Youth and the Exploration of Biblical Truth

The exploration of Biblical truth (and its implications on youth ministry) remains a consistent theme in my Christian journey. Life as a Christian brings with it far more purpose than vocational achievement. My own journey has transformed from an acceptance of the “status quo du jour” to a legitimate search for Truth. Questioning my faith, my obedience, and even (gasp!) my God continually leads me towards a greater understanding of the story of Christ.

Understandably, youth have a tendency to simply accept things that regularly permeate their environment. Issues in politics, education, popular culture, entertainment, and religion are prime examples of how ideas disseminate from youths’ parents and peers into their core of beliefs. The question I keep arriving at is, “Are we challenging our youth to actually believe what they are hearing?” Take a look at the disciples. They most certainly did not simply “accept” Jesus’ call to follow Him. A man does not literally drop what he is doing to follow a stranger under mere acceptance. The evidence for true belief is the way a person lives. Thus, our responsibility is to educate, motivate, and activate our youth in accordance with the truth of the Gospel.

Furthermore, an assumption that each youth participating in a particular ministry fully trusts in a measurable core of homogeneous beliefs is likely off base. The reality is, thirty different youth will almost certainly believe thirty different things. We must encourage our youth to truly explore the depths of their faith. Perhaps they are so preconditioned to agree with what’s being presented in school, at home, and in ministries that, as participants, we have fallen victim to a cyclical process in which ideas are presented and received with little opposition. Of course, we are heartened by the relative ease with which our ideas and programs are accepted. But, we should be diving headfirst into unclear issues of faith right alongside our youth.

Perhaps our mistake has been to underestimate the desire of our youth to truly explore the truth of the Gospel. If nothing else, our youth want to know the truth. We have tried so many ways to protect them from the Truth of the Gospel of Christ and I believe that they have fallen victim to this ministerial grey area. Have we tried to keep the story interesting enough to ensure that they continue to participate but light hearted enough to keep from driving them away? If so, how much longer can we continue this disservice? Certainly, we are not called to force belief upon anyone (nor should we want to for that matter). But, we have an obligation to give our youth the whole story…not simply enough to accept. Therefore, we must not merely speak the Gospel. We must live it.

--Brimas