What message do we communicate?

I remember being sat in a meeting for people working in persecuted countries. The subject matter was how to act when under threat. But this wasn’t just about mild threats; this was the threat of being thrown out of the country. How do we act when our very being is offensive to those in power; when the things we believe are considered illegal?

At first I was surprised at the answer that was given, but then I understood. The answer was to do nothing: to continue attending church and to continue daily business. Do not be afraid to show your face in public and do not hide your Christianity.

The reason really made me think: if a missionary was threatened with deportation, and they decided it was best to stop attending their regular church and “lay low” for a while so that they could continue witnessing in such a country, it would undermine their very message! For their actions would speak louder than their words: when trouble comes your way, stop what you do until it passes! Change your behaviour, hide your light under a basket and pretend to be someone you are not.

Our actions do speak louder than words. Our motives can have more of an impact on people than the action itself.

And this is especially true for youth work. Are our actions out of our love for our young people, or out of fear of stepping on the wrong toes? Are our activities designed for genuine enjoyment, or drawn up solely because it’s our job? Are the things we allow and disallow motivated by our passion to follow the life and teachings of Jesus, or by a fear of false accusation and a fear of those in power over us?

Do we really love our youth unconditionally, or are there limits? What message are we communicating?

Every action we do will be seen by others, and no matter how much we tell people to “do as we say and not as we do” they will still follow the example we set. Or just leave, when they realise our mouths and lives are full of hypocrisy.

If we tell our young people not to swear, but swear when they are not around, it will be picked up on. If we tell our young people not to play with the drum kit, but we mess around with it anyway because we are leaders, we should not be surprised at their lack of respect for authority. The authority Jesus had was so powerful because he lived the very words he spoke.

When he said, “Love your neighbour,” he loved even those who would disrespect him. He may have told stories of those who would be “cast away” on Judgement Day, but in his life he even loved those who were socially unacceptable. He upset those who were in power by his strong devotion to his Father’s Will: he did not follow the rules of men, and he didn’t even try to wriggle his way around in an attempt to please God and men. He did what was right and stuck to it.

The question is: do we accept young people more than they accept us as leaders? Do we stick to what is right, or do we bend over to accommodate the rules of men?

Investing in young people

Christian youth work is crucial.

There are plenty of secular youth projects going on, and these are great. In fact, it is quite incredible just how much time and energy is put into young people despite religion. Projects to help them develop properly, to address social issues, to provide good education and play facilities and so on. Whether we like it or not (after all, some people would rather have nothing to do with young people), they are part of society.

But Christian youth work is crucial.

If we strive to live with the attitudes and principles of Jesus, we see a way of life that is more than just ‘helping’ others. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus shows how we can help more than just a one-off action, but by caring until the other person is completely fit and healthy. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus describes a love that goes far beyond what another person has done. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says how we should love our enemies. He also says how we should continue to forgive, even if we are wronged many times.

In the Christian life, we are shown a love that perseveres, a love that does not count wrongs, a love that continues to hope, a love that protects. This is the kind of love that truly loves. It is not self-seeking or easily angered. It loves despite the circumstances. It does not keep people at arm’s length but instead provides care and comfort. It is a love that cares because it is love, not because it has to. We do not love because it is our job or our duty, but purely because we are loved and we have love.

The question is: do we show this to our young people?

Do we keep our young people at arm’s length? Do we provide activities purely to keep them out of mischief? Do we provide Bible studies because “we’re Christians and that’s what we should be doing” or because we actually believe in it? Are we just keeping our youth occupied, or are we really investing in them?

As Christians, more than anyone else, we must understand that young people are the future. They are not just the future of society, but they are the future of the Church: future theologians, future leaders, future social activists.

Do we show this to our young people?

Our youth will know what we think of them and how we view them not by what we say to them, but by how we treat them. Actions truly do speak louder than words. They can tell if a conversation is out of politeness or from a genuine sense of care. They can tell if our leading is out of a sense of duty or because of calling and genuine love.

Love is personal. Jesus got personal with his disciples. He got them in on the activities he did. He shared his life with them and, as he did it, he taught them. Too often in today’s society, we talk of professionalism and how we are to keep a distance between ourselves and the people we deal with. But did Jesus ever do that? Sure, he sometimes went off to get some prayer time to himself, but the people he hung out with, those he discipled, were his friends too.

His love was personal. It still is. If he really is the example we want to follow, maybe we should do the same. Society says to be professional, but we must understand that our society is secular. It deals with people’s issues, but doesn’t provide the love that is so essential for complete healing. But this is where Jesus’ example is so important. Our young people need to know that: they need to understand why what we do as Christians is different to secular work; and we need to show it in our actions.

And that’s why Christian youth work is crucial.