QUALIFICATIONS
FOR BECOMING A CAMP COUNSELOR
Our camp counselors generally come from our youngest two
generations. Related to the “5
Generation Slide,” our two youngest generations are not far enough removed from
one another that what they think, say, and do, generally approximate one
another. And while our counselors may
be saved, and mean well, they are frequently naïve or lack complete understanding
about what constitutes common sense thinking, speech, and activity. As “Mr. Morton Sir” so appropriately states,
“If Jesus didn’t think it, say it, or do it,” then don’t you think it, say it,
or do it.
It has been stated over-and-over again that counselors are
the backbone of our camps because of the relational contact they have with our
campers throughout the week of camp, and this is why it is not just important,
it should be mandatory that anyone seeking to become a camp counselor should have
their spiritual lives together. The
counselor’s job is not to lower his/her standards to associate with the younger
campers under his/her guidance. It is
to be a role model, emulating the life of Jesus Christ – what he would think,
what He would say, and what He would do in all circumstances. All too often, camp counselors drop their
guard and compromise their thinking, speech, and actions with the belief that
if they become like the camper, they can “reach the camper” for Christ. This is not God’s plan for reaching anyone
for Christ.
To the male counselors, it is necessary to say that the use
of foul language, cursing, taking the Name of the Lord in vane, the use of “four
letter words,” the use of words referring to sex or body functions, and the general
use of “expletives” is inappropriate for any born-again believer. This is “old-man” function, not “new-man”
function. The use of such language
toward or in the presence of a junior or teen camper will not be tolerated and will
be cause to remove that counselor from “counselor status” to “camper status.” The fact that we have grown up using this
type of language, or used it while in the military is not justification to
continue its use as a born-again Christian.
To deem such language as “macho” or “manly” is to lack understanding of
what a “real man” is. When we as men
begin to catch a glimpse of the meaning of “Father, forgive them for they know
not what they do,” we’ll begin to understand the attitude of a “real man.” To deem such inappropriate language as appropriate
is simply part of the “5 Generation Slide” away from absolute truth into the abyss
of moral relativity that plagues our youngest generations. (This paragraph is not meant to be a
condemnation. It is meant to be an
encouragement to “grow-up” into the likeness of Christ Jesus our Lord. It was the Apostle Paul who said, “When I
was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child:
but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1 Corinthians
13:11 KJV).
The following criteria is set-forth for Christians whose
desire it is to serve AWFR 2006 as a camp counselor:
1. A
camp counselor must be a born-again Christian.
(This solves the problem of being spiritually lost before God.)
2. A
camp counselor must be clean before the Lord through confession of personal
sins. (This solves the problem of
“grieving the Holy Spirit.)
3. A
camp counselor must be yielded to God the Holy Spirit. (This solves the problem of not being
“yielded to the flesh.”)
4. A
camp counselor must be applying all the pertinent doctrine resident in his/her
soul. (This solves the problem of
“quenching the Spirit.)
5. A
camp counselor’s teaching/counsel/witness to camper’s under his/her guidance
must be consistent with this camp’s “Doctrinal Statement.” (This solves the problem of disunity of
doctrinal fellowship.)
6 Inappropriate
language, as indicated above, will not be tolerated. (This fulfills the mandate: “But now you yourselves are to put off
all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your
mouth. (Colossians 3:8 NKJV)
7. Follow
any other spur-of-the-moment-guideline that must be implemented when the common
sense factor is lacking. (This recognizes
the lack of the “common sense” factor.)
Thanks in
advance to all of you who are willing to serve as camp counselors.
Respectfully,
Dr. Jim