Monthly column for youth leaders

I am increasingly convinced that Paul was an excellent first century youth leader. Younger men accompany him at various stages on his journeys and we know that young people came to listen to him.

The account of Eutychus in Acts 20 sounds like a youth meeting - they even fell asleep back then! Timothy and Titus, the two most well known of Paul's proteges, are both young men. Paul was their role model and his letters to them emphasise their similar positions within their churches. Paul knew the value of good role models, he tells them about the importance of setting an example to other believers, notably younger men (Titus 2.6-7 & 1 Timothy 4.12). Paul also encouraged a system of role models within the churches (see Titus 2).

Nature or nurture?

The idea of role models is not lost on us today. We are all too aware of the good and bad ones that surround our young people. As youth leaders the concept of being a 'role model' presents two questions: are we providing good role models for our young people and do we realise young people will follow our lead whether it is good or bad? We will deal with the second question first.

Psychologists argue at length over whether behaviour is innate (nature) or learned by watching others (nurture). Those that hedge their bets usually suggest that the answer is a bit of both. So whether you are a youthful or more mature youth leader, whether you think you are trendy or not, whether you imagine you have the right answers or not, your youth group learns from your example.

You are a guru (in the spiritual leader, but not eastern religion sense!) If you're like me, all sorts of warning bells should now be sounding in your mind. I have all sorts of character flaws that are best kept under wraps and not copied in any way, ever. What about all those horrid bits?

Personality cult

If we were to teach through example young people would grow up in all sorts of trouble - beware, many folks do adhere to this 'incarnational' model of youth work - it's the idea that if we spend enough time doing anything at all with them, all our good bits will rub off on the young people! Taken to an extreme this is called a 'personality cult'. At the everyday, you and me level, it is the wrong way round to minister amongst young people. We must teach Jesus as the ultimate role model. We need to learn invisibility. To the Thessalonians Paul writes: 'You became imitators of us and of the Lord'. Ultimately Paul did not want anyone to become his follower, but Christ's.

But as we teach the Bible to young people we inevitably discover that our life is on display with all its ups, downs, twists and turns. Although we must turn invisible as we teach the foundation for our faith, the Lord Jesus, all the teaching in the world will appear hollow if our lives don't match up. So we need to make sure that we model good Christian living. Does what we teach line up with reality? Or in the words of Hebrews 13.7 is our faith imitable?

What a fantastic encouragement this verse is for us to be rock solid role models. 'Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.' It could have been specifically written for youth leaders. Could it be that in the future your youth group look back and remember you in this way?

Individuals

Now back to the first question: are we providing good role models for our children and young people? Take a step back and consider the wider ministry of the church among youth. Many people will be involved, youngsters will relate better to certain leaders than to others. This question is a wider one.

As you think of individual young people, are there some that particularly need a role model? Perhaps they need someone of the same sex to relate to in a Christian setting because this doesn't happen at home; or someone just a year or two older, whose behaviour is good example. Maybe they need a peer group member to encourage and inspire them.

It is a challenge at the best of times to organise leaders, meetings and young people. So organising role models may seem like a backbreaking straw. Putting them in place is therefore more of a long-term, strategic plan. Talk about it with your fellow leaders. Pray about it.

Remember that the main aim is to teach the ultimate role model, Jesus, the pioneer and blueprint of our faith.

Role models

Nature or nurture?

Personality cult

Individuals

Roger Fawcett

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