by Vicki Phipps

Created on: October 26, 2008   Last Updated: May 24, 2012

The role of religion in a teen's life can make the difference between a teen who hides and a teen who shines, no matter what his or her home life is like. There's nothing like a spiritual life that can take a teen's low self esteem and create a well rounded and balanced human being who has a sense of belonging, and the benefits are endless.

A relationship for life

If teens are not taught about God, how will they ever know who God is or what He can do for the teen who might not know which way to go, had someone not taken him to church where religion became the key which introduced him to the most meaningful relationship of his life? Who knows what teaching teens about God could do to improve a life or two, and maybe society too? It might even save a life if someone takes the time to bring the teen inside.

Sometimes a church is worth it's weight in gold when it fosters the growth of souls. When we forget to teach a teen to pray, what will they say and who will they talk to when life confuses them into believing things that aren't true? Every teen needs to know that he or she is a child of God, and since God is king of heaven, earth and the universe, that means the teen is worthy to receive everything heaven, earth and the universe has to offer. Imagine what feeling worthy would do to improve a teens self esteem.

Spiritual growth

Why is it true that so many don't think beyond feeding teens at home and educating them at school? The fact remains the same today as it was on the teen's first day of life, that he or she has needs that have to be met in order to grow, not only physically, mentally and emotionally, but spiritually as well. When one aspect of a teens development is dismissed, the teen will grow up feeling as if something is missing, because it is.

Teens know they have a spirit somewhere, but they don't know where it is. Religion is the key to finding missing things, so the good news is that once they find it, their spirit will never be missing again. They need to know the human side of life holds the ego and some roles, but the being holds the soul, the only thing they will ever own, so let's not wait too late to give each teen what he or she might be missing.

A sense of Belonging

How many teens do you know who don't need to belong to something? Obviously, the answer is zero. If teens are not provided with a membership somewhere, they'll find their own somewhere, "out there," where there might be wolves disguised as friends who welcome them in. There's

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