Youth share faith

Feeling ‘safe’ can affect how teens adapt in church — and elsewhere

By Ronald E. Keener

Youth will not share their convictions to convert someone but they will share their faith in saying something about themselves.

There is a lot about youth today that centers down on their “feeling safe.”

“Teens adapt to many different contexts. Their behavior and conversations in church could simply be an adaptation to feeling safe in that place. Put them in a different place and they will say and do very different things to feel safe,” says Jim Dekker, associate professor of youth ministry and co-director for the Center for Youth Ministry Studies at North Park University and Seminary, North Park, IL.

The school welcomes students from a variety of convictions, and is sponsored by the Evangelical Covenant Church.

Dekker says that if the church doesn’t truly get into their many worlds – tech, media, schools, etc. – the church will have failed its calling to see Christ as Lord in and through all aspects of their lives. “I think we fool ourselves into thinking that if we can get teens to behave, sound and look like Christians in the church, they will be Christians outside the church,” says Dekker. He shared some thoughts about today’s youth and college young adults with Church Executive.

What role models do teens and youth look up to? Who captures their attention?

It used to be that there were a bunch of high profile influencers for youth like a TV star or athlete. Youth pastors would support or debunk their moral integrity and use that to foster integrity among teens. I’m not convinced these kinds of public role models exist for youth today. It seems more decentralized.

Young people look to local heroes and even then, not idolizing them too much because they know this too will pass. A local role model may become an experimental icon for a social justice issue or some other ideology, but even then they can shift to something else. This kind of fluidity of affiliation pushes youth ministry into a different paradigm.

Having said that, if we are really asking who is the most influential in a teen’s life, researchers continue to find that parents are the greatest force. In short, I believe adolescents live between what they’ve been taught by their parents and the many things offered them in the many social spaces they live in.

Are youth being adversely affected by today’s culture and media? What gives you hope for this generation?

I do believe our media (TV, internet, twitter, FB) can have a significantly adverse effect on our youth. Every media type throughout history has had that potential, but today we have designed a very potent network of media influence. Add to that the fact that our society does not promote any particular moral code and young people are left wondering what is really good beyond their own opinion.

This leaves young people morally alone and that cannot last. It seems trite to say but Jesus Christ gives me hope. I have seen the power of the Gospel reach into the moral directionless society and give young people an anchor and moral partner/authority once again. For this reason, youth ministry is even more important today. Well informed youth pastors give me hope as they hold up Jesus Christ in the diverse world they minister in.

What are the elements of a well done youth program within congregations?

A “well done” youth program balances a host of dynamics through servant leadership and lives within the community of the church as it engages society. That means that there are healthy proportions of pastoral care; attractive activities for growing bodies; stimulating thought processes that engage growing minds; coherent ministry plans that are in concert with the direction of the church and family — even cross generational events and the like.

Servant leadership is typified by strong lines of communication and trust-building with parents and fellow staff; good use of human resources motivating volunteers to function within their giftedness and be equipped to serve teens and not just personal interests or chasing felt needs. Good youth ministry has to have the affirmation of the church at large. Youth ministries that get attention because a particular parent wants something or when the church building needs a good cleaning doesn’t work. Exemplary youth ministry has a whole-church affirmation.

What has been the impact of the Great Recession these past two years on this year’s graduates? Are they expecting “great paying jobs” or lowered expectations?

This is harder for me to gauge. There is a great dialogue online regarding “Twixters” on TwixterTV and their perspective on work. Some seem very entitled, expecting to get pay increases within three months of work but not having to actually prove their value to the company. Some are settling into shared living spaces and combining low income salaries to survive. Some simply move back into their parent’s house and live off of them until they are ready to leave.

There is a cultural fascination with fame and celebrity; how does that play on the thinking of today’s college student?

I think the “celebrity” follows in the footsteps of people like Bono who want to go somewhere and make a social difference. Reality shows like American Idol allow college students to think they can make it and do so with their own “crew.” They create their own fame among themselves.

What are youth thinking on moral and social issues? Are they more accepting of the gay lifestyle or abortion than their parents? Are they any more likely to hold firm to a moral code under social pressures?

I think you are on to something here. I think the hot button issues like abortion and gay lifestyle are topics young people are going to be publicly silent or affirming because it’s more safe. In more private contexts they may say their true opinion, but relativize it really quickly allowing others their difference.

Interestingly, a study was done asking teens about legalizing marijuana and discovered that the parents are more likely to say yes than their teens. When researchers look into why young people are holding off on marriage, some are thinking that they are trying to avoid the pains of divorce. This could be a subtle moral commentary on the previous generation.

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