Here's a "Christian" Youth Camp my kids will never go to

Goth and Christianity? Who knew?

I didn't have a clue until someone sent me that link.

Before I sent my oldest daughter to a Christian camp for the first time, I did much research and made sure that this is really what they claim it to be. My husband and I even prayed that if The LORD wants her to go then a spot will be available for her. They had strict rules from what clothes to wear to strict schedules. These parents that go and send their kids to a camp that is not bilblically sound, they will reap for what they sow and much prayer is needed for the youth of today for I am afraid that they will be facing a tougher battle than we are today when it comes to sin.

I have done my homework. The entire camp is not about the "Day of the Dead"... but, as I added a commentary to the original post, I wrote "The article link about the camp and their covert mission did seem dramatic... but then why would a Christian camp allow such teaching? It seems like such a HUGE compromise of truth."
There really is way too much to weed through there. This is not about legalism and the holier than thou mentality. It is about Biblical discernment for the sake of my children.

This post was put in Challies a-la-carte, August 3rd post. Go there if you want to see some of the comments. There is insight from people that either went or went in the past to this music festival that was called a youth camp in error... perhaps because it was heavily advertised to youth. However, they have some good insight.
For those who are sending me e-mails about your disturbing experiences at the festival, I want to encourage you further to prayerfully send such things to the people that put on the festival... seasoned with grace.

By His grace alone... His servant for His glory,
Lisa

Yeah...Cornerstone isn't a camp at all. It's a music festival...

No offense Lisa, but I honestly laughed at that article. Dwayna Litz is an entertaining writer, but I honestly cannot take her seriously. Complaining that 'kids were wearing black' or that there were 'lots of tatoos' or that nobody wanted to sing a hymn in the arts tent? Come ON! Black clothes and tatoos are admittedly symptoms of problems (SOME TIMES), and in an environment with almost all young kids, singing hymns would problably never be popular!

As for the actual content of the teaching, you may want to check this out:

http://www.cornerstonefestival.com/imaginarium/2006/

It kinda explains what they were TRYING to do...and I'll agree that they're off their NUT, but calling it 'necromancy' isn't exactly accurate.

Now as for the CBE stuff, yeah. I'm fully with you on that. That's a total attack on the scriptures. Apparently, from what I've read HERE:

http://www.cornerstonefestival.com/forum/index.cfm?FTVAR_SUBCAT=8&nocookies=y&subcatname=CornerstoneYou%20(seminars)

and HERE:

http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/events/Cstone_06_Summary.shtml

Cornerstone has changed from being the Christian Rock Festival that I've known it to be into an "Egalitangelism" (Egalitarian Evangelism...I like making up words!) festival. And with a tent staff that comprised of a Princeton MDiv student, A Duke Divinity School ThM student and a chapel coordinator, it's no wonder they're theology was tied with Boy George for 76,000th place on the scale of orthodoxy.

Those wacked out hippies at JPUSA have joined forces with the Evangelical Covenant Church, thrown their hermeneutics out the window, embraced frou-frou theology and have definitely crossed the line with this hokey heresy garbage. I feel like going on their wussie forums and establishing dominance, but I won't. That is always fun, but it never produces much fruit besides a headache. I'm never financially supporing Rez again though.

I am VERY angry now, and I have to sleep! DANG IT! I'm guessing you don't know about JPUSA and The Rez Band, but I grew up listening to that band (they're one of my favorites). I'll still listen to them, but it kinda stinks that they support stuff that so anti-biblical. Dag nab it Lisa! ARGH! This is like finding out that John MacArthur is a tongue's speaking charismatic! It's not the end of the world, but THAT would be a CRAZY let-down! Okay. I've gotta GET OFF this internet and pray for a while.

You know by now I don't get easily offended, Armchair. If I did, I wouldn't be a blogger... and I would have deleted this post. But there is too much to learn from here. I do appreciate the links.

