Do Students’ Experiences Shape Their Theology? Or Vice Versa?
As I observe teenagers, I’ve learned that they tend to be very visceral and experiential. They seem to want to “taste, touch, smell, and feel” life. I imagine this is your observation, as well. Research shows us that between the ages of 11-25, people need “life experiences” for proper brain development to occur. They need to create the ability to evaluate, associate, and build upon their emotions and feelings so they can put description to what they go through.
You’ve no doubt had those conversations with teenagers (and adults) where you hear them say “I don’t feel God in my life right now.” (Any of you ever feel stuck at what to say next other than the textbook response of “well, you know He’s there”?) They are responding to what they perceive as a lack of an experience with God. We see this same cry in Scripture; the Psalms are riddled with laments, cries, groaning and painful pleas of “where are you God?”
But compounded on this, is the “I need it now” emphasis of digital networking (SMS, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, etc) that has created a culture-wide lack of patience.
We’ve had students have “life changing” experiences on mission trips, serving projects and being hands on with leadership roles. We watch as a group of students at a camp/retreat bring back a ton of energy and excitement. We see, plan, and budget for catalytic events that will create a momentum for our students off the “experience” they will have. All in the name of an experiential aspect of our faith development.
However a careful line that must be walked upon is this tension of having experiences dictate our understanding of God, rather than have or understanding of God impact our experiences.
When God moves, it confirms who He is and what His Kingdom is about. We desire that for our students, because we want them to experience the gospel first hand & live it out. We want their lives to be impacted by God in very tangible ways. We want spiritual markers for them to look back upon, like Old Testament alters of remembrance of God moving, so to speak. We want their faith to be confirmed by living out their faith. We want 1 John 2:6 in their lives.
But if their relationship with Christ is primarily based off experiences what happens when their experience is negative? What happens when the camp/retreat goes poorly, or the mission trip creates a tension in them they’ve never had before? What happens when their experience with a person of another faith challenges their own faith convictions?
I believe we are dealing with a biblically illiterate generation. I tend to see teenagers whose faith is based on what they feel over what they have searched to be true. When it comes to faith, it seems many students stop thinking for themselves, or stop wrestling with life tensions. Statements similar to, “if it doesn’t feel comfortable or right then it must not be” fill conversations. Hard questions on pain in the world, life-hurts, sin, and doubt all stem from experiences that put tension on students’ faith.
There has to be more of a foundation.
We have the Scriptures as a key revelation to the character of God. Students need to know His character so that they need can experience His character. I believe deeply, a strong conviction as a follower of Jesus, that if we aren’t exposing students to knowing the character of God without experiencing God, we are doing them no good. And if we aren’t allowing them to experience the person of Jesus Christ without knowing Him, again, we do them no good.
I don’t have a way to balance this other than to keep it on our radar on our team, to be sure that our conversations, teachings, and focus is balanced. My prayer as a pastor is that I lead students to know God, so that when they experience Him, there is a foundation of relationship to build on.
What are your thoughts on this dynamic?
Danny Bowers oversees the student ministries at Mission Hills Church in Mission Viejo, California. He is married to his high school sweetheart & they have two sons. You can follow Danny on his blog here.
This is what we commented on in My foundations in Christianity class; what you have said is very true, too many don’t think for themselves and do not truly get to know God until they are on their own. However; the responsibility isn’t ours only as a family of God, but the teens themselves have to make the choice.
Great insights Danny. Thanks!
Thanks for stopping by, Jake! Hope you’re doing well.
Jake R thanks!
Gaynel
I agree students need to make the choice themselves but often students have the framework of only their life, viewpoint & social pressure to go off of. Too often we(youth leaders/church ministries) don’t make it a greater priority to have open theological discussions with them to give them perspective as they process through life on any level.
Hey Danny, good thoughts here. I think most of us have shot ourselves in the foot by ditching the catechisms. I’ve really been wrestling through this too… how can the church help the parents to take the lead in discipling their kids and giving them solid biblical/theological foundations from an early age so that when they reach the teenage years they already have a good foundation to stand on?
Catechisms have been around for a long time for a reason… maybe it’s time to revisit them and ask ourselves how we can integrate their aim and structure into our ministries. Based off the catechisms, I try to teach through the Lord’s Prayer, Ten Commandments, and even one of the Creeds every few years so that the students who haven’t really given these much thought have the opportunity to really engage with these foundational biblical truths. It’s not fancy or trendy but it has been very fruitful for us here.
Mike,
I don’t want to speak for Danny, but I think there has to be a blend, right? We have to teach solid theology (so students can know God’s character in a purely knowledge-based, or informational sense); and they must have an experiential learning environment to “test” these truths, to see them in a real world application. I think that’s the sweet spot. Of course, in a perfect world, we’re partnering with parents in a system that creates a holistic, or comprehensive approach to faith development. So, as for teaching the catechisms, for my two-cents, I think that’s vital for your faith tradition. Then, the rich experiences your students have make the truths of the catechisms and Scripture come to life. Thanks a ton for stopping by and sounding off. Glad to have you in the ym360 Community.
Thanks ANDY, I wasn’t really meaning to give the impression that I’m all about the catechisms all the time, I simply think they’re a rich resource we’ve neglected and tossed away at our own expense. As a Baptist, catechisms are very rare to come across, but I think putting a good catechism in the hands of parents at an early age would he wise. I don’t teach through the catechism per-se as much as I use it’s topics and themes to help steer my teaching themes throughout a 2-3 year rotating basis.
I’ve come to love what you guys are doing here at YM360, keep up the good work.
Cool, Mike. Makes perfect sense. I wasn’t exactly sure of your theological leanings. I grew up a Baptist, and my personal theological lens is Baptistic. And like you I find that there is a richness in the creeds and the catechisms. It’s fun every once in a while in our Baptist youth group to utilize liturgy. So our of the norm that it really grabs students’ attention! Hope you’re having an awesome day, and thanks so much for stopping by! God bless you.