anguish and the coming teen decade

Have you ever heard that young people do not like to be told what to do? They are autonomous and run their own life. Have you ever heard that young people do not like rules? They hate absolutes and make up their own standards. Have you ever heard that young people are anarchists? They despise authority and openly rebel against them.

Bunk. That means garbage.

Sure, young people do not respond to poor authority, and they do not like unclear absolutes, and they would rather be completely autonomous rather than take advice. But such are adults also. We don't like to be told what to do. We don't like rules. And adults don't respond to their boss most of the time either.

I believe it is more a problem with poor authority and weak models who have restricted this generation with improper standards and ruled over our culture with a judgmental morality system.

Listen, as spiritual leaders to this generation, we must lead them with integrity and genuiness. And that comes from truth. A relentless commitment to truth. Truth is the therapy that must be applied to reach this generation. Remember the God-shaped hole? Time hasn't created a fill. When love and truth are symbiotic in their function, I believe that we can earn the trust of young people.

In my experience with high school students every week, they are looking for consistent role models and genuine leaders. Because the culture they live in has such a cynical and changing concept of truth, a loving and consistent message of truth could be the difference. One of the missing elements in our youth culture is the power of the Holy Spirit. As Francis Chan has said, He is the unforgotten God. Any time I have led with consistent, genuine love, young people have responded with conversion or at least great discussion.

My challenge from this video and in this blog today is that as spiritual leaders must understand truth. From the perspective of the Holy spirit. As John said, in chapter 14, the Spirit of Truth will bring conviction. Watching this video over the past few years has really moved me to ask the Holy Spirit to use me in bringing truth to the young people around me. Praying through this video has allowed the Holy Spirit to use me to draw young people away from their autonomous distance. Praying through this video has allowed the Holy Spirit to use me to define absolutes with power. Praying through this video has allowed the Holy Spirit to use me to lovingly be an authority in their life.