Was it all just a spiritual high?
Remember that flame you had for Jesus at camp? The spiritual joy, peace, and rest you had experienced? And the utmost, uncontainable passion and excitement you had for God? All of these things were probably gone in a flash. All of these things were probably extinguished within not even a week (or two, if you’re lucky). Maybe you’re thinking to yourself: Was it all just a spiritual high?
I’m sure that since that time, we’ve all fully readjusted to the realities of life, going back to work, school, or even just staying at home in our mundaneness. In a sense, you could say that our lives went “back to normal” after camp. As we transitioned back, many of us lost all the good things that camp brought upon us. All the good things we had heard, seen, experienced, and felt at camp were no longer enough to keep us satisfied in God. And here we are in the mundane of life again—just as we were before camp, or maybe even worse.
In this blog, I want to articulate some practical implications and challenges for all of us—believing attendees, ministry leaders, and unbelieving attendees. Before we get there, however, I think there are two things that we all must fully agree on and acknowledge: (1) spiritual highs are real, and (2) genuine life transformations can happen at Christian camps and conferences.
Fact 1: Spiritual highs are real.
Yes, you read that right. Spiritual highs are very real. What are they exactly? Well, spiritual high is when one is all fired up for God and suddenly wants to “rededicate” their life to Him, but within a short period of time, the fire and passion for God all die down as one returns to their normal, everyday life. This is not uncommon to us at all.
We must take heed of the truth of God and weigh it against all feelings and emotions we might have. We must bring our feelings and emotions to full examination before the Word of God. Notice that I’m not saying that having feelings and emotions is bad. Rather, I’m saying that we need to be careful of such things that are contingent on circumstances and are prone to change constantly. Our feelings and emotions are fleeting. Our feelings and emotions are constantly changing. We must evaluate and monitor all that is susceptible to change to that which is not: the Word of God.
Some questions you can ask yourself to see if you are either dependent on your feelings/emotions or the Word of God:
Do I only feel this way when we sing certain worship songs?
Is the atmosphere promoting my emotional vulnerability (e.g., inspirational piano music in the background, a dark room with strobing lights, a hyped-up crowd, etc.)?
Does hearing the preached Word of God excite and encourage me to live a God-glorifying and God-honoring life?
What has God revealed to me in and through His Word that I feel this way?
Fact 2: Genuine life transformations can happen at Christian camps and conferences.
While spiritual highs are very real, we must also acknowledge that genuine Jesus encounters at camp are also very real. God can meet anyone anywhere at any time. God can choose to reveal Himself outside the bounds of human comprehension. Whether we expect God to meet us at camp or not, He will meet us as He pleases. But when He does so, lives will not be idly stagnant, but rather, genuinely changed for the glory of God in faithful submission and obedience to His Word. Not only will lives be changed; lives will be changing still. While good things can come from these Christian camps and conferences, they are merely meant to be supplemental to the local church, not replacements. Ongoing transformation mainly happens in the local church, therefore, we should not fully rely on such camps or conferences as our primary source of spiritual growth.
Reality Check
Do you acknowledge the reality of your spiritual high? Has your spiritual life been in constant decline since camp, despite your genuine encounter with Christ? Acknowledging these two things helps us to move forward with Godward implications and applications to help stir our hearts for God.
Godward Implications and Applications: Believing Campers
First, for the believing camper, be in your local church community. We are not created to live in isolation. We are not meant to live our faith in secret. Don’t just “attend” church, but rather, “be” the church. You do this by (1) worshipping Jesus with other believers, (2) fellowshipping with other believers, and (3) living life with other believers in Jesus.
Playing volleyball every Saturday with your local church members does not count. Going to BTS concerts with your local church members does not count. Going out to car meets with your local church members does not count. Some might ask me if I think these things are bad or wrong. But I’d respond that the question is not whether these things are bad or wrong. The question is this: What does it mean for us to be the local church?
