I have nothing against youth ministries.
I know a lot of work goes into engaging with children and young people helping to develop spiritual awareness, personal growth, social skills and even a sense of vocation.
What I get a bit concerned about is how youth ministry can tend to emphasise a generational gap. People are segregated on generational lines and there’s little connection between the two. This can lead to misunderstanding and hostility with complaints made from either party of disrespect.
It’s a pity because the sense of family church is meant to reflect needs close intergenerational relations. Just as the church reflects intercultural life, so it’s meant to reflect how fathers raise sons and how the hearts of the sons turn to the fathers.
This came to the fore again when I looked at Rehoboam’s first act as King in place of Solomon in 1 Kings 12. Here was a grievance from the people to him. Here was a chance to show just what sort of king he’d be.
His first port of call is to consult the elders who knocked around with his old man. They advised a servant hearted approach to gain favour with the people. Rehoboam wasn’t keen on this and so went to his peers. His homies gave him the things he wanted to hear. It was not the time to be weak and pander to the needs of the subjects. This was a time to show folks who runs things and how things were gonna run on his watch. Now he got the power, he was going to show he was more of a man than even his pops.
Such neglect of godly wisdom from the elders directly lead to a huge split in the kingdom. It put former brothers on the verge of being at war.
It’s not about being older necessarily meaning being wiser. It’s about valuing the elders and creating the atmosphere from mutual submission that sees old as eager to serve the young that generates the desire for young to honour and serve elders.
That approach can go a long way to reflecting family harmony as commended by our Heavenly Father.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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