This week I saw a disturbing documentary about a young girl no older than fourteen or fifteen, who desperately wanted to be initiated into a gang. She wanted to escape her bad home life. She had two choices. Like so many girls, she could allow the gang to steal her virginity. Or if she wanted to gain more respect for herself, she could be "loved" into the gang.
The girl had been abused throughout childhood, so she chose to be "loved" into the gang. The gang took her out into a yard and several boys began beating her. They showed no restraint as they bloodied her nose, blackened her eyes, and repeatedly kicked her in the stomach, ribs, and kidneys. Every few minutes the beating would stop and they would shout at the girl, "Why are you doing this. What do you want?" The girl, who refused to cry or show weakness, would reach out and say, "Give me love." Then each member of the gang would hug her and kiss her, but then they started beating her again. This continued this until the gang was satisfied. Then they took her into a kitchen where they seared their gang symbol into her back with a red hot hanger that had been heated on a stove.
After the initiation they began apprenticing the girl in a life of violence and crime. They taught her how to fight, how to use guns and knives, how to steal, how to paint graffiti, how to counteract law enforcement, how to deceive her parents, how to conceal and sell drugs, how to survive in court and in jail, and how to kill.
One of the primary tools they used to indoctrinate this new gang member was the kind of violent rap music I have heard youth in our congregation listen to and talk about. Since many gang members cannot read or write, rap music is their primary tool of choice for numbing the conscience, changing values, and inciting hostilities. The gangs continually sing and memorize the lyrics and eventually act out on the lyrics. Shortly after the filming of the documentary, one of the youths went out and robbed an elderly woman at gunpoint to get cash to buy guns to fight a rival gang.
Contrast that with a boy who grew up in the gang-infested projects of Chicago. Every day he was pressured to use drugs, join a gang, and pursue a life of crime. He was surrounded with brokenness, despair, hatred, and violence. But in his own words, he had a very positive influence in his life. An Illinois State Police officer invested in his life. This officer challenged him to do something positive with his life. This officer encouraged him to stay out of trouble and warned him that a felony would ruin his future. As a result of that one officer’s influence, that little boy became a police officer who now serves with the Sangamon County Police office and who specializes in gang control.
The girl was apprenticed in evil. The boy was apprenticed in doing good.
The Power of Apprenticeship.
I have always been amazed at the power of apprenticeship. Jesus used this strategy. Jesus hand-picked twelve men to be his disciples and formed them into a small group. For three years, he personally invested in these men. He mentored them. He apprenticed them. He encouraged them. He loved them. He called out their best. After Jesus died, these men continued to advance Christ’s purposes on earth. They multiplied themselves in others. They inspired hundreds, then thousands, then millions to imitate Christ. They promoted that which is of Christ.
Gang leaders employ this same basic strategy. They recruit gang-bangers and personally invest in them from childhood. They apprentice them in every form of evil. They encourage them to break the law. They destroy their consciences. They call out the worst our sinful nature has to offer. Long after a gang leader dies or is thrown in prison, his disciples continue to advance his purposes, multiply themselves in others, and promote that which is of Satan.
For better or worse, apprenticeship is the most effective model for changing our world. It changed a fourteen year old girl into a violent gang-banger, yet steered a young man out of the projects into a life of community service and sacrifice.
At the last session of the Citizens' Police Academy that I have been attending, a couple asked if there were any programs that could prevent the spread of evil. Is the D.A.R.E. program effective? What about the Scared-Straight program?
It struck me that the Church is the program that can prevent the spread of evil. We need to get with the program! Apprenticeship has been at the heart of the Church since the time of Christ. Apprenticeship is where we need to channel our energies in order to make a difference in our world. In the New Testament we have an illustration of how Paul used apprenticeship to dramatically change the life of a young man named Timothy.
Through apprenticeship, Paul gave Timothy love and encouragement.
Through apprenticeship, Paul gave Timothy love and encouragement. Some scholars believe that Timothy was raised by his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois. For whatever reason, Paul never makes reference to Timothy’s father. Perhaps his father died at an early age, divorced Timothy’s mother, or was an unbeliever. One thing is for sure. Timothy wrestled with a father-wound. He grew up feeling that a part of his life was missing and incomplete.
But Timothy sought for and discovered a healthy male influence in the apostle Paul. Throughout 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy Paul refers to Timothy as, "my true son in the faith." Paul invested in Timothy’s life just as a father would invest in his own son's life. He expressed his pride in Timothy’s work. Paul patiently encouraged him during difficult times. He loved Timothy unconditionally through his weaknesses and failures. Paul more than made up whatever deficits Timothy was lacking from the home front, and this gave Timothy renewed confidence to be a man and leader .
Through apprenticeship, Paul gave Timothy an inspirational example.
We all want to become like Jesus Christ. He is our supreme example. But something is to be said for being surrounded by people who are successfully living for Christ. As a young man I remember watching a number of Church leaders fall into sin. A Sunday school teacher I once admired had an affair and divorced his wife. A prominent leader frequently exploded in anger and like the teacher, divorced his wife. I won’t go through the whole history, but those were discouraging times.
