Recently I have been thinking a lot about this question perhaps you can help me answer it.  “What does teenage faith look like?” Is it the same as adult faith?  Do we have the same expectations of teens in their faith as we do adults?  Its the same God, the same Holy Spirit.

Here is what I’ve come up with so far (by no means a finished work).   Teens in the bible; Mary, David, John…. I’m sure there is more .  If this is the standard for teenage faith… oh my???    I don’t know about you, but I don’t know many adults living faith like Mary, David, or John.  These are paragons of the faith, people that we all aspire to be like.  Is this the standard we use to measure teenage faith?  Perhaps a better question is what quality did they posses that made them people of such great faith?

It  seems to me that the thing teenagers all share is their ability to take things on faith.  For better or worse (often worse) teenagers take things on faith all the time.  This boy or girl friend has my best interest in mind.  This teacher would never lie to me.  The friends I have now will always be my friends.  This college choice is the most important decision of my life, my very future.  I’m going to major in X Y or Z.  I’ll never ____ ill always _____.

Yet I’ve seen students make amazing steps of faith. I’ve seen them; break up with someone because they were spiritually unequally yoked.  Share their life story, Gods story , in front of hundreds of others.  Star basket ball players tell coaches “I won’t be at practice on Sunday would you like to hear why?” resulting in that coach coming to church.  Reject a date with the most popular girl in school because of God, only to be hazed by their entire Sr class.  Tell the parent of their best friend, about their child’s drug addiction.  Be the only disciple to follow Jesus to the cross.  Become the mother of God.  Slay a giant God mocking Philistine.

Hum, teenagers are just people, people with out experience.  People who learn by tiring it out and trying on. The hope is that they will figure out whats right and what fits before the consequences are too awful.  What a crazy way to go through life…. try something see if it works get smacked down, try something else get smacked down.   All the while expecting the same results.  uggg exhausting.. and painful.  It seems to me, that great people of God are always people that; after getting smacked down come in brokenness to God in HOPE, reflect with God in LOVE, and go out in the world (relationships) in FAITH.

The thing for me is this.  If I know this process is true, then am I willing to get messy with kids as they go through this? Am I willing to trust God with their choices, help them reflect with God in love, and send them out in faith?  Faith in a God that they cant see?  Yes!

Perhaps the tougher question for some of us adults is, are we willing to be part of the process in our marriages, friendships, family?  Are we wiling to let people we love find the line by crossing it and then walking with them to reflect and grow, or do we feel the need to control the situation? Seems to me I know plenty of adults, who like teens, learn by crossing the line ( I often do).

The question is am I willing to be the mirror in their lives (or who is my mirror)?  Not easy…. Not fun… and yet I have to believe in a God that is at work in the process, who redeems things that are broken and gives peace in times of nightmare circumstances.  I have to believe in a God that is in a messy relationship with me.

1st Cor. 13:11-13 Matt 18:1-4 Matt 11: 28-30

I have been thinking this week about the in between moments.  Do you know what I mean?  The times when there is no camera, no record other than your memory.  For me these times are some of the best.  Lots of G.T.’s (good times) in the non planned, non programed, non intentional moments of life and living.  For me so much of youth group these days is planning, studying, executing.  I kinda miss the days with students that went like this.

“what do you want to do?”

” I don’t know what do you want to do?”

“I don’t know..”

” lets go down town with a video camera and film something”

“Like what?”

“I’ll think of something….”

These moments of living  seems to be the richest.  Rich in relationship, rich in experience.  These are the moments that I have great memories.  I wonder if the disciples felt the same way?  I wonder about the in between moments that they had with Jesus.  the moments that didn’t make the book.

I’m looking for (and oddly afraid of?) those moments, not just with students, but with my family.  Times that are not “getting things done” but being with people.  The same goes for God and me.  I find that I reduce time with him to getting things done and not “hanging out”  being together, living life.

I find my self yearning for this conversation with Jesus;

“What do you want to do?”

“You tell me Tom…, (with a chuckle)”

“I don’t know…. (with a shrug)”

Jesus responds; “I’ll think of something come with me”

When i think about it……               everything else seems ……                         dry.