GIVING CHRISTIAN ADVICE TO TEENS
The teenage years can be the most difficult because of the numerous mental and physical changes that take place. Add to this peer pressure, negative media influences, parent divorces, societal violence . . . the list goes on and on. With so much worldly negativity to deal with, it is no wonder teens have problems. Even Christian teens can stray from God and rebel during these years, so strong is the pull of sin.
Relating Christianity to teenagers is important to keep them aware of God and His promises or bring unbelievers to Him when advice is needed. Unfortunately, the task is often left to youth pastors, and although that is part of their job description, advising teens should be something every Christian adult feels at ease with.
Brian McLaren (2007) tells how his friend views the church as a jigsaw puzzle with the wrong lid. You use the picture on the lid to help put the puzzle together. It is your image of how the final product should appear. When you find pieces that do not seem to fit, you simply push them aside, assuming that they were added in by mistake. Sometimes you even discard them because they are only getting in the way of completing the puzzle as you think it should look.
Similarly, adults avoid intervention with troubled teens, as they feel completely out-of-touch with today's culture. The teens get dropped off the table since they do not add to the assumed final picture. Let's be honest, here. Teens of the 2000's are truly a different breed, but that doesn't mean they cannot be reached, and it certainly does not mean they aren't worth reaching. To give Christian advice to teenagers, look to the things that mean the most to them - music and movies, and always fall back on the Good Book.
Using Music for Advice
Forget the idea that contemporary Christian music is the spawn of the devil; that is nonsense. Psalm 150:2-5 directs:
Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
That doesn't sound like He's asking for quiet, calm hymns. Current Christian music covers the same genres as secular music, but the lyrics are different. With an identical sound, Christian tunes sing of the value of life, importance of prayer, and goodness of God. They declare praise and worship, encouraging listeners to follow in the light of the Lord. If a teen enjoys music - and most of them do, according to research, listening to an average of several hours each day - why not use it as a stepping stone in guidance? Refer teens to popular Christian music, as the plethora of topics will surely relate to them in some manner. So what if it's Rock? So what if it's Hip-hop? The idea here is that they are heeding God's word, finding refuge in it, and liking it.
Using Movies for Advice
Some of the best stories ever written have been turned into movies. Those teens that opt against curling up with a good book can still benefit from the inspirational tales by watching the film adaptations. The Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings were both translated into blockbuster hits. Though advertised as mainstream action-filled stories, they hold a deeper Christian meaning. Unlike many books-turned-movies, these retain the good versus evil messages on screen that exist in the print versions. Without roots in classic literature, the Star Wars movies teach similar ideas. Any of these films can offer teens a quotable line or good moral lesson to apply to the craziness of their lives.
Using the Bible for Advice
If an adult is comfortable with one-on-one confrontations, try using the Bible. The Bible, of course, is full of wisdom, whether in proverbs or parables, so why not just refer teens to a particular book and passage? Biblical language and time-period information pose problems even for adult Christians. We frequently need someone to tell us the stories in easy, digestible bits, and the same goes for teens. Teenagers can benefit greatly from the lessons of the Bible, but they need to hear them in language that they understand. Sit down with the teen and listen. Choose a passage that appropriately addresses the circumstances and teach it in simple language. Most importantly, do not be afraid. Knowing that someone cares enough to spend the time to speak with them is often all a teen needs to get through a tough situation. "God so loved the world," and He wants us to, as well.
REFERENCES:
McLaren, B. (2007). Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope. Thomas Nelson: Nashville.
New International Version of the Holy Bible. (1973). Zondervan: Grand Rapids.