Young People are not what they were!!! The press loves to make that kind of statement when they report yet another example of unruly behaviour.
Two thoughts arise. Unruly behaviour by adults rarely gets reported and not all young people behave in unruly ways. But I wonder if such reporting gives rise to the perception that young people are generally out of control and always behave badly at school or in public. A group of young people together ‘having fun’ can appear quite daunting, but it’s often quite harmless if a little more noisy than most adult gatherings.
More seriously, I think it has given rise to the impression that young people are a threat to our churches — they don’t quite fit the mould and need to be kept in a sealed box labelled ‘youth group’.
Desire to know more
I have recently finished another year in youth ministry at the Keswick Convention. One morning I led a seminar on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. I was struck by the response of the young people and their desire to know more. I taught for a short time but was soon involved in detailed questioning from them and all the questions came from a genuine desire to know the truth.
I have since received emails asking for comments, references and notes on issues raised that day. As I reflected on that seminar I had a great sense of privilege to be with such a great bunch. I have met many young people like that who really want to serve God and follow in his ways.
There are certain learning models with which we are familiar and where we are most comfortable. At the core of the church’s task is to preach the word. But many of our young people are living in a world where questioning is part of their educational experience.
Taught to question
No one, they are told, has sole ownership of objective truth and so the act of questioning is part of their learning process. It is also noticeable that people came to Jesus and asked his views on subjects of their day. In some of my research about why young people are leaving the church, one reason often given is that nobody would answer their questions. Young people who spend their working days in a predominantly secular humanist environment will have serious questions when they come up against a Christian worldview. Some of our Keswick young people were struggling to work out how they should live their lives when they are surrounded by people with different ethical views. One person was really struggling with environmental issues because she had dared to say in a school discussion that God made the world and it was our responsibility to care for it.
Help in understanding
I thank God when young people come and ask questions. They need biblical answers to deal with the other views they are getting. Our sessions with them need to include some opportunities to air their doubts and the things they have heard in other places. This may be particularly true for young people who come from homes where parents are not Christians. That can be a tough call and they deserve our support.
I am excited about the possibilities of youth ministry for the future. Of course there are some young people who hit the newspaper headlines, but they are a small minority. Most of them want help in understanding their identity and why they are on planet earth. Part of that process will be giving them time to air their doubts and questions. Jesus did that for people in his day — so should we and not be like the youth leader who said ‘I’ve told you what it says — just do it’.
