When junior highers were younger, they had a faith that was simple,
almost mythical-one that provided clear-cut answers to life's most
difficult questions. It provided them with invincible heroes of the faith
to admire and to emulate. They believed primarily because their parents and their teachers believed. But now, with the advent of adulthood and the ability to think on an adult level (Piaget's stage of formal operations), they sense that the faith of their childhood will no longer suffice. They dont want to be embarrassed by what they believe. Instead, they need to develop a more mature kind of faith, one that is personal
and makes the transition from childhood to adulthood along with them.
Unless the church is willing to help junior highers discover this faith, it is in danger of losing them. Many junior highers reject their faith and lose interest in the church because they are still being asked
to believe in a God whom they have literally outgrown. It is important,
therefore, to help junior highers begin to experience God in completely
new ways and to see how their faith in Christ relates to the new world
that is opening up before them.
With their newly acquired ability to think, junior highers will naturally begin to doubt and question the faith of their childhood.
Some youth find it necessary to discard this old faith alto-gether, rather
than modify it or try to live it long enough to understand it more fully.
For others, faith in God is weakened by a growing mind and a newly acquired world view that discredits anything that cannot be empirically proven or that doesn't make good sense. Some kids begin to think of their religion as a world of make-believe, and like many once cherished childhood myths, it is temporarily cast aside. They may continue to believe in God, but they aren't real sure about
anything else. The quote by 14-year-old jean at the beginning of my article is typical.
Of course there are always a certain number of junior highers who will have no doubts whatsoever (no serious ones anyway) and will remain absolutely faithful throughout their early adolescent years, and for them we can be thankful. These young people will simply build upon the foundation of their childhood faith. Still they will need to modify their old beliefs and to increase their understanding of them. There will also be quite a few who have nagging doubts about their faith but are afraid to express them. Early adolescents generally lack the self-confidence necessary to express these feelings openly, so they tend to keep them locked inside. Doubting increases during early adolescence, and it helps to remember that it is normal, even necessary at times. There is really no need to discourage doubt or to
eliminate it. We can help junior highers by letting them know their doubts and
questions are permitted, they are normal,
and God approves of them. Doubt is a
necessary part of one's spiritual development. As Frederick Buechner once Wrote, "Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith; they keep it alive and moving."* Even John the Baptist expressed doubts about Jesus when he was imprisoned for his faith (Matthew 11:3). Kids need to know that while they may doubt God and find him confusing and distant at times, God never doubts them. Sensitive youth workers will try to provide an environment of safety where junior highers have the freedom to be
open, to ask questions, and to mine their faith for answers that make
sense to them.
This is another reason why relationships are so important in junior high ministry. Junior highers need a person, not a program, whom they can turn with many of the questions and problems they are struggling with in their lives. They need someone in whom they can confide-an adult friend who understands and cares enough to listen. They need someone who will take their questions and ideas seriously without criticism. In most cases parents are unable to fill this role. The solution to doubt is not necessarily better curriculum, more weekend retreats, confirmation classes, or a special youth commitment service. You can get a lot more mileage out of just being a mentor and friend.
@Orchidaceae
