Dr. Johnson C. Philip

All of us lament the changes that are swooping over our young people. We know thy are indisciplined, quick tempered, irreverent. We also know that instead of conserving they only consume, and instead of making long-term commitments they would rather give themselves to passing fashions and fads. And these observations have, unfortunately, induced many of us to simply write off the younger generation. Most of us never pause to assess if we are not destroying our future by neglecting our present, for the younger generation of today would control the course we all will have to follow tomorrow.

Often we are so conditioned by the pessimism of our times that we simply refuse to look at the other side, and it seems we have not been able to break away from that straitjacket even in this case. However, recent polls and researches have shown there are definite reasons for optimism. True, there is no mass-reformation among our young ones, but there is a substantial minority which has begun to break away from the attitude that all is They are part of the younger generation, but are different. They have habits, attitudes, and goals that make them radically different from the majority. More so if they are 25 years or younger today. Surveys have found that this group prominently exhibits the following traits:

1. They are optimistic.
2. They are cooperative team players.
3. They are not distrustful and accept authority.
4. They are rule-followers.
5. They are watched over, not neglected.
6. They do not accept discrimination against others
7. They are bright.
8. They believe in the future.
9. They want to be challenged.
10. They are seeking genuine spirituality.

It is obvious that these are precisely what any Christian disciple-maker looks in his contacts, and it just so happens that a crowd with the right attitude and outlook is now growing right in front of our eyes. Concentrating them can yield gratifying results.

When the ingredients are good, the final product will be superb. However, the skill, dexterity, wisdom, and commitment of the person handling the ingredients is equally important. It can make or break the final product. Consequently a person willing to work with the present generation should first be ready to examine his own mindset and preparation. He should read what is available on this topic, work with experienced youth workers, and should ask God for the gift of communication. A detailed study of the life and outlook of younger believers from the Bible such as Joseph, Daniel, and Esther will be a great help.

Willingness to listen will be a great asset for the younger ones have plenty of things to speak out. The first question is not whether they are right, but whether you have been able to understand their philosophy, outlook and yearnings. Opposing them for every little thing will result only in frustration. Lecturing will have little impact upon a generation given to observation, assessment, and logical analysis. Thus the Youth Worker himself should be willing to observe [listen to them], assess the totality of their perspective [rather than picking holes in every little thing] and then present a logical assessment.

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