The Wisdom of Youth
by Suzanne Hadley on 05/09/2008 at 12:22 PM
I'm a big fan of intergenerational friendships among Christians. I've often heard someone my age say, "I want to get to know an older believer to glean from his wisdom and experience." But sometimes wisdom comes from the young. An excerpt from my personal blog.
Soft-spoken with gentle eyes, 16-year-old Zach Hunter doesn't look the part of an abolitionist. But beneath a quiet exterior beats a fiery heart akin to William Wilberforce or Martin Luther King Jr. In the past four years, Zach has written two books, founded an anti-slavery campaign and spoken all over the world.
This morning I sat at a table with Zach and his mom. When asked if he ever gets to be a "normal" 16-year-old, Zach shrugs and says, "Sometimes." His next words challenge me. "A lot of times kids my age are going out and doing things I don't want to do—because they're not right." He's talking about seeing certain movies or going to prom, things most teens—even Christian ones—probably wouldn't think twice about.
Zach has a keen sense of right and wrong—a quality that led him to start "Loose Change to Loosen Chains" when he was 12. The student-led campaign continues to raise thousands of dollars each year to end slavery. Gentle and humble (remind you of anyone?), Zach isn't your average powerhouse influencer. And yet his fierce dedication to God's calling on his life and willingness to sacrifice are inspiring a generation to take action. In a CT article, he says of his generation:
"I want us to make history—and I don't mean to get our names in some history book, but to be known as a generation that did something for God, cared for the poor, and totally stopped slavery."
And God is blessing Zach's willingness to commit his youth to this cause. Zach's book Be the Change surprised publishers with the number of copies sold. And his upcoming book Generation Change will be accompanied by parent-youth events to help parents empower their children to follow God's calling on their lives.
I'm glad for examples like Zach. God challenged me to a higher standard through him. You can catch Zach's wisdom on his blogs at breakawaymag.com.
1. Rachael said the following at 7:22 PM on May 9
Yes, definitely wisdom and maturity can be found in the youth. Just this past Sunday at my church someone gave a sermon called "A Senior Citizen's View of Spiritual Maturity" at my church. And he mentioned that spiritual maturity is not an aged linked thing.
Yes, we can glean wisdom from elders. But I don't think they always have a solid grasp on Scripture as some young person might. Or, just as any age of a human, they might not always react to trials in Godly manners. They sin like the rest of us. Am I bashing people in older generations? No way. Absolutely no way. There is a lot of respect and wisdom and lessons learned that can come with old age.
But we need to remember that there can be a lot of wisdom and examples set by the youth as well.
My youngest brother immediately pops in my mind. He's only 21, but I think the world of him. We don't communicate all that often, and he goes to college in another state, but he just seems to have a sense of maturity, poise, and Biblical wisdom. He just e-mailed me today about a Leviticus commentary and a Christian book. Neat kid.
There are a lot of respectable young people out there...
2. brx said the following at 8:46 PM on May 9
That's awesome! Zach's campaign title reminds me of those envelopes on some international airlines: loose Change for Good - making it easy to donate leftover foreign currency that would otherwise be likely lost in a desk drawer.
A couple highschool musicians I knew from a youth group rallied others together and put on a benefit concert for Darfur people in crisis. They raised several thousand $ in a public highschool venue! Currently, some college students I went to Uganda with are working on putting together a benefit concert & art-fest to pay Ugandan children's school fees.
Suzanne, I like that you pointed out Zach's humility. The visions and dreams God puts on our hearts are not too big and unrealistic. But, they will often require humility to seek out and join with others rather than be a lone-ranger or CEO who expects everything to be done one way.
God speed!
PS: Here's a big dream prayer request - we ran into Bono & the Edge on our way to Uganda... and it would be waaaay cool if this school fees benefit program grew to the point where they were interested in helping with a benfit concert at Laguna Seca in Monterey...
3. Leah said the following at 9:55 AM on May 10
I realise this is off-topic, but the OP raised it and i can't help asking- why is going to the prom wrong?
