How did Formal Commitment Start in JY? (BJMM042)

 

How did commitment and recommitment start in JY?

Commitment was understood as a personal characteristic or quality, and members of the Movement were always advised and exhorted to have that quality. This has often been understood as being regular in spiritual observances, present in community and life, and eager and active in leadership duties or missionary activities.

In connection with our discussions on membership, this idea slowly evolved and took shape. Even from 1985, there was a question: who is a member of Jesus Youth? A person who was part of Jesus’ community or prayer group was presumed to be a member. In 1985, we started saying that anyone part of a Jesus Youth Cell was a member. Thus, in 1987, the conference (Jesus Youth 87) was limited to Jesus Youth alone, so only those who were part of a JY cell were allowed to participate. But, again, there was no formal form of commitment in use but an implied commitment, with an understanding of the leaders who had a list of people in the cell.

Interestingly, hundreds of cells were formed in preparation for the 1987 conference, but we hardly heard anything about it later. We understood that that approach was a failure and felt amused. The movement's leaders even concluded that such rigid membership patterns do not work with a movement like ours. 

Was there any formal commitment? 

Yes, there was a practice in the LSS and Charismatic initial retreats to have a written Commitment Form that the person was given earlier, read, understood, and signed when praying for the baptism in the spirit, BHS. This was called Commitment to Christ, which people would sign and keep with them. This practice was there from the time we started our journey in 1976.

The three commitments 

As we discussed the journey of formation, we came upon the four stages or phases (except the fifth one, which is perhaps not applicable to everyone): the first phase is a journey of search, the second is the initial journey in Christ, the third is growing as a disciple, and the fourth is bearing fruit as a missionary.

One insight I had at the beginning of clarifying our formation plans was that the Lord responds to every step of personal commitment with an outpouring of new graces. A person repeatedly recommits or renews the step of baptism, and the Lord responds each time with His new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Though this is somewhat general, there can be steps of a formal commitment with deeper and broader implications.

Though this long journey comprising four stages or phases is continuous, a person can still take a conscious step forward by professing a decision and its verbal expression and commitment, which can be presumed and marked as the beginning of another phase of the journey.

So, the first big step can be moving from the search phase to a commitment to accept Jesus into one’s life. Of course, this is the first renewal of the baptismal graces, and we call it BHS. We have always known this in the charismatic movement as the commitment to Christ.

The second leap comes when a person realizes the need for a deeper walk with the Lord, to be a disciple, and takes a discipleship commitment, yet deeper renewal of baptism. Of course, this results in a little clearer following the Lord, participation with clarity in the community, and regularity in spiritual observances, which we call the six pillows in JY.

The third commitment is another deeper renewal of one’s baptism; this commitment to the Lord leads to the missionary commitment, opening one's life to be sent out by the Lord to bear fruit and be an active participant in Christ’s kingdom initiative. The movement sees this as a greater leadership commitment or readiness to take up greater responsibilities in the movement and the church.

Of course, we see the need for this commitment at three levels. Firstly, it is before the Lord, responding personally to the Lord’s call to offer themselves and to receive the Lord into one’s life, then to be a disciple and sent out. The second level is for clarity for the Christian himself or herself. In earlier days, we used to keep the paper signed to remind ourselves that we had committed formally to the Lord and accepted him as the Lord and master of one’s life. In the same way, these commitments are a formal reminder for one to clarify where one stands in the personal journey of faith. At the third level, this is an act in a social setting. In complex and involved ways, we are social beings. Commitment is external, telling the community and society what is important and where one stands. This is Like saying aloud one’s profession, education, or political leanings, in one sense. For Jesus Youth, the commitments have some implications in the community; this clarifies participation and fellowship for everyone.