Teens Need Church (2)

My previous post, Teens Need Church, focused on the positive messages that church can deliver each week to teens ...

1. You are loved unconditionally.  
2. You are created with gifts and a purpose. 
3. You are an essential part of a community.  
4. You are not alone. 
5. There is rest from your burdens. 

I realize that churches are imperfect and the above messages are not always delivered each week or are delivered poorly by flawed messengers, which limits the impact of the message. However, the premise and potential are still there ... these powerful messages are part of the Christian church, and they are messages that, if heard regularly, will help teenagers in their identity development during these years.

In reflecting and writing on this topic, other concepts under the "teens need church" umbrella kept bouncing around in my brain. Thus, part two.

In addition to messages, what other aspects of church positively impact teen development? Why is it important for teenagers to attend church on a regular basis (even if they don't want to go)?

Here are five additional reasons that teens need church:

1. Corporate Singing
Both God and teenagers love music. Music is specifically created by God for a body of believers to connect (harmonize) with each other to praise Him. We see this in church with corporate singing, but we also see the power of music to connect fans ("believers") at a Taylor Swift concert. Singing together does something special in bringing communities together. However, in our era of earbuds and headphones, music has turned into a tool for teens to escape community rather than a vehicle to connect with others. Corporate singing at church can reclaim music's inherent purposes: to grow closer as a community and to praise God.

2. Sacrificial Giving
Something very unusual happens at church; people give away their money. Teenagers who observe this practice of "cheerful givers" (2 Cor 9:7) are on their way to developing into altruistic and philanthropic adults. Ego-centrism is a developmental challenge for teenagers, and giving at church can be one element to help teens overcome that challenge. At the heart of sacrificial giving is thinking of others above yourself; practicing this self-less act each week is a start. Unfortunately, too few teenagers see this modeled well, as we live in an egocentric, selfish, and greedy culture. Even teenagers raised in Christian homes do not observe their parents tithing as Christians tithe less today (2.5% of income in 2018) than they did during the Great Depression (3.3% of income) (Church Giving Statistics).

Additionally, at the core of giving is gratitude; Christians give a portion of what God has given to them out of gratitude for that gift. Gratitude research studies out of Positive Psychology identify a plethora of personal, social-emotional, and "happiness" benefits to individuals who regularly give out of gratitude. Modeling this practice of giving will help this grow into a life habit of giving and will help teenagers develop into happy adults.

3. Communion/Creeds/Confessions/Catechisms
The church has many elements that ground people in the past. In our world that can't remember a time before the i-phone let alone a 20th century war, teenagers need triggers to help them remember history. The most common of these elements is communion; a sacrament instituted by Jesus and used to "remember" what he has done. Each time church members take communion, it reminds them of the fact that they belong to something that spans history. Whenever teenagers recite a creed or confession or study catechisms, they are reminded that these words have been spoken (and believed) by individuals for thousands of years. Encouraging teenagers to remember the past, learn from history, and seek wisdom from their elders will help them grow into maturity.

Unfortunately, in our current educational culture, we have embraced STEM / STEAM educational models and discarded the classical study of history. This, I am afraid, will create intelligent professionals who lack wisdom to use their intellect well, and leaders who will repeat mistakes of the past. As George Santayana stated, "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it." Being rooted in the historical church (and history in general) is vital to future growth.

4. Interceding / Advocating
Christians believe in the intercessory role of Jesus in prayer, thus many prayers end with "in Jesus name" or "for Jesus sake." Jesus intercedes for us with God the father. This practice is modeled in the church. The pastor, church officers, Sunday school teachers, youth leaders, or prayer warriors intercede for other members in the church. The role of intercession is more than just prayer, and it is a church element that teenagers need to experience to the fullest.

The non-churchy term to intercessor is advocate. Advocate is a legal or court term, and, unfortunately, teenagers feel more judgment at church rather than advocacy; the opposite should be true. It is powerful for teenagers to know that they have an advocate who is "in their corner" and who both roots for them and goes to bat for them. Obviously, Jesus does that for them spiritually, but also members of the church can fulfill that role as Christ's hands and feet here on earth. The need and desire for an advocate is so strong that teenagers will seek this role from others, most commonly from their peers; however, some of these "advocates" are not healthy, mature, or wise advocates and end up being negative role models and giving poor advice. The church, in general, must strive to fulfill this need in teenagers; however, church members must be taught how to be advocates for teenagers (instead of judges). Once teenagers find a church filled with advocates, church will become a place that they want to be.

5. Mentors
One of the most powerful elements for teenagers at church is mentoring / discipleship. Teenagers need mentors to guide them, advise them, and help them develop in a healthy way. The inter-generational church is full of mentors, and most churches have structures in place to encourage these connections, e.g., youth groups led by adult leaders. Teens need to take advantage of these aspects of church.

Here is a truth that many parents want to reject: most teenagers don't take advice from their parents as well as they may take it from another adult figure. Coaches, teachers, and church youth leaders often have more influence on teenagers than parents do. My children come home from church or school regularly with some great wisdom that a teacher, coach, or youth pastor said about faith, relationships, or life in general. I smile and encourage them to embrace this truth, even though it is the same thing that my wife or I have been telling them for years. Teenagers just hear it better from someone outside of the home. I also encourage them to lean into these mentoring relationships. Placing them in youth group and bringing them to church allows for these powerful interactions to happen on a weekly basis.


Again, church doesn't always deliver these elements perfectly, but if teens connect with even one of these elements on a regular basis, it will encourage them as they grow and develop in becoming spiritually, socially, and personally mature young adults.