at how the church treated you? Is this revenge? Is it to make more money? Look good for your new church or are you trying to build a church on your own?
No matter what your reasoning, your response is wrong.
You cannot serve God and money, God and ego, God and self, God and anything else. It God and God alone you must serve and if stealing students is some kind of cry for help or to heal your wounded feelings, God cannot be glorified because He is not the priority, you are.
I have a rule, if I know a new kid in my group, from another youth group, has come more that 3 weeks, and I know that youth pastor, I call them and tell them, “Hey, I got one of your students here, what’s the scoop?”
Because it’s possible this student is in rebellion or disobedience over something the youth pastor said or required from them and needs to make things right before coming over to my group. Why would I want to take a students who is in opposition over something their youth pastor has tried to correct/discipline only to come over and, eventually, oppose me.
If you are this youth pastor, I would ask you, “Is this how you want to do your business? Is this how you want to be remembered? Is this how you want to honor God?”
My advice: Humble yourself. Do the work. And trust God if you want your new work to flourish.
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