“Imagine” was former Beatle John Lennon’s agnostic anthem from his 1971 album of the same name. Here, Pastor Paul Turner applies Lennon’s song to the task of reimagining youth ministry. “What if John Lennon were a youth pastor?” asks Turner. “I could see him and Yoko protesting naked in the pastor’s parking spot.” Turner also asks: “What could we do with a reimagined, God-shaped worldview?” Turner’s concluding thought: “Youth workers of the world unite!… But keep your clothes on.”
“ReImagine”
Words by Paul Turner (with apologies to John Lennon)
Reimagine there’s no pastor;
It’s easy if you try—
No deacons below us,
Above us only sky.
Reimagine all the people
Living for Yahweh…
Reimagine there’s no staff meetings;
It isn’t hard to do—
Nothing to kill or die for,
No budget cuts, too.
Reimagine all the youth and grannies
Living life in peace…
Reimagine no fundraisers;
I wonder if you can—
No need for lock-ins or carwashes,
A brotherhood of man.
Reimagine all the people
Sharing all the Word…
You may say I’m a dreamer;
But I’m not the only one.
I hope some day you’ll join the
reimagined youth group,
And the world will live as one.
