L Cole Harper

If you have not already, first read Territorial Attitudes in the Church – Part 1 – then come back!

The best opportunity to begin remedying the territorial attitudes in the church lies with our youth. Studies suggest that young people have a higher degree of openness than adults do, a willingness to try something new.[1] Unfortunately, adolescents are disillusioned with the religious establishment. Fortunately, their openness positions them to be the new reformers of the church. In fact, revivals throughout history have often begun with young people.[2]

I hear the same complaint in most churches: “We just can’t get the youth to come to church anymore.” (Am I the only one who cringes when someone refers to “the youth” with the definite article? This designation feels so disconnected from the very kids we’re seeking to include.) It seems that many kids who do attend church – which, again, is a poor metric of success – are not there by choice. Their parents bring them. However, once they can drive themselves, they disappear from church. Years later, when they have their own kids, they return to perpetuate the cycle of compulsory church attendance.

A New Paradigm for Youth Ministry

Here is my proposal: what if, instead of a dozen or so youth at each church, there were a large, vibrant, magnetic community of young disciples that met together weekly? What if we set aside our territorial attitudes and combined our groups together? Let’s exchange our sense of competition for a sense of cooperation.

Instead of each youth pastor struggling to find volunteers, there could be an entire team of youth pastors – and a massive pool of volunteers. Instead of a sub-par music team (or none at all), the band could include the most gifted musicians from several churches – and develop young disciples into new worship leaders. Instead of one pastor endeavoring to prepare a lesson every week, a rotation of inspired teachers could deliver compelling messages – and facilitate meaningful conversations with all types of kids.

Kids would be excited to invite their friends to such a gathering. It is sad to think that brothers and sisters in the faith are passing each other in the halls at school every day and do not know each other because we have segregated them by their church affiliation. In a world yearning for authentic community, we have an opportunity to invite others into the family of God. Our kids could transform our churches and communities by church-ing better, as the first Christians did:

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all of the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Acts 2:42-47

Does the church down the street have a better worship team? Let them teach believers to worship through song.

Does another church have better sermons? Let them teach believers the scriptures.

Does yet another have better facilities and resources? Let them grant access to their facilities for the glory of God.

Practical Concerns

What about the particulars? Do we advocate infant baptism or not? Do we hold to an egalitarian or complementarian view of gender roles? Do we adhere to a charismatic or cessationist perspective? Those matters would better suit the smaller group format that characterizes most youth groups.

We ought to leverage our collaborative efforts toward mission and ministry. Our shared mission should be introducing kids to who Jesus is and how to be his disciples. We also should share specific ministries (i.e., meeting particular needs in our community).

Who gets to decide which churches can participate? Fortunately for us, our forefathers defined what qualifies as “Christian” and what does not.[3] We ought to be dogmatic about the Trinity (one God in three co-eternal Persons), the dual nature of Jesus (100% human and 100% divine), and the gospel of justification by faith.[4] We can agree to disagree on other minor doctrines for the sake of unity. It may behoove younger disciples to see us disagree without sacrificing fellowship with one another.

If we are brave enough to risk such ecumenism, we may have to face certain fears. One’s group may shrink while another grows. One leader may garner more esteem than another. We will certainly encounter disagreements that require confrontation, repentance, and forgiveness.

But it will be worth it.

“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

1 Corinthians 3:7-9

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[1] Age Differences in the Big Five Across the Life Span: Evidence from Two National Samples – PMC (nih.gov)

[2] History of Revival and Young People (youthnow.org)

[3] The first seven ecumenical councils, which all major branches of Christianity recognize, produced agreement on certain parameters for what it means to be Christian. The Nicene Creed, which shares the core Christian beliefs, may be the best place to begin further study: Nicene Creed | Christian Reformed Church (crcna.org)

[4] Each of these doctrines requires further treatment than afforded here. One comment on justification is necessary: The Roman Catholic Church and Protestants found agreement concerning justification by faith in the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (1999): “Together we confess: By grace alone, in faith in Christ’s saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works.”