Youth Group Unbiblical?

[SDBaptist]

Can you find for me ANYWHERE in the Bible where Youth Group and Sunday school is supported? Why on Earth do we have them? Reading the proverbs it doesn't sound wise for youths to gather. ("Gatherings of fools... etc.)
Divided the Movie

 

[Jake255]

Don't go if you don't like them.

I don't like them, so I don't go.

 

[SDBaptist]

It's not an issue of whether or not you like it. If it's unbiblical we shouldn't even have it.

 

[Jake255]

It's not an issue of whether or not you like it. If it's unbiblical we shouldn't even have it.

The Bible tells us to fellowship with one another, so that is one of the reasons for a youth group.

The NT also doesn't say anything about using musical instruments in gatherings, does that mean we shouldn't use them?

 

[SDBaptist]

The Bible does say that music is good. Have you read the Psalms? What do you think they are?
Also, youth group causes divisions within the church. They underestimate the wisdom of youths. Both are unbiblical. Watch Divided the Movie above.

 

[Jake255]

The Bible does say that music is good. Have you read the Psalms? What do you think they are?
Also, youth group causes divisions within the church. They underestimate the wisdom of youths. Both are unbiblical. Watch Divided the Movie above.

Yes, the OT does speak of musical instruments, but the NT does not, there is no mention of them, nor music. I think it's ok to worship using musical instruments in the church, but there are churches who do not use them because it's not in the Bible.

How does your youth group cause a division within your church? You are referring to your church building, correct? Not the universal church?

I hear you on people underestimating the wisdom of youth! I get it all the time. Yet, God will take all of our experiences and turn them around for good. When adults underestimate us, it's actually teaching us patience and kindness, (not that I have mastered this because I can become angry with them when they underestimate me), I've gotten better though because it keeps happening.

So how is it the your youth group is causing a division?

 

[solarwave]

Can you find for me ANYWHERE in the Bible where Youth Group and Sunday school is supported? Why on Earth do we have them? Reading the proverbs it doesn't sound wise for youths to gather. ("Gatherings of fools... etc.)

I don't know of any direct reference to Youth groups or Sunday school and it isn't all that weird either. The church had bigger issues going on than whether there should be youth groups or not. Also the idea of childhood has changed a lot since then.

So why do we have them? Here are a few reasons off the top of my head:

1) The issues that teenagers have to deal with tend to be different from what adults do, and so teaching and pastoral help with those issues is more helpful.

2) It helps make Christianity relevant to Christian teens as well as their Non-Christian friends.

3) It deepens friendship between the young people in the church and so strengthens the church as a whole.

4) It gives teenagers something to do other than drinking (I know not all teens do).

5) In my experience of church the adults have small groups they meet up in, in the week, and the youth group is just another version of this.

What do you mean by the proverbs and that they create division? I know there can be division between people in youth groups, but that is true of adults in church too. I've heard that church politics can be horrible, though I have had no experience of this.

 

[SDBaptist]

I'm anti-Finney. It's all pragmatism.

 

[TheApostleJohn]

They don't talk about Baptists in the Bible, either. (I'll refrain from making a joke here) Anyway, silence implies concent. You're usurping God if you say something is immoral when the Bible is slient on it.

 

[Jake255]

They don't talk about Baptists in the Bible, either. (I'll refrain from making a joke here) Anyway, silence implies concent. You're usurping God if you say something is immoral when the Bible is slient on it.

Silence might imply consent in some things, but not all things. Not everything we can/should do is listed, but not everything we shouldn't do is listed either.

Praying and walking in the Spirit will help us discern.

 

[itisdeliciouscake]

You're usurping God if you say something is immoral when the Bible is slient on it.

this

 

[Catherine4Christ]

I think where it talks about church supports the idea of youth group/small group. Church, in the original Greek text "Eclesia," means a movement or gathering of people. That's what I believe youth group is. It is a place to learn, as is going to a service/sermon/mass/etc.

 

[SDBaptist]

"Ekklesia" means literally "called out ones, especially when assembled together."

We shouldn't have divisions amongst us, "Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment."1 Corinthians 1:10

That is what Youth Group does. It divides the church service. How are these kids supposed to learn maturity and self-discipline without those who are greyed of hair and wiser to teach them?

 

[Catherine4Christ]

Well I learned through a DVD bible series that it means a movement or gathering. Sorry for the misspelling. In addition, my church does not separate the services. Our youth group is held AFTER church and on Wednesday nights. Even churches that do separate during services though, I believe that teens and adults learn differently, so I don't think they are dividing. In most cases, it is the same lesson, just taught a different way. In the case of my church's way of doing it, we just learn extra things, which I believe should be. Teens know less than the elders of the church, by nature, so we need to learn more so that we can be caught up.

 

[solarwave]

"Ekklesia" means literally "called out ones, especially when assembled together."

We shouldn't have divisions amongst us, "Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment."1 Corinthians 1:10

This is talking about divisions in the mind rather than place. You shouldn't have groups in the church fighting each other.

That is what Youth Group does. It divides the church service. How are these kids supposed to learn maturity and self-discipline without those who are greyed of hair and wiser to teach them?

Just because you use the same word doesn't mean it means the same thing. The youth group is divided from the adults, yes, what in what way? Not the way which 1 Corinthians 1:10 is talking about.

Also there are youth leaders who are older (and hopefully wiser) and they teach and help the youth.

So then, do you disagree with my post on the first page and if so why?

 

[SDBaptist]

Divided by the Leclerc brothers - Christian Movie/Film Trailer - CFDb - YouTube

 

[solarwave]

I don't think the system in which youth is done is the cause of the of the large numbers leaving the church. It has more to do with the clash between culture and church teachings. In my opinion the church has re-examine the faith and present a gospel that is biblical and relevant. A prime example of Christianity's seemingly irrelevance is young earth creationism. The church must be able to be self critical while being faithful.

I could be wrong but this seems to be a bigger problem then the system of youth work.

 

[Euchre]

Okay, @SDBaptist ...


What if there are youth groups that have the grey haired wise old men teaching them, like my youth group? I am 15, but I, and I'm sure others (not all of them now) are beyond causing division in any form, voluntarily, and if we do accidentally, we learn from it and try not to do it again. There is a difference between, well, let's be frank here...being a brat and causing disruption and just not knowing a lot.


My youth group leader, at the sign of any voluntary disruption in the group, he finds the problem and tells them to never return if they do it again. (He's a bit extreme, conservative, however he means well for sure.) So it is hard to have any in our's.

 

[CalvinAndHobbes]

The Bible never mentioned telephones, so I posit that we should stop using telephones.

 

[tori955]

what the heckkkk. youth group is like a thing where teenagers can meet and get good christian friends....why would God not want us to do that???

i dont even go to church i only go to youth group sooooo yeah. i mean i used to go to church on sundays but i didnt really like my church, then i switched churches but i was to far away soooo now i only go on wednesdays