Monthly youth leaders column

In our young people's study group we are embarking next term on a series based on issues.

There's lots of good film titles around to use as themes, e.g. Love, actually, Anger Management, but that's not the reason. It is definitely something that we all need to tackle from time to time. It's a chance to move from head knowledge about the Bible, to the crunch of practically applying it in everyday life.

But the problem is that we will have to explain that some behaviour is incompatible with a Christian lifestyle. However you look at it, this will cause contention. What do you teach about morals and ethics? Is it clear? Are you getting through from the head to the heart?

Turn away

Paul is pretty clear in his letters. In Colossians 3 he talks about putting off the old self and putting on the new self. We must actually teach our groups to turn away from worldly attitudes and morals. It's a call to repentance, reminiscent of the first time that they turned to Christ and became Christians. How-ever, this might even be the first time that a teenager has had to make the conscious decision to go Christ's way and not their own or the world's way. So the teaching and the discussion must be as sensitive and as clear as an evangelistic talk or a 'just looking' group. Young people need help and support to make these big decisions.

No line drawing

The big thing that teenagers want from a talk on sex or alcohol is to know how far they can go. Young people love lines in the sand. The problem about drawing a line is that it encourages them to get as close to it as possible. That's a dangerous way to live as a Christian. The world is trying to educate young people. They have 'sex education' and 'drugs awareness' lessons. The emphasis is factual and the required response is very self-centred. 'Be good and if you can't be good, be careful' is the world's motto. That's the line.

There is no mention of Jesus, of course. We are constantly reminded in the New Testament to live self-controlled and godly lives (e.g. Titus 2). While we are still here, not yet in heaven, we should be living to please the Lord. So the question to challenge Christians with is not 'How far can you go before crossing a line?' but 'How can you live to please God in every way?'

Beware legalism

It's all too easy to give guidelines that end up sounding like a 'because I said so' kind of argument. This usually leads to one of two problems. Either a young person follows the guidelines when the youth leader is around, because what has actually been heard is 'do this to please me'. When the youth leader is not around the world's values will quickly be adopted. Or a young person understands the application as a box to be ticked and salvation becomes something that can be earned by ticking enough boxes and staying out of trouble.

Studies on issues must avoid sounding like the leader's ideas. We must be clear about the fact that it is God's Word that teaches. The youth leader must become invisible. We must be clear that our desire to please God is a response to what he has done for us, not something that notches up heavenly 'brownie points'.

A personal response

More than ever with teaching about moral issues, we must apply what the Bible teaches and help individuals to respond for themselves. It's too easy to hide in a group and to nod when everyone else nods. For this sort of teaching to really be effective young people must act on it personally. There are many ways to do this. For example, a personal promise, sealed in an envelope, to be opened only by the young person at a later date. Although I am not a fan of the W.W.J.D. merchandising it's something else that could help.

If your youth group is close enough you could introduce a 'Titus' scheme of accountability. An older Christian, a leader or member, pairs up with a younger group member. There is a two way responsibility. The older Christian sets a careful example for the younger, just as Titus was instructed to do by Paul. The younger Christian has a lead to follow and someone to talk to about specific issues personally. The pairs could meet regularly to pray and read the Bible. A similar sort of accountability is possible if you meet together in small groups of boys or girls.

Picking up pieces

Finally, let's be honest. We can't do it. The young people can't do it. If we could live as God wants us to, there would be no need for the cross. So let's make sure that we're ready to pick up the pieces when the young people fail. It's no good just chucking out some ideas and challenges and then not following it up. Have a spot in your meeting when you can bring up the difficulties of Christian living in the past week. Call it 'Pressure Point' or 'Us v. the World'. Kick off yourself with some honesty (surely your youth group don't think you're perfect, do they?).

Be ready for the more personal fallout. Make sure there is someone to talk to both girls and boys. Try to challenge everybody personally from time to time. Make sure that they come back to God in prayer rather than trying to carry the burden of failure. Bring it back to the cross each time. The huge difference between our faith and a PSE lesson at school is that we teach about a God who loves and forgives us and is ready to pick up the pieces.

Roger Fawcett

© Evangelicals Now - May 2004
Please consider supporting this ministry by subscribing.