OPINION: There is reason to be hopeful about today’s young people

If you ever need a dose of hope concerning today’s young people, look no further than to some of the youth of our church.  In a world where we often see only phone-addicted, anxiety-ridden, self-absorbed teenagers, I was recently reminded that there is much good among the younger generation.

Last Sunday during our worship service, we prayed over Mariam and her parents.  Having graduated from Augustine School last week, she left a couple days ago for Brooklyn, NY to spend the next nine months alongside some of our church’s church planters.  Our church raised up the church planters, sent them out, and continues to support them with our money, prayers and volunteer efforts.  (A group of our young people are going on a mission trip there in a few weeks.)  Having grown up in the church, Mariam is now being sent out by the church—to proclaim the Gospel as she serves others in Brooklyn.

Last Sunday, she and her parents stood up front with an Elder. After he shared a bit about her and what she would be doing, everyone got up and spilled into the aisles to lay hands on her.  All over the room, people were connected with their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them—all of us were connected physically and spiritually as we prayed for Mariam.

Mariam gets her desire to serve others honestly.  Her father is a deacon and is busy with work at a local women’s shelter and a Christian school.  Her mother grew up on the mission field, coming to the United States after living her childhood and teenage years in Brazil.

Christians are those who love God and love others.  When asked to name the greatest commandment, Jesus said “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Matthew 23:37-39)

While the command Jesus gave is to “love God” and “love one another,” many Christians have different opinions about what this kind of love looks like.  It is a love for God that shows itself in both living obediently and serving others.    Living obediently means seeking to live a life that honors God—a life that is committed to God’s Word and resists those things that do not honor God. 

The apostle John said it this way— “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world”  (1 John 2:15-16).

Serving others means loving all people—meeting them where they are and helping them take the next step toward a life that connects fully with God’s global purpose.  The Good Samaritan was commended not because he talked about love.  Rather, his love showed as he went to the man on the side of the road, had compassion on him, bound up his wounds, poured oil and wine on his body, set him on his own animal, took him to an inn, took care of him, and gave money to help him further (Luke 10:32-35)

When Paul and Barnabas returned from their missionary journey to Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, they “gathered the church together” and “declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles” (Acts 14:27).  When she returns, we look forward to hearing not about what Mariam did, but about what God did with Mariam.

Indeed, there is reason to be hopeful about the younger generation.  They love God.  They love people.  And they desire to spend their lives for God’s sake.

Todd E. Brady serves as Staff Chaplain and Advanced Funeral Planner at Arrington Funeral Directors.  He and his wife, Amy have five sons.  You may write to him at tbrady@afgemail.net.