By the way, you probably noticed that your comment did not get published right away. That is because when someone adds links to their comment, I have to approve of their comment before it gets published. Kinda learned that was necessary the hard way.

:-/

Yeah, I've gathered that you have thick skin. I apologize if I was insulting. That article was good and all, and the Egalitarian stuff was quite troubling, but it was just that some of those first comments were so stereotypically 'conservative'.

Complaining about black clothes and tatoos and whatnot is the kinda 'cure cancer with a gunshot' approach that I used to get from many church people when I worked in a youth drop in center. That makes me laugh because it's such a non-christian view of troubled kids. Christ saw the sinner and tackled the SIN problem; he wasn't into behaviour modification. Everytime you see a 'goth' kid, or a kid dressed in black, or some freaky 'whatever' kid, they expect you to judge them and tell them to change whatever it is that they offend you with.

If you deal with the heart problems (give them the gospel) and show them love, the clothes/tatoos/body piercings/whatever takes care of itself. The whole 'Oh dear! They're wearing black!" attitude only innoculates kids against Christianity; when they expect pharisaism and find it, they get a "been there, done that" attitude regarding Christianity.

I love goth kids and metal heads and freaks...those kids are awesome. They need Christ as much as anyone else, and honestly, Satanists are sometimes the easiest kids to evangelize. The despairing and discouraged already know all about sin, and the 'good news' is THAT much more fantastic to many of them!

You may also find it funny that I'm quite a 'straight laced' guy; I'm usually shirt and tie and yet, I also enjoy putting on black clothes and going to a crazy power metal concert. Around 3 weeks after I arrive at Master Seminary and start attending Grace Community Church, I'm going to a DragonForce show. I hope that doesn't make me a sinner...I'll probably give somebody the gospel while I stand in line. Happened at the Sonata Arctica show in Calgary! I ended up at a Denny's with 2 strangers, talking about Jesus! HA!

Anyway, it's bedtime.

Me having no clue about this, etc. was more a comment of naive ignorance not a response as seen in the link of unrighteous judgement because they wear such attire and have spiky hair, etc. My heart is for the spread of the Gospel... and if you read my last comment at the Challies post in his a-la-carte about this, you would see that we are likeminded regarding "If you deal with the heart problems (give them the gospel) and show them love, the clothes/tatoos/body piercings/whatever takes care of itself."
I was a very discouraged and despairing child and teen. I knew all about sin and was heeped in it blatantly with an I don't care attitude. That is why when the Lord so transformed my heart and life, my love became sharing this hope within me.
This musical festival is not for our family because of the teaching, not becuase of kids dressed in black.
I appreciate your insite here... I do not know if I have thick skin. You were not insulting. Trust me.

Right on.

"If you deal with the heart problems (give them the gospel) and show them love, the clothes/tatoos/body piercings/whatever takes care of itself. The whole 'Oh dear! They're wearing black!" attitude only innoculates kids against Christianity; when they expect pharisaism and find it, they get a "been there, done that" attitude regarding Christianity."

Amen. As I expressed at Challies, I *am* concerned about the direction JPUSA has gone, do believe that there are legitimate issues that need to be (and are being) raised. I don't believe I'm the one to do so. Neither do I believe, from reading her Cstone report, that Ms. Litz is the one to do so.

Having had dear friends with amazing hearts for the Lord, who were in bands and so forth and didn't "look" right by some peoples standards, I do judge Ms. Litz and the like for being narrowminded about the "types" of people she saw at Cstone.

(Then again, I was always the goody-two-shoes. . . *L*)

Hey Tulipgirl... I really enjoy your comments here. Especially on this post. I agree about Ms. Litz. She did present some alarming things that others with more credibility have confirmed. But truly there is a better way. I am the last person in the world that should be a narrow-minded legalist.
But I pray I never compromise the Gospel. And if I do, I pray more fervently that I repent.
Thank you.
By His grace alone... His servant for His glory,
Lisa