“Teenagers are my favorites.” It’s one of my more recent catch-phrases, and
it often takes people by surprise. But
it’s true. I love working with
teenagers. I love being around them in
the office, at church, and in the community.
Mind you, I’m not that far removed from being a teenager, and am only in
my 20s, but there is something about them that captures my heart, that raises
up something fierce in me to protect them, that brings a smile of joyful
expectation to my face. Don’t get me
wrong – I know that teenagers can be moody, overly sensitive, and a bit defiant
as they struggle to figure out who they are.
But I love their honesty. I love
how aware they are of other people and their motives, how they see sift through
the pretense to discover what a person really
feels towards them and thinks. I love to
see their personalities and passions begin to unfold, directing them toward the
future God has designed for them. I love
to see the dreams of God birthed in their hearts and imaginations, to see the
way they look to the future as though nothing is impossible.
And teenagers have a special place in God’s heart as well. In Amos 2:11, God says:
“I took some of your children and raised them up (Voice), confirming and ordaining them, stirring them up, strengthening them, making
them sure, and causing an uprising in them (KJV+Strong’s) as prophets. and I called some of your youth to be
Nazirites, set aside to my service
(Voice) and devoted to me (KJV+Strong’s).”
I hope some teenagers are reading this. Even beyond the promises of God in Jeremiah
29:11 that He has a plan for each of us, this verse says that He is raising up children and young people, stirring them up, strengthening them, and inciting an
uprising among them – an uprising of boldness to speak His truth, to serve Him
in purity and devotion, to be sure of who He is and who He created them to be. He has called them and raised them up to be
Nazirites.
Perhaps it would be helpful to establish what a “Nazirite”
is. In the Old Testament (Number 6, to
be exact), God outlines the qualifications or criteria of a Nazirite as
follows. A person who wishes to be a
Nazirite must be solely dedicated to the Lord (Numbers 6:2), abstain from any
alcohol (Numbers 6:3), not cut their hair (Numbers 6:5), and avoid dead things
(Numbers 6:6). To be a figurative “Nazirite”
as a New Testament believer then could be defined as follows:
-
Being dedicated to following God’s plan for our
lives
-
Focusing on the Word intently, so our vision and
judgment do not become impaired
-
Remaining steadfastly submitted to the Lord at
all times, that He might make us strong[1]
-
Avoiding dead works, or works that will not glorify
God
This is what God calls young people to be. This is what He has set them apart to be – people
who speak truth boldly, as a prophet would do, who are dedicated to His plan
for their lives, who are devoted to the word, who remain steadfastly submitted
to the Lord at all times, and avoid worthless and meaningless pursuits.
So what is happening?
Where is the disconnect between what God is calling them to be and what
we see so often in our country?
I believe that the disconnect is the result of our
nation-wide pessimism about teenagers and the lies we tell them - be it
through the media, dysfunctional relationships, or heart-wrenching experiences
they are left to navigate on their own. Think of what you see on television, what you
hear in conversations between adults as they discuss the “younger generation.” What are they saying? What are our kids hearing? They are hearing that our only expectation of
them is to behave badly. They are
hearing that no one will want to spend time with them (because they’re
”teenagers” – insert the stereotypical eye roll and cynical chuckle that almost
always accompanies such a comment). And
furthermore, they are hearing that their voices don’t matter. I work with children in the foster care
system, and I can’t tell you the number of times I have seen teenagers stand up
and point out the flaws of the system, have heard them complain against the
injustices in our child welfare system, or have seen them try to advocate for
the needs that are not being met in their foster homes – only to be dismissed
as “manipulative.”
And apparently this isn’t a new phenomenon. Check out Amos 2:12:
“But you (the
people of Israel) forgot what I had
done for you (Clear Word). You commanded the prophets not
to speak their message, and you pressured
the Nazirites into drinking wine (CEV), drowning
them, influencing them and making
them drunk (KJV+Strong’s).”
God says the lies about teenagers have been around for
centuries. He says they stem from adults
forgetting what God did for them, bringing them through the difficult days of
adolescence, giving them hope and a sense of purpose, and adults who cared
about them to help shepherd them into adulthood. He sees the way our society silences our
young people, not wanting to hear the truths they see. He sees how our culture pressures young
people, who should be protected in innocence, to make damaging decisions,
decisions that will drown them in regret and consequences beyond what they can
handle. He sees how our culture
intoxicates youth in materialism and emptiness.
And He won’t stand for it.
The rest of Amos 2 talks about the judgment that will come to the people
who have further stifled the voice of the young people, who have pressured them
to compromise and turn away from the plans of God for their lives. He takes their lives and their place in the church very seriously. And so
should we.
Teenagers, if you are reading this, please, hear my
heart. Press in to God. Don’t allow anyone to stifle your passion for
Him. His plans for you are mighty. He needs you to fulfill your destiny. WE need
you to fulfill your destiny. Your role as a prophet and a Nazirite is important
on this earth. Don’t let the world
around you silence the call of God on your life. Speak up for what’s right, for the change He
commissioned you to bring into this world.
Don’t cave into the pressure all around you. Don’t entertain beliefs, activities, or
substances that will compromise your judgment – stay focused on the Word. Let it be the guide that helps you navigate
life. Stay submitted to God, and don’t
lose time on things that don’t matter.
Don’t get sidetracked. Do what
you were created to do.
And adults - join me in creating an atmosphere of grace for
the teenagers in our lives. Don’t forget
what God did for you when you were a teenager, when you were young in your
faith and still discovering all that God had for you. Listen
to what God has put on the hearts of the young people around you. Ask them intelligent questions about their
relationship with God, what they would change in the world around them, about
what they want to do. Ask them what is
going on in their lives and how you can pray for them, battling alongside them to
help their God-given dreams to become a reality. And don’t pressure them to become so caught
up in activities, relationships, or even education that they forget to seek
God. And don’t make them feel unwelcome. They get enough of that from the culture
around them. Just love them. Love them like Christ loves them. Love them with wide-eyed wonder as God
transforms them into the power-packed people He designed them to be.
Teenagers are my favorites.
I make no apologies for that. And
neither does God. They are some of His
favorites too.
[1] 1 Corinthians 11 talks about the
importance of women wearing their hair long or wearing something over their
head as a symbol of their submission to God’s authority; and Judges 16 states
that not cutting his hair, as a symbol of his submission and obedience to God’s
call on his life, was what gave Sampson strength. Likewise, when we remain steadfastly
submitted to the call of God on our lives, we will grow in strength and are
figuratively fulfilling Old Testament procedures for being a “Nazirite.”
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