I’m a member of the Lord’s church and also the Organising Secretary of the Blantyre Churches of Christ Youth Ministry. I would like to learn and seek your advice on how youth ministry is undertaken. ~ Eliam
We entertain religious questions for which biblical answers are sought. This question, then, causes somewhat of a quandary, since “Youth Ministry” is not something addressed in the Bible.
The English word “ministry” appears 22 times in the Bible (KJV), all but twice appearing in the New Testament. The Greek word “diakonia,” translated “ministry,” occurs 34 times in the New Testament and is translated also as “ministration,” “administration,” “ministering,” “relief” and “service.” The word means “attendance as a servant.”
Scripture applies “ministry” to domestic duties as preparing a meal (Luke 10:40), the special work of the apostles (Acts 1:17, 25), exercising church benevolence (Acts 6:1), benevolent financial assistance (Acts 11:29), teaching and preaching the Word of God or the Gospel (Acts 6:4; 2 Corinthians 4:1; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:5) and references to the function of God’s law (namely, Judaism). The usual application of the word “ministry” in the New Testament pertains to teaching and preaching the Word of God.
Youth are not singled out among all possible candidates for the “ministry of the Word” (Acts 6:4), any more than is any other age group selected in Scripture for special treatment with the Gospel (e.g., middle-aged, senior citizens, etc.). The terminology “Youth Ministry” is of human origin rather than divine stipulation. Of course, youth need the Word of God so they might become Christians and young Christians need a steady diet of God’s Word, just as every other age group does as well. However, we must remember that Youth Ministry is a human accommodation and not a divine prescription, so that we do not assume too much for “Youth Ministry” as though it were a God-given mandate rather than an expedient.
For instance, often youth ministries are almost entirely fun and games or entertainment, as though God designated that as a mission of the church. We must remember that the home and not the church is primarily responsible for much that affects youth. Both the home and the church teach youth (and others), but entertainment of youth is a home rather than a church duty.
Further, special, parallel worship services for youth, which is sometimes done, is an accommodation of youth that conflicts with passages relative to the assembling of the local church together (1 Corinthians 11: 17-20; 14:23) and requires at least the adult Christians who oversee such to forsake the assembly of the church (Hebrews 10:25).
Summarized, “Youth Ministry” is a humanly devised accommodation toward a segment of a congregation rather than a divine stipulation; it is at best an expedient through which youth can be edified with the Word of God. With the word “ministry” involved in it, youth ministry must predominantly concern itself with the Word of God rather than primarily being the assumption of a home-based function of entertainment and attempting to make fun and games a mission of the church, equivalent to the God-ordained missions of evangelism (Mark 16:15-16), edification (1 Corinthians 14:12) and benevolence (Galatians 6:10). At worst, “youth ministry” is not speaking as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11) and may usurp functions of the home and without divine authorization append to the God-appointed missions of the Lord’s church. Youth ministry does not necessarily preclude enjoyment and pleasurable activities, but it must include a significant appeal to the mastering the Word of God, otherwise it is not worthy to be associated with the biblical word, “ministry.”
