Ministers are the custodians of the young people in their charge. It is imperative, therefore, that they understand the youthful mind from the young person's point of view. We are told: "Youth cannot be made as sedate and grave as old age, the child as sober as the sire."—"Counsels to Teachers," p. 335. And also, that dealing with young people "requires the most delicate tact, the most watchful consideration, the most earnest prayer for heavenly wisdom."—"Gospel Workers," p. 207.
How frequently a minister has experienced, to his sorrow, utter futility in his efforts for the young people of his church, because he did not have their confidence. How to gain and hold this confidence is no less perplexing. Wherein lies the trouble? Is it just with the young people? Not always.
Not infrequently young people in our churches come and go almost unrecognized. They are left to themselves to plan and 6) do according to their own good pleasure, perhaps until Harvest Ingathering, once a year, when frequently a greater interest is manifested in the material goal than in the spiritual welfare of the young people.
Often they come and go, virtually unnoticed until they have staged some social affair that brings no little reproach upon the leadership of the church; or, because of their careless and indifferent attitude, they become subject to church discipline. Then suddenly how solicitous, how concerned, we become in their behalf—and generally, under such circumstances, too late.
Such procedure does not win our young people. "The youth need more than a--casual notice, more than an occasional word of encouragement. They need painstaking, prayerful, careful p. 208. A minister cannot gain or hold the confidence of young people by coercion. Youth are not so constituted. Young people resent being forced into anything, be it ever so good. In this respect they are somewhat like their elders.
Allow me to digress just here for the purpose of reciting an illuminating incident in the life of Ralph Waldo Emerson as recorded by Phillips Russell in "The Wisest American," which obviously needs no comment:
"Emerson had read philosophy, science, poetry, and histories, but none of them had said anything about an effective and harmonious way of pushing a female calf into a barn. His son Edward grasped an ear, the father pushing diligently from behind, and together they tried to propel the animal. The heifer resisted with calm obstinacy. The pale face of the sage reddened, and perspiring beads gathered on his high white forehead. And then an Irish servant girl came by. With an amused glance she thrust a finger into the animal's mouth, and the calf, seduced by this maternal imitation, at once followed her into the barn. Edward grinned, but Emerson was already absorbed in thought. After cleansing his hands of their hairy bovine smell, he recorded this telling declaration in his journal: 'I like people who can do things.' "
Moreover, a minister cannot expect to gain the confidence of youth merely by asking, pleading, begging for it, nor by repeatedly preaching to them about their relation to the church leaders, about their responsibility to the church, or, for that matter, by preaching long and laborious sermons on any theme, be it ever so timely. "Short talks, right to the point, will have a happy influence."—"Gospel Workers," p. 208.
Nor can he gain confidence by always trying to impress them with the thought that he is uniquely a champion of their cause while perhaps others in the church are working at cross-purposes with their plans. It is utterly impossible to hold your own standing before your young people by minimizing a fellow laborer's procedure, be it ever so faulty.
And no leader can afford to compromise with youth in any way on any question for the mere purpose of holding them. It is a dangerous thing for a minister to sell out to young people. Youtlr expect firm adherence to high and noble principles—by ministers above all other people.
"With a firm, kind, considerate hand, hold the lines of government, guiding and controlling their minds and purposes, yet so gently, so wisely, so lovingly, that they will still know that you have their best good in view."—"Counsels to Teachers," p. 335.
Young people look keenly for something deeper than the superficial make-believes. They look for genuineness of purpose, sincerity and honesty of heart, frankness of mind, godliness in the life.
This being true, what is a minister to do to place himself on vantage ground with his young people?
Much is being said about knowing the Lord Jesus in order to lead young people to Him. But is it less important to understand young people in order to lead them to Jesus? We are counseled, "There must be more study given to the problem of how to deal with the youth, more earnest prayer for the wisdom that is needed in dealing with minds."—"Gospel Workers," p. 208.
To understand young people requires more than mere study. "Ministers of the gospel should form a happy acquaintance with the youth of their congregations. Many are reluctant to do this, but their neglect is a sin in the sight of heaven."—Id., p. 207.
"Talk less—do more" is no idle utterance in regard to dealing with young people. "Long speeches tire the minds of the young. Too much talk will lead them even to loathe spiritual instruction."—Id., p. 209.
Youth is a time of action. They "will do something with their overflowing energies. Unless these energies are directed into right channels, they will be used by the youth in a way that will hurt their own spirituality, and prove an injury to those with whom they associate."—Id., p. 211.
No one is in a more favorable, strategic position to guide and direct these energies into right channels than the church pastor. Have you ever overheard a group of young people confidentially discussing various ministers? This was my unfortunate privilege at a recent camp meeting. True, some unwise statements were made, yet in general the discussion was very enlightening. I will cite one or two of the favorable expressions.
In speaking of his pastor, one boy—not so young, either—said: "I like him. He preaches short, to the point, right straight from the shoulder. And he lives what he preaches." Another concurred by saying, "Yes, and he always speaks to a feller." A third one of the group took up the discussion, and at some length told of his pastor's interest in him, how he put himself out to talk to him and how he helped all the young people of the church. He concluded by saying, "We always want him with us when we plan for things."
It was evident that those ministers had the confidence of their young people. They entered into their feelings, sympathized with them in their joys, their sorrows, their conflicts, their victories. If such a personal interest, prompted by a true motive, is taken in them, the young people will soon detect its genuineness and make a hearty response to all done in their behalf. "He only whose heart is filled with love and sympathy will be able to reach those youth who are apparently careless and indifferent."—Id., p. 208.
May not this be the solution to the problem of winning and holding more of our youth?
We learn from statistics taken in recent years, that of 4,832 young people (from fifteen to twenty-five years of age) of Seventh-day Adventist parentage, 2,060 were baptized and 2,772, or 63 percent, were not baptized. In one large union conference 9,000 young people of Seventh-day Adventist parentage were surveyed. Of this number 3,400 were baptized and 5,600 were not. Of the 5,600 there were 3,730 over fifteen years of age.
What a challenge these facts present to the ministers of the gospel. In these days of stress and strain "the youth are the objects of Satan's special attacks; but kindness, courtesy, and the sympathy which flows from a heart filled with love to Jesus, will gain their confidence, and save them from many a snare of the enemy."—Td., p. 207.
Washington, D. C.
