A Call for Discernment: Theater, Trend, and Truth in Youth Ministry

By Brent Madaris

Independent Baptists across the nation find themselves once again in a familiar place: stunned by youth conferences and evangelists who, under the banner of evangelism and revival, promote musical styles, worship methods, and leadership models that appear at odds with biblical principle and practice.

A conversation has broken out in churches, across social media platforms, text threads, and quiet pastoral gatherings—conversations stirred not by controversy for controversy’s sake, but by a sobering realization: something is changing, and the music is only the surface.

At the heart of the present concern is a youth conference, recently held in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Featuring widely known and platformed preachers, this event has become one of the most visible gatherings among Independent Baptists. Yet, in recent years, the conference has adopted increasingly theatrical elements. These changes are not isolated—they reflect a larger movement in tone, style, and spiritual substance that deserves sober reflection. This youth conference, alongside events featuring other speakers, has left many asking: How did we arrive here, and how should we respond?

This article is neither an exposé nor a polemic. It is a pastoral letter—a plea for clarity, courage, conviction, and correction rooted in a Scripture-based ministry philosophy and centered on Christ. It is a desire to remind us that:

• Our ministry must not be clever, but Christlike.

• Our message must not be trendy, but timeless.

• Our passion must not be for crowds, but for Christ.

• Our goal is not to impress, but to impact.

• We are not called to entertain, but to edify.

• The pulpit is not for performance, but for proclamation.

• We must trade gimmicks for the gospel.

• Our ministry must not cater to worldliness, but call to holiness.

• We are not called to manipulate minds, but to minister to hearts.

In the rising fog of postmodern church culture, a growing movement within Independent Baptist youth ministries has exchanged biblical clarity for cultural currency. Many youth gatherings today increasingly resemble a theatrical/concert event rather than a gospel-centered evangelism/discipleship ministry.

Though some may object to critique on the grounds that “people are getting saved,” biblical discernment demands more than counting decisions. The apostle Paul expressed concern not only for initial conversions, but for what those converts were being taught and conformed into (Gal 4:19; Col 1:28–29). The concern here is not whether youth ministry is happening, but what kind of youth ministry is being modeled—and whether it reflects the New Testament pattern or the spirit of the age.

The Danger of Applause

In a previous article, When the Applause Becomes Armor,¹ I proposed that when a leader’s success—and the praise that often follows—takes center stage, it can serve as a protective barrier against necessary rebuke or correction. When this occurs, the ministry has, to a significant extent, lost its capacity for reform. When the spotlight blinds us to compromise, we risk becoming pragmatists—so driven by perceived outcomes that we ignore whether or not the methods employed are biblical or unbiblical. Some ministries will attempt to walk a razor-thin line utilizing methods that skirt the edges of worldliness/biblical acceptability without going full-blown contemporary.

This spirit is perhaps most clearly seen in the celebrity-driven atmosphere of ARISE. One of this year’s keynote preachers has recently drawn concern for his visible embrace of contemporary worship aesthetics. Video footage from a “Contemporary Music Night” service reveals elements such as purple stage lighting, rhythm-driven music, and a concert-like environment—features that earlier generations of Independent Baptists would have unequivocally rejected.²

In a separate video, when vaguely addressing the controversy, a glowing report was given referencing a conference where reportedly 1,200 students were in attendance, with approximately 70 recorded professions of faith.³ These results were cited in public commentary by him as a counterargument against criticisms of his worship methods, implying that tangible spiritual fruit vindicates his ministry strategy. In the same video, he dismissed the concerns raised about his actions at his church as mere “noise,” stating, “I don’t pay attention to noise.” He further remarked, “I have postponed my response to the Judgment Seat of Christ. I answer to one person, and that’s my judge.”

Reports of conversions, rededications, and surrender to service have been used to:

• Suggest that numerical success somehow neutralizes concerns over worship methodology and ministry philosophy.

• Frame critics as lacking vision or fruit. They are sometimes being characterized even as enemies. See discussion later in this article.

• Shift focus from worship style to results.

While every salvation is cause for praise, this type of pseudo-defensive language is a deflection from the legitimate concerns that are being raised. When one sees stage lights and smoke, paired with emotionally charged music, and even secular cinematic themes, it raises legitimate questions about what message is actually being preached and what discipleship is being modeled.

