June 2001

THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF YOUTH

            A new book entitled Canada’s Teens: Today, Yesterday and Tomorrow, by sociologist Reginal Bibby of the University of Lethbridge paints a portrait of Canada’s youth culture which mirrors our own.  The encouraging part of the survey is that Canadian youth have a great interest in spirituality.  The book draws on a survey conducted of 3,500 high school students, ages 15-19.  The majority of young adults and youth who were surveyed said they were aware of having spiritual needs.  That’s the good news.

            But one religious leader said, “It’s not the Bible they’re going to for guidance; it’s the psychics, and the astrology kind of thing.  Some are becoming more deeply involved in New Age practices and witchcraft (Wicca).”  In other words, an interest in spiritual things no longer directly translates into an interest in Christianity.

            To put it into perspective, let me go back to my high school years.  In our school alcohol was available, but I had never heard of the drugs that are obtainable today.  Marijuana was something that only people in jazz bands smoked as far as I knew.  Even if I had wanted drugs or marijuana I would not have had the slightest idea where to get them.  But now there is a whole variety of designer drugs, and the average high school student could have the one he or she wanted by the end of the day.  All kinds of options are open to young people today that we never thought or heard about. 

            The same is true in the spiritual arena.  Young people today are presented with a veritable smorgasbord of spirituality.  They can choose between Eastern Mysticism, Wicca, Goth, Astrology or Christianity.  Never have their been so many available options to our young people spiritually, and never have they been more willing to investigate those options.  They are very aware of their spiritual needs, but there is a great deal of confusion about how to fill those needs.  The study concludes that they have no trouble with Jesus, but they often feel alienated from the church. 

            We are privileged to have a wonderful group of young people in our church.  Our youth group recently went to a Christian music festival where they worshiped with over 20,000 other young people from around the country.  Two young women from our congregation who have been a part of our youth program are going to serve as missionaries this summer.  Emily Kadlec is serving in Colorado, and Jennifer Orsborne will be ministering in South Africa. 

            We need to pray that we will continue to be able to reach young people and present them with an attractive and living faith to which they will want to commit their lives. 

Praying for the coming generation,

Rod