Bruce Edwards
By Chris Turner
Director of Communications, TBC
BRENTWOOD — The intersection of a biblical worldview and the philosophy of a secular culture often converge in the youth minister’s office, and there has been no greater collision in that intersection than the recent 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage in all 50 states.
“Youth ministers are faced with helping parents and teenagers sort through the reality of a biblical view of human sexuality and marriage,” said Bruce Edwards, youth specialist with the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
“The culture and the court are validating lifestyles contrary to God’s intended design for sex and marriage. Unfortunately this issue isn’t going away so churches and ministers can’t just stick their heads in the sand and hope it will.”
Youth ministers stand at a unique place in the lives of both parents and teens, Edwards said, and stand in a unique position of ministry as a result. That is a lot of responsibility, especially when dealing with such an important topic that needs to be handled with great wisdom for all involved.
“Youth ministers must resist the urge to turn this into a personal platform,” Edwards said.
“This is time to stand on a biblical platform. Yes, we need to share the truth of Scripture but we also need to do it with love and grace. We must not share our faith militantly but mercifully.”
Edwards said youth minsters have a great opportunity to create safe forums for both parents and youth, allowing both to ask questions in an environment that helps them find biblical answers. He added that a youth minister ought to be cooperating with parents and pastors to develop a curriculum that annually addresses issues like healthy dating relationships, marriage, sex, and human sexuality.
“Our parents and youth need help,” he said. “If the church doesn’t address these issues and create a safe space to understand what God says on these issues, the only other place they are going to receive their information is from the world’s view, which is obviously contrary to Scripture.”
Edwards offered eight ideas for youth ministers and pastors to consider as part of the church’s youth ministry strategy that helps equip both parents and youth to both grow in faith and to be salt and light in their respective spheres of influence.
(1) Collaborate to create a plan. A church’s leadership would be wise to work with parents to create a strategy for how ministers, parents, and youth can partner in a discussion about the Supreme Court decision and its implications.
(2) Be honest and direct, and prudent. Ministers need to answer questions from students honestly and directly without exposing them to more than they can handle (boundaries should be negotiated with parents).
(3) Keep the Bible central to the discussion. Discipleship is helping students understand and apply Scripture to all areas of their lives, not just this one issue.
(4) Address the issue. Homosexuality, transgenderedness, and same-sex marriage are hot topics these days. Disciple for the long haul, but also do “biblical triage” and give parents and youth biblical handles to deal with the issue now.
(5) Teach what true love is and where it comes from. A good place to start this discussion is I John 4. God defines love; love does not define God and I John 4 explains that true love cannot be separated from God’s holiness.
(6) Help them love their neighbors. It is okay to disagree with someone and still love them. There is a balance and it is usually found in humility and service that creates the opportunity for sharing truth.
(7) Keep your head! Don’t overreact or show outrage about the Supreme Court decision but rather share and show a Christian biblical conviction. Remember, students will most often “catch” what you do more than what you say. Actions truly will speak louder than words on this issue.
(8) Be a learner yourself. Don’t feel you need to have all the answers. Know where to find helpful and biblical resources. The Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission has some excellent resources and the Tennessee Baptist Convention is compiling helpful resources on its website at tnbaptist.org/marriage.
