If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?
Psalm 11:3
Psalm 11:3
Avoiding the "Kidult" Syndrome
When does a young person become an adult? This is an issue our culture is having difficulty addressing. The age in which a young person is expected to be independent and take on adult responsibility has been slowly increasing. Now parents are talking about how their 20 something children are still hanging around home. This situation was just addressed in a humorous fashion in the movie Failure to Launch.
Unfortunately, the Christian community is not immune from dealing with the "kidult" culture. This ought not to be. The Biblical model is clear. The Old Testament teaches that Jewish young men enter into the adult world at age 13. It is clear that God saw fit to use young men and women for some of his greatest works. Consider David taking on Goliath, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego serving in the court of Nebuchadnezzar, Esther becoming queen to save her nation, and Mary becoming the mother of Jesus.
God does not shy away from using the young to accomplish great tasks in His name and power. Could it be that the church is suffering because we have despised young people because of their youth and have refused to challenge them to tasks worthy of their abilities? Paul warned Timothy not to let people despise him because of his young age (1 Tim. 4:12). We may be making the same mistake and we are reaping a generation of under motivated, immature young people that lack the ambition or confidence to leave home.
One of the reasons I teach Christian worldview classes to high school students is because I love to challenge young people to think big when it comes to making a difference in the world for Christ. There are many "Goliaths" in this world that go unchallenged for want of a "David" to take them on. I have seen young people, under the supervision of caring, mature adults, take on tremendous challenges and perform admirably. Could it be that many of our young people leave the Christian faith because they find it boring and lacking in opportunity? What could be more exciting than taking on a Goliath? After Goliath, everything else seems like kid's play.
World magazine (September 16, 2006) recently featured an article about young Christians who are rebelling against the youth culture that has become a hallmark of our time. Alex and Brett Harris are homeschooled twin brothers who run an internet blog called TheRebelution.com. It is dedicated to challenging young men and women to use the teen years to prepare for adult responsibility. The article also features a number of other young adults who have essentially the same message. This is not fluff; they really are saying something worth hearing.
The old adage "use it or lose it" might apply to our young men and women who are longing for a challenge that will capture their imagination and keep them awake at night. We must prepare them and engage them in the spiritual battle. We need to lead them to engage the Goliaths that are going unchallenged. If we do not, they will look elsewhere for their challenges and the church and the world will be poorer for it.
For a Related article The Pachyderm Parade: What We Can Learn from Elephants About The Importance of Multi-Generational Influence, by Jeff Myer, Ph.D, Click here
When does a young person become an adult? This is an issue our culture is having difficulty addressing. The age in which a young person is expected to be independent and take on adult responsibility has been slowly increasing. Now parents are talking about how their 20 something children are still hanging around home. This situation was just addressed in a humorous fashion in the movie Failure to Launch.
Unfortunately, the Christian community is not immune from dealing with the "kidult" culture. This ought not to be. The Biblical model is clear. The Old Testament teaches that Jewish young men enter into the adult world at age 13. It is clear that God saw fit to use young men and women for some of his greatest works. Consider David taking on Goliath, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego serving in the court of Nebuchadnezzar, Esther becoming queen to save her nation, and Mary becoming the mother of Jesus.
God does not shy away from using the young to accomplish great tasks in His name and power. Could it be that the church is suffering because we have despised young people because of their youth and have refused to challenge them to tasks worthy of their abilities? Paul warned Timothy not to let people despise him because of his young age (1 Tim. 4:12). We may be making the same mistake and we are reaping a generation of under motivated, immature young people that lack the ambition or confidence to leave home.
One of the reasons I teach Christian worldview classes to high school students is because I love to challenge young people to think big when it comes to making a difference in the world for Christ. There are many "Goliaths" in this world that go unchallenged for want of a "David" to take them on. I have seen young people, under the supervision of caring, mature adults, take on tremendous challenges and perform admirably. Could it be that many of our young people leave the Christian faith because they find it boring and lacking in opportunity? What could be more exciting than taking on a Goliath? After Goliath, everything else seems like kid's play.
World magazine (September 16, 2006) recently featured an article about young Christians who are rebelling against the youth culture that has become a hallmark of our time. Alex and Brett Harris are homeschooled twin brothers who run an internet blog called TheRebelution.com. It is dedicated to challenging young men and women to use the teen years to prepare for adult responsibility. The article also features a number of other young adults who have essentially the same message. This is not fluff; they really are saying something worth hearing.
The old adage "use it or lose it" might apply to our young men and women who are longing for a challenge that will capture their imagination and keep them awake at night. We must prepare them and engage them in the spiritual battle. We need to lead them to engage the Goliaths that are going unchallenged. If we do not, they will look elsewhere for their challenges and the church and the world will be poorer for it.
For a Related article The Pachyderm Parade: What We Can Learn from Elephants About The Importance of Multi-Generational Influence, by Jeff Myer, Ph.D, Click here
Contact Information
FEL
925 View Harbour Road
Knoxville, TN 37934
Phone
865-671-3059
Email
corygb@charter.net
Website
www.FFEL.org
FEL
925 View Harbour Road
Knoxville, TN 37934
Phone
865-671-3059
corygb@charter.net
Website
www.FFEL.org
(c) Copyright 2009 Foundation for Educational Leadership
Cory and Barbara Bennett
How Many Full-time Administrators Does It Take to Run a School System?
Too many to count. FEL serves hundreds of families with thousands of students with one
full-time director funded by the gifts of our ministry partners
Too many to count. FEL serves hundreds of families with thousands of students with one
full-time director funded by the gifts of our ministry partners
FEL Connection
Speaking Topics
Leadership Training
Class Resources
Reading List
Speaking Topics
Leadership Training
Class Resources
Reading List