5 Reasons Youth Workers Need Theology
I was sitting in the car with one of my youth group students. We had just spent the last two hours hanging out and talking about the movies and video games he’s been into lately when he asked seemingly silly question. It turns out, those are the questions that are usually the most difficult to answer. He asked, “Why do you think God made us so we need sleep? It seems like we could get more done without needing the sleep.”
He was curious, but didn’t even take his own question seriously. Unbeknownst to him, his question gets to the very heart of creation. Why did God create in six days… and then create the Sabbath? Why are there seven days in creation instead of six?
At the core, the Sabbath and our physical need for rest are tangible reminders that we are not in control. We can’t even control our bodies. No matter who you are, your need for rest demands that you lay down your strength and rest in your weakness. God made us with a built-in system to remind us that he is in control and we are not.
It was a great conversation that never would’ve happened without a reasonable degree of competence in Christian theology. If I had never studied the Sabbath or given it any thoughtful consideration, I would have missed the opportunity for a fruitful conversation with this student.
Here’s the thing: you never know when significant theological questions are going to be asked. Usually, it’s unexpected and from the least likely student. Being a student of Christian thought will equip you for these conversations before they happen.
Why Youth Workers Should Study Theology
Theology is the study of God. Youth workers should be passionate about their love for God, and because they love him they want to know him deeper. It would be strange for a youth worker to say, “I love Jesus! But I don’t want to get to know him better.” That’s essentially what it means to say, “I’m a Christian, but I don’t need theology.” Good theology is not need stale and crusty. I have consistently found that the spiritually dry seasons of my life align with periods when I haven’t been reading anything of substance. Good books about theology nourish the soul and fan the flame of spiritual affection.
Pastoral care is a theological task. If we are theologically immature, when students come to us for help, we will give them our best opinion instead of drawing from a rich well of insight from God’s Word. Every youth worker I’ve met has a passion to see students know Christ and walk with him daily. Knowing more about who God is, what he’s done, and what he expects of us will only strengthen our care and counsel to students. Studying theology deepens the well from which you draw while counseling students and parents.
Good theology leads to awe. So often we box God into our ideas of who he is and what he’s like. But as we dig into the attributes of God, for example, we realize that God truly is bigger and more glorious than we realize. Good theology never leads to boredom. Only bad theology (or good theology that’s poorly written). Instead, it reminds us of the beauty and glory of God, producing awe and worship and love as our only appropriate response to who God is. When we are living in awe of God, our ministry will only grow healthier.
Taking God seriously is a godly example to students. Years from now, when students think about about you, what do you want them to remember? How much you knew about the latest social media trends, or that you took God seriously? If you’re building your ministry around what you have in common with students then you’re a good friend, but you’re not a mentor. Enter your students’ world, listen to them, and speak into their world about the hope-giving and transforming power of the gospel… because you have a depth they do not.
God is more worthy of our time than pop culture. Careful here… don’t mishear me. Studying culture is valuable and important. Approaching culture with a theologically-shaped worldview enables us to identify common-grace realities to affirm and which need to be called out and corrected. At the same time, we will see the world in light of the cross, not merely according to the Law. If you love Netflix more than God’s Word, that’s a problem. When there’s no time for reading (or doing something else to grow your theology), but your gamer score is steadily climbing, then it may be time to honestly reevaluate your stated-desire to grow in Christ.
What I’m NOT Saying:
Every youth worker needs to study systematic theology. Not every youth worker needs to go to seminary. I generally recommend youth pastors to consider seminary, but formal theological education isn’t the only way to grow theologically mature. Some of the best youth pastors I know have very little formal education in theology, and yet I’d happily send my own kids to their youth group. If you want to grow as a pastor and you’re committed to serving students long-term, then you need to be willing to read hard books… even if you aren’t enrolled in a degree program.
Your theological knowledge determines the scope of fruitful ministry. Good and wise pastors still endure dry and relatively fruitless ministries - because God determines the fruit. There is no direct cause-effect relationship between your theological maturity and the obvious fruitfulness of your ministry. Your ministry is in God’s hands, regardless of your knowledge or giftedness.
What I AM Saying:
When youth workers are content to remain theologically uninformed, they are showing students that God is small and unworthy of their time. Students will think, “Hey, if Bob doesn’t know about this stuff and doesn’t seem to care, then I guess it’s not very important.”
In all things, we rely on the Holy Spirit to so empower our ministry that he uses us despite our weakness (not because of our knowledge), but don’t use the Holy Spirit as an excuse to avoid studying theology.
When youth workers are theologically informed their depth will open up new conversations about life and faith in unexpected ways.
A Few Practical Suggestions:
Podcasts. There are many good podcasts out there to listen to on your drive to/from work or while at the gym, including seminaries whose content is available for free.
Ask your pastor or a friend to read through a good book with you. If you’re a bit overwhelmed by the idea of reading a book about theology, then read it with someone else. And remember, start off basic… you don’t need to start by reading something too long or difficult.
Buy the physical book, not the ebook or audiobook. This is my opinion, and while it’s shared by many who study theology, but it is an opinion. There are types of books that are good to read as an ebook, and audiobooks can make a long commute pass quickly. That said, theology books are better in paper. If you truly want to work through the book, that will involve a slow and careful reading that involves underlining, writing questions or comments in the margins, and a tactile experience that helps drill the message into your mind and heart.
See our resource page for suggestions.