A Rebuttal to the “Fruit-Proves-All” Argument

Defenders of ARISE and similar conferences often respond to criticism by pointing to high attendance numbers and reported salvations. One social media user remarked to those who were critical, “Why don’t you start your own Teen Conference, and then we can critique you?” and proceeded to celebrate “thousands of teens hearing the gospel and hundreds getting right with God.”

However, another user, a pastor, offered a thoughtful rebuttal: “We do rejoice over anyone being saved, and we can at the same time be concerned about what is being modeled for those who are saved. It’s called discipleship.”⁴

This exchange highlights a crucial truth: rejoicing over results does not preclude raising concerns about methods. In fact, biblical discipleship requires both celebration of fruit and accountability in process.

This is the heart of the issue. Discipleship doesn’t start after the theatrics; it is happening during the theatrics. The music, the lighting, the platforming of certain personalities—these are forming the spiritual imaginations of the next generation. And sadly, what is being modeled is a form of Christianity built on trendiness and emotional hype rather than biblical sobriety and holiness (Titus 2:6–8; Romans 12:2).

Blurring the Line Between Sacred and Secular

What place does a secular superhero soundtrack have in a supposed sacred assembly? Such theatrics would be unthinkable in the ministries of Paul or Peter. We do not see Spurgeon or Moody—or even more recent Baptist voices like Oliver Greene—blending worldly entertainment with the holy gospel.

While the Apostle Paul used cultural connection points (Acts 17:22–23), he never built ministry on the emotional highs of performance or ambience. His preaching was marked by truth in demonstration of the Spirit and of power (1 Cor 2:4), not the manufactured energy of atmosphere.

Celebrity Platforms and Theatrical Discipleship

The preachers who headline the ARISE event are an interesting mix of youth and years. In a candid video recently released, CT Townsend addressed critics directly. He insisted that he is not Charismatic: “I've never spoken in tongues. I don't plan on speaking in tongues. I don't operate with visions and external words from God." He also said, "I will die preaching from a King James Bible... deeply, by conviction, I preach from a King James Bible." He described his love for the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sound—adding, “That's what I've always loved. That's who I am. That's what I want and that's what we're gonna do. That’s just the style I like.” He further identified Dr. Joe Arthur and Dr. Ralph Sexton Jr. as his mentors, stating that these are "men that I'm accountable to." A biting rebuke came at the end of his video, specifically aimed at Kim critics: “I refuse to let Sanballat or Tobiah hinder us from what God has called us to do this week.”⁵

What does all of this tell us? Townsend’s influence comes not just from doctrine, but from association, worship style, and a posture that treats critical voices as enemies—not corrections. While disavowing Charismatic doctrine, Townsend affirmed a Charismatic style. While rejecting tongues and visions, he embraced emotional, atmosphere-driven worship forms. And most concerning of all, he invoked Nehemiah’s enemies as a metaphor for anyone raising concern. When critics of certain elements of ARISE are compared to Sanballat and Tobiah, the adversaries who opposed Nehemiah’s work to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, this metaphor frames the whole conversation in an adversarial rather than collegial framework.

Yet, might it be added, if the conversation is going there, then the biblical Nehemiah model also teaches valuable lessons for today’s church:

• He heeded Scripture and godly counsel—listening carefully to Ezra and the law of God.

• He showed a bold willingness to confront error within the covenant community, holding leaders accountable and correcting compromises with conviction grounded in Scripture.

• He prioritized the mission above personal reputation, willing to face slander and opposition for the sake of the work.

The question we must ask ourselves is: Are we, in identifying critics as “enemies,” willing to humbly examine the concerns raised? Or are we risking the isolation of truth by dismissing all critique as hostility? A faithful leader, like Nehemiah, balances boldness with humility, discernment with openness, and courage with teachability. There is no wall so important that it justifies scorning biblical discernment.

While each of these men who are involved may preach orthodox gospel messages, their methods mirror the stagecraft of modern culture, which is infecting the broader evangelical movement of our day (including Independent Baptists)—leveraging music, ambience, and crowd dynamics to elicit response. The issue is not merely stylistic. These methods shape theology and theological expression. They catechize young people into thinking that power is found in performance, crowds, and platforms, not in the Word rightly preached and applied.

