We concluded our look at Ahab’s rebuke from the prophet for not taking care of the enemy king, Ben-Hadad:

But I got busy doing one thing after another and the next time I looked he was gone.

It’s an important word, and I was reminded of it when I received a letter from Christian Endeavor, whom I’ve mentioned before. I love their paradigm for youth ministry: we want to produce honeybees, not hippos! Hippos consume; honeybees produce: what kind of disciples do we want to make?

Here’s part of the letter:

Christian Endeavor (CE) led a training workshop for youth leaders and volunteers from eight different churches. The participants examined the CE discipleship strategy, focusing on ways to emphasize active, rather than passive, discipleship with students in their ministries. Afterwards, one leader remarked that they’re excited to implement these ideas. For them, this was a “brand new paradigm for youth ministry.” This strategic approach was one they’d never been taught in seminary, and which offered practical ways to call students to commit to Christ daily, and actively engage their faith. – From a Christian Endeavor letter, dated May 2024

I love what Christian Endeavor is doing, but I hate that they have to do it. Teach a “strategic approach…they’d never been taught in seminary.” What were they taught in seminary? To be “busy doing one thing after another”?

It seems so. Look at the next paragraph in the letter:

The youth ministry landscape is currently dominated…by churches that apply adult-led and adult decision-dominated attractional programs. Well intended adult youth workers do most of the heavy lifting involved in creating great weekly programs and annual special events, in hopes youth attendance will spur them on toward a deeper relationship with Christ. 

“Well intended adult youth workers do most of the heavy lifting…” Sounds like “busy” to me. Busy “creating great weekly programs and …special events,” hoping that attendance at events will spur the youth on.

We’ve written about special events before. Generally, they’re a way to do “busy,” without being effective making disciples. But making disciples is what Jesus asked us to do:

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15.8, NIV)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…. (Matthew 28.18 – 20, NIV)