Youth being ignored or sidelined is identity denied
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Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
It has happened so many times in history: the youth being ignored or sidelined. Such behaviour was and is often motivated by culture. In most cultures, the youth, children, and adolescents are important and loved; however, in society and churches, they are on the sideline, until culture determines their real belonging. The theological departure point of inclusivity has just not been taken yet. In this article will be argued that however natural cultural behaviour might be, to ignore or sideline children and adolescents is to deny our Christian identity as the church of God. In God’s mind, children are included even before they are born. They may be man-and-woman-made, but in fact, they are God-made (Psalm 127 verse 3). They may not even have been part of a man-and-woman-made plan. Coming into being, whether planned or unplanned, does not catch God off-guard. Being is a gift of God, not only to a parent or parents but to the faith community. A theological understanding of our identity as the people of God compels us not and never to ignore or sideline the youth at any stage of life.
Description
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.
Keywords
Youth ministry, Inclusivity, Identity, Transforming leadership, Servant leadership, Emotional intelligence, Cultural intelligence, Differentiation, Cultural behaviour
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG-03: Good health and well-being
Citation
Nel, Malan. 2025. Youth Being Ignored or Sidelined Is Identity Denied. Religions 16: 303. https:// doi.org/10.3390/rel16030303.