A Modern Application of an Ancient Command
I was recently invited to a gathering of Paraguayan churches to speak to them about the importance of youth ministry in the church. I decided to teach on the biblical basis for youth ministry based on the Great Shema, an Old Testament command found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21. This passage is so paramount that many modern day Jews continue to recite it twice daily and Jesus said it contains nothing less than the greatest commandment in all of Scripture! Deuteronomy 6:4-7 reads,
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise.”
When asked ‘what is the great commandment in the Law’ in Matthew 22:36, Jesus pointed to the Great Shema answering, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7 is so significant because it summarizes the purpose of the Law and life itself- to have a living relationship with our God continually expressed by heart-centered love and obedience. But what is often overlooked and most striking to me about this passage is that it institutes youth ministry. Does that statement seem like an oxymoron to you: youth ministry… in the Old Testament!? Though many write off youth ministry as a passing fad or recent development in the Church the truth is that God commanded we reach our youth in ancient times and placed this responsibility squarely on the shoulders of His people. In fact, it was to be such a natural affair He used terms like, ‘when you are sitting, walking, when you lie down, and when you rise… you shall teach these things to your children.’
It’s only been in recent times that we have “programized” and labeled this biblical mandate as ‘youth ministry’. Perhaps that has done more harm than help, lending to our tendency to compartmentalize youth ministry from the family and other ministries in the church. I believe biblical youth ministry should be more of a life style- investing into the lives of our young people in everyday ordinary situations. This responsibility starts with the parents and then extends to the rest of the family of God. No member of the Christian community is exempt from the command to reach out to the youth around them!
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