Church, Out of the Mouths of Teens

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

—Hebrews 10:24-25

Out of the mouths of babes. Out of the mouths of teenagers (smh). For those of you not well-versed in text language, “smh” stands for “shaking my head.”  It took me a while to catch on myself, but as a teacher of teens, I need to keep up.

Yes, I shake my head at what comes out of their mouths, but the truth is some of what they say gives me pause—like their responses to a recent assignment. Given a three-column chart, students were directed to identify and classify ten structures they pass on their way from home to school.  In the third column, they were supposed to describe the purpose of the structure.

While I expected that many would list a nearby church in the first column, I did not expect how they would fill in the remaining columns.  Some classified the church as a commercial building. And others described it this way:  “To worship your religion,” “To worship religions,” “To practice religion,” and “For people to feel holly [sic].”

I wonder how these students gained prior knowledge. I wonder if they are church-attenders.

I wonder how most adults would complete these columns.

What’s the correct response?

Jesus, the head of the church (Colossians 1:18), defines it as “a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13).  In this same chapter, we learn that Jesus was outraged when some turned it into a commercial building, “a den of thieves” (vs. 13). “He turned over the four-footed tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who sold doves” (vs. 12).

Clearly, commercial building is the wrong answer.

Jesus was also outraged over the religious practices of the scribes and Pharisees (see Matthew 23).  Calling them pretenders (hypocrites), He likened them to “tombs that have been whitewashed, which look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything impure” (vs. 27). He told them, “You clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but within they are full of extortion (prey, spoil, plunder) and grasping self-indulgence” (vs. 25).

Clearly, for people to feel holy is not the right answer.

Peter says, “As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

How can we be holy?

“Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance” (1 Peter 1:13-14).

When we are obedient and forsake our former ways, we can become holy through the grace of God and the revelation of Jesus.

In all fairness to my students, I believe some have come to that revelation, for their answers are a telltale sign.  One student classified the church as a communication structure used to “talk to God.” Others described it as a cultural building “to pray in,” “to praise Jesus,” “to praise the Lord.” Yes! I think they’ve got it!

“Out of the mouths of babes [teenagers], You have made perfect praise” (Matthew 21:16, Psalm 8:2).

While some have it, most don’t. Clearly, a sign of the times. A sign of our present youth culture.  Let those of us—the Jesus culture—forsake not our youth. Reach out. Be a mentor. Bring them to church. Give them the opportunity to hear the gospel—that they would no longer be ignorant (1 Peter 1:14) “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

Church.  Out of the mouths of two of my teens: a place “to learn,” a place for “spiritual guidance.” Yes! Yes!

We never stop learning. And we always need spiritual guidance. No matter our age. Therefore, let us “not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but [let us] encourage one another—and all the more as we see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). And let us consider our youth—“consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).

Church, that is the answer.

Dear Lord, You have placed me where I am for a divine purpose.  Open my eyes that I may see the field ripe unto harvest (John 4:35). Guide me by Your Holy Spirit—giving me Your words (Luke 12:12) to encourage and instruct—that others may come to know You and Your church will grow. Amen.