STEEMCHUCRCH .............. STOP BLAMING THE YOUTH PART ONE

Stop Blaming The Youth-Part One.

The Youth found in every sector of the country, communities or societies, organizations, institutions or the churches play very cruel, critical and significant roles to enhance positive growth and development but rather unfortunate, most leaders of today find it difficult to recognize. It's a fact that, no society or community, church and nation could develop and progress without the efforts of the Youth.

Nowadays, the negative perceptions, blames, insults, criticisms, accusations and complains (with no tangible or researchable meaning) about the resourceful Youth in the societies, churches and the nation becoming something else and we must critically need to look at it again and change our attitudes toward the youth. You can't keep on blaming, fighting, insulting, criticising and accusing the youth you are working with. The fact is, until we understand the concept of Youth, we will never stop blaming and accusing the youth unnecessarily, and the worse aspect is when the one blaming the Youth is also a Youth member. You cannot build the potentials and capacities of the youth until you stop blaming, accusing, insulting or fighting them.
If they are stubborn, change your attitudinal strategies in handling them and don't blame them. That's why you are a leader. Good Youth leaders have different strategies and skills in handling different categories of youth and issues. The last thing every good leader should do is to report his Youth members or keep on blaming the youth.

However, let us take note on these questions i always ask myself, "Can officers of the Church be Youth members? Can married couples be Youth members? Can the rich be Youth members? Can Pastors be Youth members? Can Sunday School Teachers be Youth members? Can bosses be Youth members?" When these questions are answered correctly, you will know that, you are also a Youth, blaming yourself in the name of blaming the Youth.

I once had an encountered with a young ordained Elder at age twenty-three, complaining bitterly that, the youth in his local assembly are disrespectful, disobedience, stubborn, arrogant and saying all sorts things. I asked him, "Please, Elder, are you not a Youth, so why are you generalizing and not being specific on individuals? "Do you see me to be a Youth member, or don't you know that, I am an Elder?" he replied me. In this case, Elders are not Youth Members per his definition while those he tagged to be disrespectful, disobedience, and stubborn are older than him.

Again, I recently asked newly wedded married couples who are not more than twenty-seven years, why they have stopped attending Meetings. "Brother Joshua paaaa, why should we come to Youth meetings while we are now married couples?" they said and started laughing as if I have asked wrong or abominable question.

If in the church or society today, we think the youth are only the members in church or non-officers, the poor, singles, those with no position and those not working among others then our definition is totally wrong.

By the end of the series, we will be able to understand the concept of youth from different angles, perceptions adults have toward the youth, why the Youth should not be blamed in the society or the church but rather some leaders should be blamed, the youth culture and practices. The series will be strongly backed with examples, researchable facts, scriptural references and experiences. Continue tomorrow, Stay Tuned.