How mature do we need to be before we can serve the Lord? While there are many qualifications for maturity, church consultant Darren Patrick argues age should not be the most significant one. Furthermore, youth shouldn’t disqualify one from having a say in how ministry is done in your church.
“As churches get older,” Patrick explains, “the temptation is to despise youth.” Sometimes older members of the church can get too comfortable in things like their music choices and the way they like to worship. Patrick says some in the audience will know the feeling of being a younger leader who is blocked by older leaders. Perhaps, he says, some of the younger ones understand what it’s like to have God-given vision but also have older people in the church trying to control them instead of helping them fulfill that vision.
This, Patrick says, was also happening in the church in Ephesus. It prompted a letter written by Paul to the young Timothy, including the instructions “Don’t let people look down on you because you’re young.” It’s true that Timothy didn’t have much life (or ministry) experience. He didn’t have experience with marriage, either. But he did have God’s spirit within him, and this qualified him for ministry. Paul was essentially telling him to keep his head up, to keep going, and not to let the older folks trample him.
Patrick paints a stark picture for those in the church who might unknowingly despise youth: You’re either going to lose your traditions (like worship style) and some of your man-made methods, or you’re going to lose your children. “They’re going to vote with their feet” and leave, Patrick says.
Watch the whole video to discern if you agree or not with Patrick’s assertions. As you watch, ask if there anything in your church you can do to help the youth who are called to leadership?
