Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. - (1 Timothy 4:12 KJV)
As I grow older and witness my young children growing older (both processes which seem to be speeding up exponentially!), I find it more and more impossible to ignore a problem that every parent and every church is facing--the noticeable lack of young adults in many of our congregations. A lot of churches have seen a resurgence of school-age children that are attending with their parents, but what happens in the late teenage years and early 20’s? The question must be asked: what is being neglected by ministers and members of the body of Christ? What are we not doing in our churches and homes that we should be doing? This article is by no means comprehensive, but hopefully it will stir up our thoughts about this important issue.
First, we must question if we are teaching the whole truth of God’s word. Are we equipping our young people for the many temptations and troubles that can ensnare them in adolescence and early adulthood? Oftentimes, we speak about godly behavior in generalities and never delve into specific scenarios that confront our young people in everyday life. This includes the temptations of peer pressure, the importance of chastity and purity, the dangers of alcohol or drugs, and the flaws of worldly philosophies. One of the great things about scriptural truth is that it does impact our behavior and equips us to battle the myriad difficulties that confront us in everyday life. ALL of God’s children are commanded to be examples of Christ, even young adults.
We must also make sure that our teenager/young adults are actively included in the fellowship of believers. If they demonstrate a genuine love for the Lord, then they have spiritual gifts and talents that can benefit the body of Christ. Singing, praying and teaching is not limited to the older folk. I have personally been greatly encouraged when a younger church member has offered a word of encouragement or engaged me in a spiritual conversation. They have much to offer to the body of Christ.
Our nature is to associate with those that are similar in age, personality and background. We miss out on many blessings and fellowship when we limit our fellowship thusly. I encourage you to step out of your ‘comfort zone’ and actively engage the young people around you, and all those who demonstrate an interest in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Again, clear communication and expectations should be maintained when interacting with our young adults. We have a tendency to assume that teenagers and twenty-somethings will not listen to counsel, so why bother engaging them? We err when we have this attitude. God’s wisdom is relevant to the old and young alike. If we fail to show interest in their lives, and neglect to help them build a Biblical foundation, then they will seek answers elsewhere. I confess that I have been neglectful in this avenue of discipleship. Many have despised the youth. God grant us mercy and strengthen us to do a better job in the future.
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