Theology’s definition is simply the study of God. And I have said for a decade that kids and students are the best theologians because the best theologians are always asking one question, why? This is a question that everyone knows, most of us hate, and parents hear all the time. In a student ministry context, the why questions take the form of, “Why do we believe the way we do?” “Why does God work in this specific way?” “Why should we care?” The question of why has brought about many great doctrines, many great books, many great articles, and for the sake of this article, many great conversations. I’ve served in student ministry for the last few years, and I’m amazed at the questions and discussions that take place when a group of 12-year-olds talk about God. The reason I believe that our students and kids are the best theologians is because they are not afraid to ask the question “why”.
Adults seem to be afraid to ask the “why” questions. And because the church often segregates groups by age, adults are surrounded by other adults who are afraid to ask “why”. In my experience the most segregated and looked down demographic in most churches is the students. Often, unless you volunteer with students, adults in the church can easily avoid teens and tweens. And subsequently, Churches are glad to have younger people, but seem to push them to the side at every turn. That is not how our kids should remember the church.
I want kids in the church to connect with their church on a personal level. And I want to be challenged by their why questions. Serving in Rstudents pushes me to examine hard questions that adults either don’t think about or are too afraid to ask. My relationship with God is stronger because I interact with students who ask “why” questions. It’s what draws me to teach and connect with our students. If I can engage God’s narrative with just one of our students, I call that a win. It is my prayer that if you are thinking about helping out in our student ministry just try it. Not only will you connect and impact students, but they will impact you. They will ask hard questions about God and push you to think about God in ways you haven’t since you were a teenager. Take the time to get to know the students in your context. You’ll be amazed at how God uses these young theologians to speak life and truth into the church.
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