Jesus said, "To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by all her children."
Leaders, have you ever felt as though everything you did to please people ending up failing? You try to encourage people and they still end up speaking negatively toward you. You preach love and they return with hate. You preach hate and they hate that as well. You serve, you give, you minister, you pour your life out and get no response.
This generation is like this: You play a song for them and they do not passionately worship. You sing a sad song and no one sheds a tear, nothing you do can truly please this generation because they will always find something to complain about. It is a cynical generation...
Take politics for example (I am not endorsing any party or person here): When Bush was in office everyone hated what he was doing, by the end of his presidency his approval rating was like -50. Along comes Obama, and most people loved him and hurried to get behind his vision for change in America. Fast forward to now, his approval rating is almost as bad as Bush's was.
My point: You can't please anyone. It is always the leader's fault when something goes wrong and no matter what is done the response is always the opposite.
John the Baptist and Jesus had this problem. John was the prime example of holiness. He set him self apart from the world in the wilderness, and the religious people (Pharisee and Teachers of the Law who prided themselves on being set apart) said he had a demon. Jesus hung out with people who the religious people wouldn't and he was shunned as a drunk.
-In ministry you are not going to be able to reach the lost and maintain good standing with the ones who consider themselves "too good" for those people.
-In ministry you are not going to be able to maintain a good relationship with the lost people and try to fit into the squeaky clean perfect church mold.
Maybe there is a balance??
Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones sang it this way: "I can't get no satisfaction." This seems to be the theme song of this generation. I wonder if people danced to this song?
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