Unlike these men, Paul was an inspiration to Timothy. In 1 Timothy 1:15-16 (NIV) he writes, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners— of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." Paul was a living example of how God’s grace can turn a person’s life around. Through Paul, Timothy found one more reason to be confident in his faith.
Through apprenticeship, Paul gave Timothy practical instruction.
In Ephesus, Timothy was facing a number of difficult challenges. Paul took the time to understand the pressures Timothy was facing and to offer counsel. As you read 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy you can virtually make a list of Timothy’s questions.
"Paul, how do I handle difficult people who lie and distort the truth? What should I do when civilian and government authorities oppose my beliefs? What should I do when I am around women who dress inappropriately? What should I do with leaders who lack character and proper Christian maturity? What should I do when I want to quit and give up? How do I balance physical training with training for godliness? What should I do when people look down on me for being young? How should I relate to older men and women? How should I properly relate to young women?"
"What do I do about the overwhelming needs of widows? How should Christians care for family members? What should I do when someone is falsely accused? When I hear gossip? When I feel sick to my stomach? What about slavery? What about handling money? How do I resolve conflicts? How do I find contentment? What about marriage and communication? What about child-rearing?"
Everyone needs a person to count on to provide sound advice and counsel. We need people who share our values and who are truly looking out for our best interests. I have a list of people I don’t hesitate to call or e-mail or have breakfast with if I need insight in how to deal with something I am facing in my ministry or personal life. These godly men have spared me countless troubles and hardships.
Through apprenticeship, Paul gave Timothy moral clarity and direction.
Paul taught Timothy a great deal about right and wrong. He cast a vision for the kind of man Timothy should seek to become. Paul said things like, "Be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover a money. Manage your own family well and see that your children obey you with proper respect. Have a good reputation with outsiders. Do not pursue dishonest gain. Keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. Serve well, and gain a good standing among the Church."
It is important to note that Paul didn’t want to leave Timothy’s moral development to chance. He was specific and concrete. He carefully articulated the characteristics of godliness. "I want you to be a faithful husband. I want you to have a good reputation. I want you to have discipline and self-control. I want you to have a strong family. I want you to maintain a clear conscience." Paul helped Timothy desire to live a godly life. He called out the best in Timothy. He accentuated the good and encouraged him to avoid the negative.
We all need that person in our lives who speaks the truth in love and who gives us moral clarity. "You shouldn’t talk like that. You shouldn’t watch that. You shouldn’t waste your money. You shouldn’t act that way. Do this instead. Be godly!"
Through apprenticeship, Paul gave Timothy a transcendent purpose.
Paul’s greatest gift to Timothy was a transcendent purpose. Paul invited Timothy to live beyond himself, for God and for other people. Paul helped Timothy discover his gifts and challenged him to use those gifts to serve others.
A lot of young and old people today say, "I am bored." Most people are bored because they are only living for themselves. Boredom is a symptom of self-absorption. Boredom indicates that a person has not found a greater purpose for his life beyond self or beyond the given moment. Those who are the most fulfilled have learned to love God and love people. Paul taught Timothy to do this very thing. He gave Timothy a kingdom vision and challenged him to invest in other people’s lives.
Steps we take in relationship to God's family.
For the last couple of weeks we have been talking about steps we take in relationship with God’s family. First, we begin by experiencing Christ. We encounter the living Christ who is living through the members of his body, the Church. We experience the personal expression of God’s love through the Church.
Next, we train for godliness. We invite accountability into our lives. We seek to be known in a personal way and we develop habits that will lead to godliness. We find encouragement and support from other Christians. We take advantage of opportunities for spiritual growth.
The third step is that we apprentice for ministry. We link up with a mature Christian who will personally invest in our life. A Christian who will give us love and encouragement. A Christian who will be a consistent, inspirational example to us. A Christian who can offer sound, Biblical counsel. A Christian who can call out the best in us morally. A Christian who will connect us with a transcendent purpose, something bigger than ourselves.
This morning I want you to do more than soak up another sermon. I want you to ask yourself some questions. Who is personally investing in your life? Who is loving you and encouraging you through your weaknesses and deficiencies? Who do you turn to for inspiration and sound counsel? Who is providing that specific voice of moral clarity for you? Who is challenging you with a higher purpose?
Apprenticeship is Christ's method of changing the world.
I want to close by reiterating an important point. Apprenticeship is Christ’s method of changing the world. He wants us to invest deeply in each other's lives. It was never Christ’s design that we would be formed in Christ by merely attending Sunday worship services. Where we come and go as we please, without accountability, without being known, without being personally challenged, without ever training for godliness, and without ever being apprenticed and shepherded.
Christ’s design for spiritual growth is intimacy with a mature Christian who can disciple and apprentice us. This is why so many of us have gone to church year after year without ever really changing our behaviors, habits, attitudes, or values.
We’ve got to do better! Statistics show that more than ninety percent of Christians never graduate through the second step of training for godliness. We have to get with it! We have got to get Christ’s program for life change! You need to seek out a mentor and ask him to invest in your life and help you grow! And we need to find someone we can come alongside and encourage to grow in the faith.