Monthly youth leaders column

I find I keep coming back to a verse in 1 Peter 3.15. It reminds us that, if we are truly the Lord’s people, we will ‘always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with grace and gentleness’.

In previous columns I have suggested that we need to keep a balance between Paul’s instruction to ‘teach the word’ and Peter’s words to ‘care for the flock’. I was once approached by a young person, who bemoaned the fact that his youth leaders never seemed to answer his questions. He had benefited from his leader’s teaching and he was sure he was cared for but his problem was that he could never seem to engage with his leaders and talk.

Opportunity to ask

There are dangers that once we have given our talk (important as that is) we think the job is done. There is a growing trend in adult ministry for the need to explain to people with little or no Christian background what the gospel is really about and also how people need to re-think all they do once they have become a Christian. For our young people living in a world of secular values, they must be given opportunities to ask questions about their lifestyle and their understanding of truth.

Demanding stuff

But these questions can be demanding — we dread getting a question we cannot answer or even understand. Some of the most difficult come in the area of suffering. ‘Why did my father die so young?’. ‘Why does my father no longer want to be at home?’ Or on the more global scale, ‘Why does God allow disasters to happen if he loves us so much?’

Even if we are experienced and have answers ready for these questions, we need to learn how to deal with the questions by listening to exactly what the questions are.

Training day

So what does the Bible say about these issues and how do we deal with them. What young people do not need to hear is an answer gleaned only from your experience. That may help but it’s certainly not the whole story. Experience can help but what they need is objective truth and this kind of understanding is not easy to gain. I have been so conscious of difficulties in answering young people’s questions and how to engage in dialogue with them that we have organised a three-day training event in Sheffield on May 15, 16 and 17. There will be some experienced practitioners on hand and the sessions will be very practical. Have a look on the Root 66 website.

We will be working around issues such as sexuality so that we can help young people know truly what a biblical standard is in that area. If we are to support our young people and enable them to live in their culture the main priority is for them to know what God’s standards are and why he created them. That is one of our tasks in creating a biblical next generation. Make sure you fit a Q&A session in your small group work and give your group the genuine feeling that you are available to be questioned. You are not an old fashioned preacher who breezes on stage and runs for cover. We should be people who are willing to be apologists — willing to answer questions.

Dave Fenton

© Evangelicals Now - April 2007
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