I appreciate the many thoughtful comments in this discussion. I can only add what has been my experience both as a pastor, a Navy Chaplain working essentially with "young people," and as a father, whose two children were taught at a formative age by a wonderful youth leader who shared and passed his excitement with theology along to them.
The problem is not the young people; they are asking and willing to think deeply about important questions of faith. Many of these young people will dive into biblical and even sysytematic theology if anyone is willing to challenge them to do so. The bigger problem in my view is that our youth are all too often growing up in churches where their parents, adults in general, and pastors in particular are disinterested in historic Christian doctrine, and their knowledge of and ability to defend essential doctrine (e.g., the Trinity) is so spotty, that it is far easier to assume the kids just want to have fun and feel loved.
We've been too lazy, ignorant, and/or timid. But, then, it's hard to start our young people on meat and potatos when we haven't yet been weaned.
Posted in: Why Theology and Youth Ministry Seldom Mix
I appreciate the many thoughtful comments in this discussion. I can only add what has been my experience both as a pastor, a Navy Chaplain working essentially with "young people," and as a father, whose two children were taught at a formative age by a wonderful youth leader who shared and passed his excitement with theology along to them.
The problem is not the young people; they are asking and willing to think deeply about important questions of faith. Many of these young people will dive into biblical and even sysytematic theology if anyone is willing to challenge them to do so. The bigger problem in my view is that our youth are all too often growing up in churches where their parents, adults in general, and pastors in particular are disinterested in historic Christian doctrine, and their knowledge of and ability to defend essential doctrine (e.g., the Trinity) is so spotty, that it is far easier to assume the kids just want to have fun and feel loved.
We've been too lazy, ignorant, and/or timid. But, then, it's hard to start our young people on meat and potatos when we haven't yet been weaned.