The youth of today face many challenges that are unique to recent decades. Industrial, technological and environmental changes have made life both easier and more difficult for today’s children. Teenagers face many problems growing up due to their hormones and need to figure out who they are as individuals, which can include depression, cutting and self-harm, anger, violence, delinquency, bullying, cyber bullying and suicidal thoughts.
The youth of today face many challenges that are unique to recent decades. Industrial, technological and environmental changes have made life both easier and more difficult for today’s children. Teenagers face many problems growing up due to their hormones and need to figure out who they are as individuals, which can include depression, cutting and self-harm, anger, violence, delinquency, bullying, cyber bullying and suicidal thoughts.
As a Christian Youth, I looked at some of the challenges being faced on a daily basis and came up with the following ten points
- Personalizing/living out your faith –
- Living in an anti-Christian culture
- Sexual purity pressures/temptations
- Identity and self-image issues
- Divorce and family issues
- Negative media influences
- Busyness
- Absent father figures
- Lack of discipline
- Materialism
We shall deal with Just two of these and focus on the others in the coming weeks
Living in an anti-Christian culture
Romans 12: 2 Do not be conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (NKJV).
The effect of culture • We are continually being shaped by the culture of the world we live in. We can’t help it! We need to be aware of the forces shaping our culture (and which are potentially/actually shaping our Christianity, and our lives) Why are you like you are? Your genetic make-up (determining your gender, personality, abilities…) Your parents/parenting Where you were born The culture you grew up in Where you live/have lived God’s calling/choosing (Romans 8: 28-30). What you read, experience, listen to, watch, get involved in… What you open yourself up to? Your choices. (especially your choice to accept Christ and your ongoing choices to obey God) The influence of the Holy Spirit (and satan) The Church you are part of Your interests. Your relationships. Your education. The way you think (Proverbs 23:7).
All cultures are shaped by: their history, their established and emerging cultural values, their underlying philosophies/religions, pressure groups, the world economy, globalisation, the media. Are the forces shaping our culture pro- or anti-Christian? What are the cultural values of the world we live in? Compare the cultural values of the world your grandparents lived in, to those your children/grandchildren will grow up in!
Living in an anti-Christian world To most people in our culture there is no God (as we Christians know Him). If people do believe in a ‘god’ s/he is not related to Jesus Christ or Christianity. Often ‘god’ is related to spirituality, new age philosophies, other religions, environmental concerns, pagan practices, or most commonly themselves: a humanistic god. “Man is god”. These are underpinned by values like tolerance, freedom, diversity, inclusiveness, imagination, human rights, looking after no 1…… (and a consistent intolerance for Christianity!). There are strong agendas being advanced which are ‘politically correct’ and which are intolerant of Christian views. Those who don’t agree are labeled as sexist, racist, bigoted, homophobic etc. which effectively stops any dialogue. This is undermining democracy and resulting in the loss of conscience and morality in our nation. People create and worship their own ‘gods’ consciously or sub-consciously eg. materialism, sports, heroes, jobs, …….. Christianity is becoming more and more irrelevant in our society.
Sexual purity pressures/temptations
Sex is a huge thing. If you’re honest, you probably think about it a lot. Maybe you think its going to be magical like they show on movies. Or maybe you’ve already had sex and are wondering what should you do now. Does the act of having sex before marriage now make you unable to be used by God?
Lots of people have different philosophies about sex and sexual purity. There are purity pledges you can take, purity rings you can buy, and tons of ideas floating out there about sexual purity. So how do you decide to be sexually pure? Here are a few things to remember.
- The choice is yours. Only you can decide to be sexually pure. You can choose to accept God’s plan for sex within marriage, or you can choose to ignore it. That’s your choice, no one can force you to do it. Its important to not make the decision to remain sexually pure because you’re feeling pressure at your youth group or church. Make the choice for you. If you make a choice because of peer pressure at youth group, you’ll end up feeling resentful towards it. If you make the choice out of fear that someone at church will judge you, you’ll end up regretting it.
- Choose to be pure because you love God and want to follow His plan for your life.
- Not because you feel forced into it or because of fear of others. Be pure because you’ve decided between you and God its what you want for your life.
- Get to know what God says. If you’re having a hard time deciding to be sexually pure, just spend some time in the Bible. Read scriptures that deal with your body and how God sees it. Get to know your heavenly father and His heart on sex. That way when you decide to be sexually pure you’ve made an informed decision based on what God’s word says. Here are a few verses to check out. 1 Corinthians 6:18 , 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, Ephesians 5:3
- Believe you’re worth it.You’ve got to see yourself the way God sees you. You’ve got to believe that you’re worth the wait. Even if it means that a girl or guy you’re dating will break up with you because you’re not giving in sexually, decide that you are worth the wait.
- Even though its hard to wait when you’re young, if you choose to believe that you’re worth the wait it will really help. If you’re going to stay strong in the midst of sexual temptation, you’ve got to really believe that you are worth it. You’ve got to believe that no matter what someone will say or do to you that you are worth the wait sexually. Don’t give in just to get along or go with the flow!
These are issues that teens have all dealt with to some extent at some time or another. The bad news is that these issues won’t go away. It is recommended that teenagers learn how to communicate with their parents and peers effectively as well as eat a healthy diet, perform regular exercise and participate in other activities that can reduce stress. Many parents find it difficult to communicate with their teenager and are unsure how to provide support while establishing clear guidelines yet not overwhelming their child. Parents do not want to be overbearing; however, teenagers still need boundaries in their lives. It is important to remember that they are young adults and not adults.
Parents may want to start their communications with their teen by first remembering that their teen deserves respect. Berating or belittling a teenager in front of their friends and their peer group is the wrong tactic and will not help the teen. Parents should try to ask their teenagers questions and get their opinion on personal issues. They should understand also that some teenagers may boast a know-it-all attitude in order to cover up insecurities.
Parents will want to talk to their teenagers about the “tough issues” that they may see their friends or other peer members go through early so that their teens are prepared. These issues include sex, violence, drugs and respect.
As we mature and grow in our faith, we gain experience and ammunition in battling them, but as long as we live in this fallen world, these issues, challenges or problems will always be there. We pray for our youths today that God will uphold them and the Holy Spirit will lead and direct them always.
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