Within the church, there is often a disparity between the older and younger members in terms of the work that is being done. I have heard some people remark that this is the sign of a well-established church– because there is enough “manpower”, the youth in the congregation are able to take their time to develop their faith. However, this inactivity can be a sign of complacency! The foundation of the church is not set in stone, and it is only as strong as all its members ensure it is.
The harsh reality of our life on earth is that eventually, older and more experienced members will not be as active as they were in their prime, meaning that the future strength of the church relies on how well-cultivated the younger members are. Definitely, this is something that is easier said than done – growing the effectiveness of the youth is something that takes time, but it is something that should be done with great urgency.
In 1 Timothy 4:12, we see Paul reminding Timothy not to let anyone despise his youth, but to instead establish himself as a good example in his words, actions, and love for the brethren. The word “despise” in the bible is used differently from the way we do today: while we use the word synonymously with “hate”, what Paul meant was to disregard someone as insignificant. It has nothing to do with disliking someone, but to simply see them as of lesser value, usually from the perspective of someone who’s more spiritually mature (c.f. Houdmann, BibleRef). This is a trap that a lot of experienced Christians can fall into, because of the expectation that all church work has to be of a certain quality. Even with younger members, I often hear worries about measuring up to previous generations, increasing the preference to “wait” until they are more skilled before taking action.
While these are valid concerns, depriving others (and yourselves) of opportunities to lead and take action erodes the unity and strength of the congregation over time. Even if it seems like it decreases efficiency in the short-term, every member has the responsibility to work out their own salvation (Philipians 2:12), meaning that we cannot be satisfied with having the same few people take on responsibilities forever. Both seasoned Christians and new converts need to remember that Christianity is not an inherited religion (Romans 10:14), it is something that has to be actively practiced before we can be right in God’s sight. At the end of the day, not despising our own youth is a necessity! Experienced or not, we cannot assume that we have time to spare – either Jesus comes and finds us lacking, or we realize too late that the new leaders of the church have not had enough practice to know how to guide the flock of God (Acts 17:31).
As a young person myself, I know it can be very tempting to make excuses for not being active. However, I believe that the church is the one place that we can afford to make mistakes and learn from them. In the secular world, when we slip up, we often end up putting ourselves in harm’s way. On the other hand, the church is the family of God, where there will always be brethren to guide you. There is never a moment where you will struggle alone, and I think we should take advantage of that blessing, and do the best we can!
References:
Houdmann, Michael S. “What does 1 Timothy 4:12 Mean?”