There's chains on their wings

(this may be lengthy for some)

When a bird breaks way through it's containment it's hard not to notice the look in it's eyes. It's eyes have a bright, fresh look with nothing but expectancy. The future begins now!

One other thing that's hard not to notice is it's very rough, feather soaked look that it has. Abruptly putting it, it's ugly. It's young, doesn't really understand everything about it's new job of this nest thing. Maybe it's steps aren't too strong. But through mentoring of it's parent and nature in time the young bird finally finds it's groove. New understanding and meaning happens. A place of belonging is born.

But then what about these attachments on both sides. What do I do with them? I see what Mama is doing, but look at mine, they're too small. I'm not strong enough to really even move them very fast. But as time progresses, weeks and perhaps even months in some cases, the young birds continue to exercise their wings with brisk flapping, while some even experience falling out of the nest only to be rescued by it's mother.

Finally there's the day. The day that the nest is no longer home. The place of refuge and safety under the wings of another have come to an end. Today, you learn how to fly. Often times before that young bird wants to it's carried from the nest on the back of it's mother into the vast, open skies. It must fly.

In a bird's life there is no question as to what they're designed to do. They have to fly, someway, somehow in order to survive they have to fly.

There's a stark difference in the way the Church treats our young. Mind you I've only been in truth for 9 years, so I don't know everything. But I do know what I've saw first hand and experienced personally. Our young that feels a call to fly above their un-biblical family lifestyles, to change the world that they live in, they have a zeal that's fresh, bright eyed and full of expectancy. But oh wait....they're just coming out of their containment, they're still kind of ugly and well, maybe we shouldn't get too carried away here. After all, what if they mess up? What if this and what if that? Before you know it chains are being slowly placed over their wings. The very things that can lift them out of their traditional family lifestyles have become bound with chains.

That burning zeal is now cold ash, maybe their family lifestyle wasn't so bad and yeah, the expectancy...maybe I was just too carried away in my emotions. At last we've finally tightened the chains tight enough to settle them down. Maybe they won't come to me now with ideas or suggestions. I got tired of dealing with that. We'll do it our way, God has blessed us. Then finally, when you enter the nest on Sunday morning or Wednesday night.....but what happened? It wasn't time for them to leave the nest!

Could it be that the reason we can look up into the sky and see flocks of birds flying in perfect harmony is that they propel their young into the realm that God called them to? What would happen if the Apostolic movement embraced this idea of using what God has given us? Those young people that aren't so pretty right now, but if given an opportunity to do what God has called them to do can mature into something spectacular.

My heart is heavy tonight, as it has been for most of this year over this topic, and many others really concerning our movement. I am saddened and spiritually depressed when I look into the skies and see a flock of birds and look into our churches to find only the remnants of old chains. This brings me to a very familiar portion of scripture in I Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth;.....

I'm pleading to a generation of leaders in our movement, though this will not be well received by most, to yes, preach and instill the doctrine of one God, Acts 2:38 Salvation, Holiness living and separation from the world. These are non-negotiable! But please use the most valuable asset that God has given you. They may be ugly now, but God has called them for such a time as this. Encourage them. Bless them. Lead them. And throw the chains away.

After all, it's hard for them to fly with chains on their wings.

Building the Kingdom,

Brian Young