Losing Neverland

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child;

but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 

(1 Corinthians 13:11, NKJV)

"Responsibility... What's that?

Responsibility? Not quite yet.

Responsibility. What's that?

I don't want to think about it. We'd be better off without it"

(MxPx, Responsibility)

“If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, 

I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!”

(J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan)

You may have heard it said that youth is wasted on the young. As a fairly young person myself, one might think I might take offense to such a statement... but actually... I'm inclined to agree with it. It saddens my heart to look around and see so many of my contemporaries... so many of the people in my generation... living for so many of the wrong things.

Maybe it's because I was raised "old school", but it just seems to me like so many people in their early-late 20's (at least the ones I've observed) spend most of their lives in pursuit of passions which seem rather hedonistic. To best summarize, it appears to me that they want the benefits of being adult without the responsibility of being adults. The work they do during the week, if any, is to get them to the weekend (in order to squander what little they've earned). Ambition, drive, creativity, calling all seem to take a backseat to the leisure of the moment.

Not that it's wrong to be entertained, by any means, but not to the extent that you live for that. When a young person lives their life with a "What can ___ do for ME... right now?" attitude, this can be problematic for them... perhaps not at first, but eventually it will. "If the party doesn't entertain me, I'll leave"... Then they take that same attitude into church.... into their finances.... into their relationships.... the eventual results of which are  all damaging.

We expect this kind of behavior from the non-Christians. So did Paul, knowing full well he was a "child" himself at one point.... but that's just it... AT ONE POINT... in the past... He equally admits that now he has put those childish things away. What I don't understand is how Christians still seek to hang on to their "childish things"... why they still choose to "think like a child"... especially when living a life of Christ is infinitely more rewarding. 

Why does our young, 20-something culture (even among the Christians) need to be defined by selfishness, drunkenness, sexual liberality, hedonistic entertainment, hallow relationships, and the like? Why are "fruits of the spirit" rotting off of trees so young... fruits like patience....kindness... faithfulness... and even (God forbid) self-control ? Why does it seem like those Christians who seek to live pure, responsible, Spirit-led, Christ-centered adult lives are the quiet remnant in the culture? Why do so many wonderful young adults (who are all around good people) live life with a Peter-Pan-like attitude... never wanting to grow up (at least not for a long time)? These are the same people naive enough to think they are Christians while they are still holding on to the "chilish things" of the world, like some sort of hedonistic security blanket. It just doesn't work that way (at least not according to the Bible).

Isn't it time we young Christians took a stand against such spiritual compromise? Isn't it time we admit that we're in our 20's... we ARE adults... we HAVE grown up... and consequently re-prioritize what we're living for? I say this just as much from personal conviction as I do from a rebuke of others. One of the biggest regrets in my life, to this point, is the amount of time I've wasted (much of which on personal entertainment). Entertainment is good but not the thing we should be living for.

Isn't it time we leave Neverland? Isn't time we close the door, "putting away childish things" and live our life for what (or should I say Who) really matters? The ironic thing is... people are living hedonistic lives to try and put more value on themselves... when in reality, God has already put more value on you, His child, than you could ever put on yourself. I say it's time we grow up, with God's help... and I hope you'll take a stand, joining me on this journey out of Neverland and into the Promised Land.