I was reading over a section of Michael Horton’s The Gospel Driven Life and I came across a few paragraphs that I had highlighted quite extensively. In fact, I even blogged on this some time ago. The section is one where Horton is critical of much youth ministry that happens in churches today.
Now, before I put up these quotes, I do want to clearly state that I, along with many others out there, have been helped along in the Christian faith by some type of youth ministry. Furthermore, I am not opposed to all forms of youth ministry. At the same time, we should always be open to criticism to see how we can improve in our ministry to youth. I think it is a fair criticism that sometimes youth groups actually end up hurting rather than helping the body of Christ. Sometimes youth groups are a form of Christian babysitting with a snack, “lite” moral lesson, and entertainment (the teenage version of Veggie Tales). You can probably add to these criticisms – as well as add a few of your own positive aspects.
Here are some thought-provoking comments by Horton.
“…We carve up Christ’s body into socioeconomic and generational segments. The youth group is of relatively recent vintage: an invention of the 1960s and ’70s. And now it has taken on a life of its own. Often young people grow up in the church without ever really being in the church and worshiping together with the saints who have walked with the Lord for many years. Then we wonder why they are not integrated into the church when they leave for college and prefer to join a college ministry but not the local church. A younger believer recently asked me what faithfulness looks like in older years. Not having believing parents, and ready to start a family, he was looking for the kind of mature fellowship that characterized the community in Acts and he could not find it in his church” (p. 194).
“The last thing we need is a church that keeps us sealed up in our own compartment with others of similar experiences in life. We need to be integrated into the body of Christ. Younger believers don’t need another speaker to come in and tell them about dating, self-esteem, and relationships. They need to have relationships with saints who have put on a few miles in the Christian life and have faced challenges to their faith and practice that younger believers have not. And the lessons learned from these relationships need to be passed on to the rest of us in unplanned, unchoreographed, and unplugged conversations” (p. 197).
I suppose this leads us into a discussion of the communion or fellowship of the saints. Youth ministry should not take our youth out of the church or away from the church. Nor should youth groups be a church within the church. Youth ministry should get the kids more and more involved in the church by teaching them what it means to live a Christian life in/with a body of other believers (young and old!).
Are youth groups essential to a local church? Certainly not; churches can get along without them just fine. Are they sometimes detrimental? Absolutely; they don’t always make the church stronger in the biblical sense of the term. Can they be utilized for the good of the church and maturing in the Christian life? Yes! If a church has a youth group, that should be its goal.
shane lems
I wholeheartedly agree with your points here. However, thankfully, what I’ve seen in many Reformed churches (at least in the URC) are functional, educational youth groups that are fully integrated into the rest of the church. Here are a few of the things that, in my opinion, have really bolstered the spiritual strength of our own youth group (of which I am a member):
1. Our pastor and one of our elders are the youth group leaders. Having officebearers to lead the group has kept us very connected to the rest of the church. (It also allows the leaders to target our lessons towards current issues within the church, or tie them into a recent sermon, &c.)
2. The youth have to be committed. We don’t spread the word about only the “fun” activities and leave the leaders to do the dirty work. Every member is expected to show up, participate, and contribute to the group.
3. We interact with the congregation through many activities and fundraisers. When the church puts on its annual soup supper, it is the youth group members who serve the congregation and clean up the dishes. At the annual Valentine’s Day Dinner for couples, we are responsible for the decorations, preparations, cooking, serving, and cleanup. Not only do these events build responsibility, they are also valuable opportunities for the members of the congregation get to know us better and vice versa. Because of this, most members of the church know each of the youth group kids personally.
4. We participate in larger-scale activities like the national RYS (Reformed Youth Services) convention. By meeting with hundreds of youth from other Reformed churches for a week to hear solid teaching from URC pastors, all of us are built up, encouraged, and challenged to use even our youth to glorify God.
As you can see, our youth group leaders expect a lot from us, but I believe it is because they expect a lot from us that we have such a committed group of young people. I offer these points with the hope that they are helpful suggestions for other churches with struggling youth groups. Since the youth are the future of the church, it makes sense that the church should put special effort into shepherding the youth. Yet this shepherding must be performed not just for entertainment, but for the glory of God.
Michael Kearney
West Sayville URC
Long Island, New York
Thanks for the helpful notes, Michael. I’ve seen this too: a thought-out, theologically and doctrinally sound youth group that serves the church and is integrated with it. Good notes!
By the way, I fixed your link – and am quite familiar with the good work RYS does.
shane lems
The important thing is that young church members are being taught by the example of the older saints. Its irrelevant whether that happens through a Youth Group, or other church activities. God Bless! <3 me