Think with me for a second here. What did Jesus mean when He said we are not of the world just as He is not of this world? Grow in faithfulness and obedience together in Christ. Build one another up in Christ. Wrestle with sin together in Christ.
Second, foster spiritual disciplines. Read the Word intentionally in your relationship with God. Reflect on what the Lord is speaking to you through His Word. Seek not just to know theology but also the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Pray to the Lord personally and intimately. Remind yourself of His promises daily. Pour all that you are before Him daily. Confess and repent of your sins daily. Accept His grace and love. Follow His commands not as a basis for salvation but as a response to the salvation you’ve already received.
Third, if possible, seek discipleship. Find an older believer (preferably your same gender) in your local church to pour God’s truth and love into you as you walk through the journey of faith together. We all need one another to be encouraged and pointed to Christ daily. We must strive to be more like Jesus in His humility, faithfulness, and obedience to the Father.
Godward Implications and Applications: Ministry Leaders
For ministry leaders, have you ever thought to yourself why most of your young people only come out to camps or conferences and not your Bible studies or ministries? It could be because of the hype that these camps or conferences bring. But I think it's more than that, too, maybe. Apart from unbelief in God, they probably don't come to your Bible studies or ministries because they have no relational foundation with you. They don't feel like they matter. They don't feel like they are seen or understood. They don't feel loved. And if they don't feel these things from you—their shepherd or leader—what more will they feel these things from Jesus?
Your young people seek belonging. Welcome them. Pursue them. Seek them out. Just as Jesus left the ninety-ninety to pursue the one lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7), pursue those who come to church not just during service but outside of service as well.
Your young people seek relief. If I must state the unobvious, the majority of your young people are suffering from mental health. These people feel the most neglected and misunderstood because such conversations of depression, anxiety, and stress are all either dismissed or minimized in the church. They do not feel seen. As their shepherd or leader, you must seek to understand their struggles. Validate their feelings (e.g., if they feel unloved, do not dismiss or excuse it, but rather, acknowledge that they truly feel unloved and seek to meet their needs by loving them better). And when time calls for it, don't hesitate to weep with them just as Jesus did when he was with Mary at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:33-35).
Your young people seek love. Oftentimes, they are treated as if they aren't loved because of their past sins and mistakes. They all make mistakes. They all sin. They are not all that perfect just as you and I aren't. However, that does not mean that they should be defined by their sins, mistakes, or failures. That also does not mean that they should be dismissed for being different. Be sacrificial in all that you do for them and model your love after the heart of Jesus by truly grasping the glorious truth that, while we were still sinners, He died for us (Romans 5:8). Greater love has no one than this, that Jesus laid down His life for us sinners—those whom He calls His friends (John 15:13)!
All three of these things—belonging, relief, and love—can be found in the Person of Jesus! Meet your young people where they are at! Seek out your young people and bring them to Christ by pursuing them, comforting them, and loving them just as Jesus did. Point them to Jesus not only through your teaching and preaching but also through your Christ-like example! Walk life literally with them just as Jesus walks life with us.
Godward Implications and Applications: Unbelieving Campers
For unbelieving campers, challenge yourself to new beginnings with these three basic questions:
What is so different about Christians that I admire so much that I keep going to these Christian events?
Can I be certain that God does not exist even when history already affirms the existence of Jesus?
What might I be fearful of if I choose to place my faith in Jesus?
Behold Him!
Friends, we crash after experiencing a spiritual high because Jesus may not have been our true and firm foundation. That is, Jesus may not have been the center of attention in our feelings and emotions at camp. Let us not be those who receive His Word with gladness and then fall away because He wasn’t our root (Mark 4:16-17).
And if we have truly experienced Christ at camp, let us take the initiative of our faith by wholeheartedly abiding in Him through His Word and the local church. Cultivate your joy and continue to produce the fruit of righteousness through these implications and applications. Let us see Jesus and behold Him as our glorious prize. Fan the flame for Jesus!
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