bloggedy blog: the personal weblog of a music lover and aging punk wannabe

:: Monday, January 19, 2004 ::

Youth culture and growing up
Enlightening essay about youth culture's influence on the broader culture and society, put in a historical -- and biblical -- context. A must-read for any youth pastor. Thanks to Gideon Strauss for the link.

Some excerpts:

We live in a culture where most of life is lived with peers. Age segregation is so much a part of the fabric of life, even in the church, that we take it for granted and think it's normal. In fact, it is a very recent historical phenomenon, and what began as age segregation, has for many, become age alienation.

When all ages rubbed shoulders together throughout the day, it was assumed that the young would quite naturally and unselfconsciously grow up into maturity through observing and relating to adults in many casual settings. Now we obsess about the importance of "role models" for our children and formalize mentoring programs because modeling no longer happens naturally in the course of day-to-day living.

And, to put it in some context for church culture:

Proverbs 20:29 says, "The glory of youths is their strength..." Clearly, the Bible does not share our culture's view that young people are intrinsically weak, unstable, and incapacitated by raging hormones and the temptations of the shopping mall.

Paul assumes that young people are capable of turning from the destructive desires of youth and pursuing "justice, integrity, love and peace together with all who worship the Lord in singleness of mind" (2 Tim 2:22).

John wrote that the young people had conquered the evil one, were strong and full of the Word of God. (1 John 2:14). They were having a significant impact in the cosmic battle in the unseen world. This is heroism of the highest order.

The unfortunate drawback to the essay is its conclusion, which reinforces the Cassie Bernall myth that emerged from the Columbine tragedy. Otherwise, a fine piece and well worth the time it takes to read it.

:: Andrew 11:46 + ::
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