Anyway, in regards to the point of the OP, it's great to hear about people like Zach. I wish adults made kids think they can "do something" more. I've come across so many situations where kids want to do something but feel powerless because they're "just kids". It's also very rooted in the parents, I believe. Even if another older person tells the child "you can do it", if the parent is not encouraging and helping, the encouragement from a different person is minimal.
I think that while most lessons are learnt from older generations, there are certainly lessons to be learnt from younger ones too.
4. Jenny said the following at 10:29 PM on May 11
Going to prom is "not right"? What.....?
5. Joseph said the following at 1:07 AM on May 12
I find it encouraging to see examples such as Zach making a difference in the world for God's glory. While working in youth ministry I try to emphasize the students to take ownership for who they are and what they are capable of. I think a general stigma of society and a lack of expectations from the 16-24 age group has led to a waste of much talent and contributed to the destructive path of society.
6. brx said the following at 12:15 PM on May 12
Leah, Jenny;
Regarding prom, the reason it sounds strange is because the article's author placed Zach's statment and a summary in an assumed context. Going to prom is not inherently wrong. If however, one looks at how much money and time that _some_ students put into preparing for one fleeting prom evening of indulgence - contrasted with the situation of their 'neighbors' living 'across the street' who are at the same time being forced into abusive slavery... well, one may see an issue there.
Grace & peace & courage
7. Ann said the following at 12:17 PM on May 12
There are so many awesome young people in our church. I myself am humbled to see so many of them rising up.
A good friend of mine recently asked my advice on possible mentors for her. She mentioned a few names, and said that she felt like she needed an older woman. Fair play to her, but I pointed out that some of the women she was looking to were the same age as her, despite appearing around 8 years older because of their spiritual maturity.
I can only pray that I can gain that much spiritual maturity and wisdom whilst I'm young.
8. Marc said the following at 2:29 PM on May 12
As a man who has worked with junior-high students and/or high-school students for the past 7 years, I can tell you that every single teen in every single youth group has the potential to be like Zach. The problem is that we have let TV, radio, Internet, etc. dumb them down to the point that youth groups are lucky if they have at least 2 people who "get it" and are passionate about living a life for the Lord.
9. Karen said the following at 9:36 AM on May 13
The only thing I think is a little weird is in comparing Zach to William Wilberforce (maybe not in this post, I didn't follow all the links, but they had a plug for him in the extras of Amazing Grace the movie). Wilberforce was fighting to abolish slavery in his OWN country. It's a little different trying to fight slavery in OTHER countries where, ultimately, we personally have no say and are not actually responsible for what's happening. Good on him for linking people to organizations that can actually do something.
10. Suzanne said the following at 5:00 PM on May 13
BRX,
Thanks for clarifying the point on prom. I was not saying that prom is wrong. I was saying that Zach is convicted that prom is wrong for him and that challenged me. Just because something is accepted by society and even Christian culture does not negate the responsibility each believer has to do what is right between himself and God. I appreciated that Zach has a high standard simply because he believes it's the right thing to do.
11. brx said the following at 1:43 PM on May 19
[the topic has rolled off the blog list by now but I thought this worth mentioning]
Karen commented about "...trying to fight slavery in OTHER countries where, ultimately, we personally have no say and are not actually responsible for what's happening."
I think to an extent, we are responsible - if we are our brothers' keeper as the Bible teaches, then to some extent, we are responsible. If a Christian is to care for his/her neighbors, then a Christian nation ought to care for its neighboring nations. If it comes to light that there is a terrible abuse or injustice going on in a neighbor's house, then it becomes the responsibility of the neighboring Christians to confront the neighbor - with loving care and concern. [I'm not saying this is easy]
It is easy to think that we individuals don't have any say in international matters. However, in the United States of America, we have been gifted with the ability to express our concerns to and thus influence our nation's policy makers and leaders - if we so choose.
www.One.org/about/
is a brilliant example of a ministry that shows people how easy it is to use their voting voice to help people in neighboring nations.
We can affect change, but we will have to speak up - and in more ways than one.
Grace, peace & courage!