© 15 Colin Melbourne
Teenage Christian Eager to Serve
Q: I’m a teenager who attends a “Church of Christ” with my family. I like everything about it, but the Youth Minister is immature, and isn’t a good teacher. I know it’s just one person, but the majority of my opportunities to serve involve him, and he isn’t doing all he can. I know of better alternative churches, and if he doesn’t change, would it be appropriate to leave? Sam
A: Thank you for a lovely question, that many of us have asked ourselves over the years, so we understand your situation Sam.
The answer is simple.
Humble yourself before the One you claim as your Lord, and ask Him directly what you should do.
Obey Him, and you’ll be blessed.
Rebel against Him, and you’ll be disciplined; gently at first, then more firmly until you either repent or become reprobate.
Christ Always Honours His Father
I take it you are living with your parents, and meet with the Church as a family group. The word is clear, that children must honour their parents in the Lord. Lk. 18:20 KJV;
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
Christ’s last clause was emphasised under the New Covenant too, Eph. 6:1-3 KJV;
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Soak that word of God up in the Holy Ghost, and you’ll grow in the Lord by leaps and bounds: Skim over it, and you’ll become a church brat, heavy in your parent’s hands.
If you find it difficult to obey earthly parents you can see and hear, Satan will so distract you that you’ll find it even more burdensome to obey your Heavenly Father, whom you cannot see, or hear with your physical senses.
Enjoy obeying and honouring your flesh parents in the Lord, and Father will be pleased with you.
Greatest in the Kingdom
Here’s a tip:
Try to recall what it was like being an obedient small child, then embrace that attitude to your new Father.
You’ll be happier, grow quickly, see continual success, and live a lot longer than otherwise. Mtt. 18:4 KJV;
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
If you’ve been truly born of God, it may have already come to your notice that the “Church of Christ” is a denominational dead-end, one of many denominations withering on the vine because they reject the biblical baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps you have begun to hunger for the power that Christ promised believers to make them effective witnesses of His resurrection (Lk. 24:49), and you’ve heard about other local fellowships that welcome the Holy Ghost, and show signs of life; the full Gospel of Christ is proclaimed, the sick are healed, and the lost are being saved.
Is that sufficient reason to grumble until your parents permit you to attend that fellowship instead of the one they take you to?
No, because you’d be dishonouring your parents, so God’s word would also be dishonoured.
Honour His word humbly without complaining, and He will open the way for your whole family to begin to desire all that Christ died to give them. You could be the key.
Submit as to the Lord, pray He opens their eyes, and leads you as a family to where He wants you all to grow in Him.
Mature Believers?
It will help if you recall who God used to rescue Israel during a worldwide famine. Joseph saved the Jews, with all his family, including the brothers who chucked him down a well to die.
The shepherd boy David was the least of his brethren, yet God chose him to deliver Israel time and again. Why was that Sam?
You write that your, “youth minister is immature and isn’t a good teacher”.
Keep in mind that every Christian is immature, a work in progress, like me and you. Has Father finished His work in any of us yet?
Of course not.
Consequently, there’s no place of worship, fellowship, or teaching, on this Earth where the leaders are mature.
Even where miracles and the power of God are manifested, such godly leaders know this truth, and long to be mature, knowing it only comes at Christ’s return.
Serving Christ
You say that, “the majority of my opportunities to serve involve him, and he isn’t doing all he can.”
So you presume serving occurs in your fellowship setting, but that’s insignificant.
Chances to serve begin the moment you awake, and abound wherever you find yourself; at home, school, neighbourhood, and so on.
Ask the Lord to show you what opportunities He has for you today, then begin to serve the King in your midst. Mtt. 25:40, Col. 3:17 KJV
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Now, ask the LORD Jesus Christ if what you’ve just read is from Him or not.
Be sure to follow God’s Plan for your life, not your own.
© 15 Colin Melbourne