Cuts Both Ways

"Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers... and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters."

-1 Timothy 5:1-2 (NCV)

I've noticed, during the past few months, that there seems to be this invisible line between FUSION* and WIRED** that no one wants to cross. FUSION grumbles and complains about having to do things together with WIRED over the summer, when both groups are low on attendance. I think FUSION needs a major attitude adjustment. Bussey seems to agree with me, saying that we need to set a good example for WIRED over the summer. But I think we can do so much more than simply minding our manners. I think we need to go above and beyond just setting a good example. I think it's time we got our hands dirty.

Over the past year, the small groups have been working through the book, Do Hard Things. In my group, a topic that was often discussed was the low expectations of most of the adults in our lives. When adults think that we are immature, irresponsible, incapable and incorrigible, we tend to act that way. It is so hard to offer our best when people are expecting our worst. But this blade is double-edged. We want people to raise their expectations and think better of us... but we are unwilling to think better of our young brothers and sisters in WIRED. We prefer to think of them as inferior beings of limited intelligence who have a lot of evolving to do before they can join the civilized world.

This is a wrong way of thinking. This is what Christ has to say to that brand of arrogance:

"At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, 'Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?' For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, 'I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me. But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you'll soon wish you hadn't. You'd be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time!'"

Matthew 18:1-6 (The Message)

This summer, God has placed FUSION in a unique position of influence. The students of FUSION and WIRED will be taught together on a weekly basis. We'll be traveling to Atlanta, GA together for the mission trip. We'll be working and learning side by side. And whether they realize it or not, they'll be looking to us to set the standard. We can either treat this as an unpleasant duty or as an incredible opportunity. It's not enough for us to do our own hard things; we're supposed to show the ones who will come after us how to do hard things too.

We're the adults of tomorrow; do we really want to be shaking our heads ten years from now, bemoaning the failings of our teenagers? Or would we rather begin to impact the next generation of teenagers now, so that we can rejoice with them in their triumphs?

The power of expectations cuts both ways. By expecting little of the WIRED students, we don't just rob them of the opportunity to learn from us. We also cripple ourselves, throwing away the opportunity to grow through the sharing of our experiences. FUSION and WIRED have a lot to learn from each other. Their questions will sharpen our knowledge and strengthen our convictions; our answers will increase their wisdom and build their faith. But we have to invest before we earn interest; we have to plow and plant before we harvest.

I believe that it is the responsibility of the older, stronger, more mature Christians to mentor and disciple the younger, weaker and less mature.

"We who are strong in faith should help the weak with their weaknesses, and not please only ourselves. Let each of us please our neighbors for their good, to help them be stronger in faith."

-Romans 15:1-2 (NCV)

We need to change the way we've been thinking about this summer, FUSION students. This is our chance to share ourselves with the WIRED kids, and help to build them up in Christ. Take advantage of this opportunity; the days are evil.

*High School Youth Group
**Middle School Youth Group