Do I dare call them tenets of the faith? Considering their faith is founded on their own works, I think I dare not. This is my first post in a series on what Rick Boyer spoke on at the conference. I have really felt like I need to address these things one by one.
Falsehood: Youth Groups Are Bad
Our youth ministry is large. We have 120-150 students, grades 6-12, each Wednesday evening. Of these, less than half are regular Sunday church attenders. I estimate 2/3 are not followers of Christ, or at least they don’t walk what they claim to follow. And the majority of these unchurched kids also have unsaved parents who do not attend church. This mission field is wide open.
The patriocentric men will say “You should never expose your children to others who don’t follow Christ!” But Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations” Mark 28:19. We do not disciple those who are following Christ closely; we disciple those who are far from him. The unbelievers. It would be an unfruitful church indeed, who overlooks this truth. Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17.
To isolate students completely from the entire world is unhealthy! That isn’t to say we cannot INsolate them, but what that entails is giving them the tools to reach others while ALSO giving them the foundation and protection to work from. As Pastor Jack Brooks stated in a comment here “We should re-study what the Bible teaches about the “separated” lifestyle, so that we know what it means to stay unspotted by the world, versus being afraid [of motocross jerseys and a little lip gloss.]” Without our youth group, I know of many kids by name who would have never darkened the door of any church, never mind ours. And they are on fire for God!
Youth groups serve a valuable purpose: To teach students about Christ, disciple them, and show them how to live for Christ through preaching, teaching, and living out their faith. There is no perfect youth group… but if you are a parent whose speciality is “Shred the youth pastor”, maybe you should try showing a little grace and get your hands a little dirty. Teenagers aren’t scary. Most of them feel under-appreciated, especially when the world is telling them that their purpose in life is to act as immature and stupid as possible, while seeking a rockstar lifestyle. What they really want is to be noticed for who they are, as well as what they can contribute.
You cannot hide your kids away from the world. They must learn to function IN it, but that doesn’t mean they are OF it. And reaching others for Christ not only teaches them leadership, but it also gives them PURPOSE, to serve God and glorify Him. The only father we are to glorify is our Heavenly Father.
A youth ministry will only be as good as its leadership, set in the framework of the particular congregation out of which it operates. A bad youth group reflects bad pastoral leadership. But if we refuse to minister to teens who come from bad homes, how is that not unfaithfulness to Christ?
Of course it's true that "bad company corrupts good morals". Youth are prone to spread the worst sort of music and video media amongst themselves. Teens should be treated no differently than if an adult came into the church can started distributing pornography. You need rules. But part of developing spiritual maturity in a teen is to aim at developing the ability to discern good from bad, and also the ability to resist peer pressure. But parents who unconditionally refuse to let their children socialize with children who are raised differently from them are denying the unity of the Gospel.
Jack you are absolutely correct! I can add that even if the youth pastor isn't 100% the ideal, if there are a large number of parents involved in the ministry, it can still be a place where their faith will be strengthened. (I have to say we love our YP and he is fantastic!) Our kids have to know the difference between living a Godly life and living for the world. Teach them that, and they will be so much further ahead than some adults that I know. They key here isn't in the isolation, it is in the relationships between the leadership and the students, and then the relationships (Christ-affirming) between the students themselves. Our youth group has an awesome core group of 20 adult staff (all but a few are parents), two youth pastors and their wives, plus 4 college interns and a few other parents who are in and out during various different things. We meet monthly and are constantly seeking better ways to reach our students. We don't throw anyone "to the wolves".
I love what you said about INsulating our children rather than Isolating them. I heard that years ago, and it has stuck in my brain. Our children do have to live IN this world. They are commanded to. So it is my job to teach them how to live IN the world and not be OF the world. If I never give them the opportunity to live in the world while they are under my teaching and guidance, how will they learn?