Raisin Up a Godly Seed! - What about "teenagers" and youth group?

Raisin Up a Godly Seed!

Jun. 3, 2008

What about "teenagers" and youth group?

My Friend Diane over at www.eveningcontemplations.com said this all too well. Thank you dear sister for the truth to be spoken!

The idea that teenagers are a distinct subgroup of the population and that
they have special needs comes from twentieth century humanist psychology and
NOT FROM THE BIBLE. The word "teenage" came into our vocabulary in the
1920s. Prior to that time, there were only children and adults.

For nineteen hundred years, the church ministered to and instructed whole
families. No one thought that young people needed to have their own pastor
or their own worship service. And they certainly did not need to be
entertained. But today, merely suggesting that youth groups are unnecessary
is tantamount to heresy in most churches.

My husband and I have had to deal with this very issue within the past week.
I will spare you the details, but I can tell you that we believe every
argument in favor of youth groups boils down to a lack of faith in the
sufficiency of Scripture. Every passage in the Bible that deals with the
subject of training children is directed to parents. The Bible unequivocally
places the responsibility of teaching and training children on parents, and
it gives detailed instructions on when and where and how this training is to
be done and what parents can expect when it is done according to God's plan.
The church is to equip and edify the saints. Believers are to evangelize.

Although they won't admit it, youth group advocates believe God's plan needs
some tweaking. God didn't consider all of the variables when he wrote the
Bible, you know, teens from broken homes, teens whose parents aren't saved,
teens whose parents do not instruct them at home, teens who "need" to be
entertained.

Let me be clear, youth pastors and others who favor youth ministries are
sincere and well-intentioned. They want the best for young people, and they
want to serve the Lord. They want to give young people opportunities to
serve as well. But they are adhering to a methodology that was invented by
men not designed by God. We cannot do God's work our way; we have to do it
His way.

Diane www.eveningcontemplations.com

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Comments

Jun. 29, 2008 - Amen!

Posted by momofsix

Well said. The children and I were just discussing this a couple of days ago. It was amazing to find that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were between the ages of 12-15, David was also between that age, not to forget Mary the mother of Jesus.

Thanks for visiting with me on my blog. Your blog is also a blessing. I am enjoying my visit. The best encouragement and help I get is from fellow bloggers. I am grateful to go for this medium to meet other believers that are like minded. God bless you for also being a light in the darknesss.

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