Since the church is to “edify itself in love” by “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15-16), most Christians recognize that a congregation has a scriptural right to conduct special meetings for the edification of its members. Sometimes these are traditional “gospel meetings” that often address the needs of saints and sinners – but sometimes only the needs of saints. Sometimes they are special different speaker “lectureships” with multiple sessions daily, for a day or more, on themes aimed at edifying the local church as a whole. Sometimes they are Bible lessons especially applicable to the needs of certain members of the church – like young parents, seniors, or teens/young adults (cf. 1 John 2:12-14; Titus 2:1-6). These lessons may be in the form of preaching services or they may be set up as classes much like the church’s regular Bible classes.

In recent years the number of “youth specials” planned and carried out by local churches have multiplied many-fold. Because there is so much potential for good in such meetings, properly conducted, many are reluctant to sound a warning trumpet in regards to them. But like powerful building tools used to construct great houses, they must be handled with care or people will get hurt by them. The power saw or nail gun can do wonders in speeding up a building project, but, if handled carelessly, it can rip off the hand that must do the building.

For several years, I have had the privilege to work with young people at a great camp near my home. I have seen firsthand the zeal and enthusiasm of young Christians. Any congregation with just a few such young minds is truly blessed. The challenge for the leadership of such a congregation is to harness and direct this powerful source of energy to the benefit of the congregation as a whole. Special efforts directed at youth can facilitate this challenge or they can be a detriment, depending on how they are handled. This is why we raise the yellow flag of caution. It is just too easy for these “specials” to spin out of control if they do not have adequate safeguards.

We have all seen the results of Protestant denominationalism’s overemphasis upon young people. It has led to their “youth ministries” with their full-time “youth ministers” who are nothing more than glorified social directors. Then there are the “youth rallies” which are glorified pep rallies filled with fun activities with just enough reference to the Bible to give them enough religious flavor to market them as “church work.” One of the reasons that brother Floyd Decker, in his famous article, Why I Left the Christian Church, gave for leaving the “Christian Church” and becoming a member of the church of Christ was “the Christian Church seeks to get crowds with Youth Meetings, Campaigns for Christ, Rallies, Drives and Promotions; the church of Christ does not.” Unfortunately, history shows that as the denominations go so goes a sizable number of our brethren over a period of time.

We believe that there are some precautions that congregations that choose to conduct youth meetings can take that will keep them from degenerating into the denominational style youth meetings and rallies mentioned above.

1. As with any congregational activity, these meetings should be overseen by the elders. This means they should oversee the planning and execution of the event. (In the absence of elders, the same expediencies can be followed that are used to see that other congregational activities are done properly.) Too often the role of elders in these meetings is limited to giving their permission to use the church’s facilities for the event. The actual planning and oversight is left to the immaturity of youth – either a young preacher or some other young leader. God knew what he was doing when he placed the oversight of the church into the hands of mature men. Both the knowledge from study and the wisdom of experience is needed to guide the local church in all its activities. When you can combine youth’s enthusiasm for getting things done with the knowledge, wisdom, judgment, and hands-on guidance of mature men you have a great combination.

2. Emphasize that these meeting are just one part of the congregation’s over all effort to edify all of its members. Stress that the young folks attending the meeting are no more “special” than the other members of the congregation regardless of their age. All are members one of another. Emphasize that each member is to supply his or her part to the edifying of the body as a whole. Each contributes his part to the body as a whole according to his ability and opportunity. Young people should not be treated as if they are a special segment within the church deserving special treatment and subject to special rules of conduct and responsibility. They should be considered as regular members of the whole body who are expected to do their share – neither more or less vital than the other members. When they are made to feel “special” as compared to the rest of the congregation you have the embryo for special “youth ministries” complete with their youth ministers. And even to further extremes of having separate “youth churches” and “youth worship.”

3. Be careful to maintain the spiritual nature of the “youth meetings” whether they take the form of a series of sermons/lectures or simply a series of classes. The sermons and class material should be biblical in content. The sessions should be approached with the same reverence and decorum as is done in regular preaching services and Bible classes. “The word” should be preached/taught (2 Tim. 4:1-4) Instead, in “regular” and “special” meetings, all too often the talks that pass for gospel sermons and the classes that pass for Bible classes are nothing more than the latest pop psychology, or a review of the latest book by some popular (often denominational or other liberal minded) writer, or mere pointers to improve social interaction.

If it is a church function, all activities should be spiritual. It is all too easy to turn these specials into social events sponsored by the church. There is a place for fun and games when Christians, young or old, get together in their homes for social events. But the church has no business either planning or carrying out social activities for either young or old. The work of the church is spiritual. However, it is not uncommon for these church “youth specials” to be turned into a fun and games events. We know of one where an entertainment group was blaring on the power point system and a human pyramid was encouraged to be built in the isle of the meeting place. Before you know it these meetings are turned into full blown denominational style youth rallies rather than a special series of gospel meetings or a special series of Bible classes.

What ever the stated topics for these special meetings may be, it should be clearly understood that they will be dealt with from the biblical perspective. If the Bible does not deal with the stated subjects, then the church should not be having these meetings. The church is the “pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15), not a purveyor of psychological or sociological dogma.

If the main purpose of these meetings is to provide an opportunity for young Christians to associate with others of like faith it would be better for Christians individually to open up their homes for such opportunities. While any church sponsored meeting will indeed bring people (young or old) of like faith together – the main purpose is to glorify God and build up the faith of those in attendance by “speaking the truth in love.” (Cf. Eph. 4:15) It is an opportunity for biblical teaching and learning, not a social and recreational event. edbragwell@gmail.com