I am on a purposefully slow journey through the book of Romans interpreted by Eugene Peterson in "The Message". In Romans 12, I found some of the most interesting and thought provoking verses that easily pertains to youth ministry. I'd like to break down some of it here:
Peterson entitles the chapter "Place Your Life Before God" (You will be ineffective in youth ministry if you fail to do this!!!)
1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Paul tells us here that we must offer ourselves as a gift offering to be used by God every minute of every day. We must realize that we must be focused on God in whatever we are doing. If we aren't focused on him, the weight of the "downs" of youth ministry will drag us down to its level.
6-8If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
I would like to begin here by defining "disadvantaged" as a someone who is/was birthed into a household who does not worship Jesus as Lord. I have known several youth workers, including myself, who have been spiritually and emotionally effected by the disadvantaged. I would say that I have been irritated by students and to a point have even been depressed with the weight of asking myself "What could I have done differently?" when a student walks away from God and the church. This portion of Scripture challenges us to remember who is really in control. It isn't us. It is God, and since He is in control we can keep a smile on our face. Let's keep our faith in the One who created each student and the One who knows each student deeper than we ever will. This is also great encouragement to each part of a youth ministry team. If you are preaching or teaching...stick with Scripture. If you are helping, don't be trying to undermine the leadership, just show up (with a smile on your face) and help. If you are an encourager or someone the students look to for advice...be sure to just advise...and not take it too personally if they don't use your wisdom. If you are called to be generous with your time and money, don't over think it...when God presents a need or a cause for you to get involved in or with...jump in, don't wait for your worldly conscience to talk you out of being generous. Don't let those disadvantaged students (who talk more like sailors than Christ followers) drive you to the point of leaving youth ministry. Keep smiling!!!
9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
A student can always spot a fake! Always! I believe it is important to note that you have to run from evil because it is always running towards you. You have to hold on to good because the desire to always do good is running away from you. Be a good friend, love deeply, give someone else the spotlight!
11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
Remember to keep your own batteries charged. If God is not in your tank then how can you fuel others? Be cheerfully expectant...even a bit giddy of what God is going to do! Don't quit, pray harder, help students who are in need, be inventive in engaging with students inside and outside the church building.
14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."
20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.
I'll let those words speak for themselves.
Can't you see the calling and challenge of youth ministry just radiating from these verses? The challenge with youth ministry is being as loving and patient with each student as Jesus is. Are we? We have to remember that Jesus is with each student during both highs and lows. Are we? Jesus is working to transform each student from the very onset of ugly behavior or motives. Are we? Jesus is working to challenge students who appear to "have it all together" into a deeper relationship . Are we?
Take some time over the next several days to think about ministry as it relates to this chapter in the book of Romans. Are you tired, empty, burdened, depressed, irritated? Are you praying, being hospitable, being generous, being a good friend, loving deeply? Are you focused on God? Am I?
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Jon