Platforms In Need Of Discernment

Although the roots of this movement lie elsewhere, it has gained prominence, in part, through platforms extended by historically conservative institutions. Influential figures such as Townsend, Baldwin, Sexton Jr., and Arthur have been featured in chapel services and conferences hosted by ministries known for their firm stand on biblical separation and reverent worship. These institutions have done great good, and many faithful servants of God have been trained within their walls. But their continued endorsement of the leaders/influencers of these theatrical ministries—without evident critique or correction of the emerging errors in their ministry styles and emphases—now threatens to tarnish the very stand they champion.

If these institutions fail to exercise discernment in whom they promote, they risk becoming complicit in the very drift they once sought to resist. In such matters, silence is not neutrality.

If this pattern continues unchecked, it risks compromising the historic positions and reputations of these institutions. At the same time, these colleges/conferences retain the potential to reaffirm biblical distinctives and exercise necessary corrective oversight, thereby helping to steer ministries back toward sound doctrine and practice, reclaiming theological clarity.

Is There Any Christologic or Apostolic Support for this Approach to Ministry?

When we juxtapose the Christologic/Apostolic pattern of ministry against what is now regularly seen on the youth ministry stage, the difference is stark. Neither Christ, nor any of the Apostles, including Paul manipulated mood through lighting. None ever delivered gospel truth in a fog-lit room. You may say, "Well, they didn't have those things." That is not the point. The point is that we do not see them doing anything in their cultural context that is even remotely familiar to what is going on today in some circles. The early church grew not through sensationalism, theatrics, or cleverness, but through apostolic doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42). Their gatherings were marked by reverence, not recreation; by Spirit-empowered preaching, not emotional pageantry, choreography, worldly thematic devices, or any other such thing.

The Way Forward

It is not enough to decry. We must rebuild. Faithful youth ministry must be rooted in Spirit-filled preaching, godly mentoring, earnest prayer, and joyful/biblical worship. It must reject the allure of performance and recover the weightiness of truth.

Let us be clear: we praise God for every genuine salvation and surrender. But that cannot become armor against correction. If we care about the next generation, we must care not only that they come to Christ—but how they are brought to Him and what kind of Christianity they are brought into.

For the Sake of the Next Generation: A Call to Clarity. A Concise Path Back.

We must act decisively to restore the glory of God among us,:

• Center worship on biblical truth, not atmosphere. Remove the "stage lights" that obscure true holiness. Proclaim Christ not with gimmicks, but with grace and truth.

• Value accountability over applause.

• Raise youth to test ministry by Scripture, not sensation.

• Affirm institutions when they uphold biblical oversight and challenge them when they don't.

When the music wants to change, theology must anchor; when culture seeks to shift us, biblical convictions must endure. May God grant our churches, colleges, and ministry platforms the courage to entrust the next generation with a gospel uncompromised, unshaken, and undefiled.

Turabian-Style Footnotes

1. Brent Madaris, “When the Applause Becomes Armor: Confronting the Spirit of Pragmatic Triumphalism,” The Hometown Hope Theological Forum, accessed July 17, 2025, https://www.hometownhopeministriesinc.com/post/when-the-applause-becomes-armor-confronting-the-spirit-of-pragmatic-triumphalism.

2. Contemporary Music Night, YouTube video, 1:48:03, streamed live by New Life Church, July 15, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/live/JPz9L5VcPCA?si=hUB0njUSvImx8-8j.

3. Kenny Baldwin, video post, Facebook, July 2025, accessed July 23, 2025, https://www.facebook.com/tiffanymdelp/videos/1435317947888260.

4. Twitter/X posts by Evangelist Tim Lee and William Tyson, July 19, 2025, accessed July 23, 2025.

5. CT Townsend, video post, Facebook, July 2025, accessed July 23, 2025, https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=saved&v=1497789638245926.

   
   

Scripture References

• Galatians 4:19 — Paul labors to see Christ formed in believers.

• Colossians 1:28–29 — Ministry aims at maturity, not mere decisions.

• 1 Corinthians 2:4 — Power is not in human wisdom but the Spirit.

• Acts 17:22–23 — Paul used cultural reference, not compromise.

• Romans 12:2 — Be not conformed to the world.

• Titus 2:6–8 — Young men must be taught soberness and sound speech.

• Acts 2:42 — The church devoted itself to the apostles’ doctrine.