Let No One Despise You

Emerging Christians in a Post-Christian Society

Tony Beard

• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781725262027, 9781725261990
• eBook ISBN: 9781725262003
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Ministry

Paul wrote to Timothy instructing him to not be despised for his youth. But isn't that at least a little like what the church does to its youth today? Perhaps the church does not despise its youth, but isn't it at least a little dismissive of them? Instead of being integrated into the body of the church, youth are being entertained and occupied. What happens when they become young adults?The church has not prepared the next generation of Christians for their emerging adulthood years. Millennials and Gen Zers should be stepping into greater leadership and service roles in the church but are instead walking away from it altogether. Those who remain have been ill-prepared to endure in a post-Christendom society.There is a simple three-part message young adult Christians need to hear: Youth is no obstacle to Christ; the world is an enemy of God; and the best way to respond to this world is love. This message encourages young adults to commit to following Jesus now, prepares them for pushback they may face because of it, and instructs them on essential and practical ways to live in light of this hostility.

1

Timothy

Age may only be a number, but it’s often the most important one. Travel most of the United States and ask someone who is 15 if there is any difference between 15 and 16 as they stare off longingly at the used car lot. Being 17 years and 364 days old makes you a juvenile, but add one more day and you magically convert into a legal adult. Folks line up at the bars just before midnight of their 21st birthday to legally enter and drink. And for some completely random reason, you need to be 25 to rent a car. I have no idea why.

So, sure, age is just a number, but that number has relevance and we infer a lot about someone based on that number. Parents have seemingly arbitrary rules like, “No dating until you’re 15.” Now, that’s probably not a bad rule, but we have all met really smart and responsible 14-year-olds and really dense 16-year-olds. Being alive for 15 years does not supernaturally prepare you for the dating world.

Sometimes this age number prevents young adults from doing what they passionately want to do, perhaps like taking on leadership roles in church. And, unfortunately, when someone younger takes on roles some believe they are not yet ready for, jealousy and bitterness may arise. But what about being despised? Is anyone ever really despised just because someone young takes on major responsibilities?

“Despise” may be a strong word for what most experience, but “dismissive” sure fits the bill. Many young adult Christians are leaving attractional and entertainment-based youth ministries focused on fun, food, and fellowship, with faith popping up only on occasion. How often are youth groups creating a lasting difference or learning how to engage in anything outside of their church bubble? Sit here, be entertained, bring your friends next week, but don’t ask too many questions!

Even if a youth group gathering is more than Sunday or Wednesday night busywork, how many are being trained to lead the church? A dismissive attitude towards the role of teenagers in the church results in ill-prepared young adult Christians. Young adults are not prepared to be leaders by being told as teens they are not leaders. They are prepared to be leaders by being told they are not leaders yet, and given meaningful and appropriate responsibilities to learn how to lead. Ideally, this is done hand in hand with mentors.

Having a mentor who looks out for one’s best interests and engages in honest conversations about what responsibilities the mentee is capable of is critical, especially for young adults. While this may result in the mentor agreeing that the mentee is not ready for a new challenge, a good mentor helps sketch out ways for the person to become ready. This could include drafting out short—and long-term goals, creating a roadmap on how to get there, and being available for support, questions, prayer, and dialogue along the way.

During the early church period the Apostle Paul mentored Timothy, and addressed this concern of how to approach those who did not think he was capable of serving Christ in a leadership role beyond his years. Paul believed Timothy was ready and was prepared to serve God despite a younger age, writing to Timothy:

Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Tim 4:11–16)

Young Christians ought to be encouraged: Let no one despise you for your youth. The word of God commands that you are not to be scorned simply for living too few years on earth. Being grafted into the community of Christ sets you on the course of sanctification, that is, the path of becoming holy and more like Jesus. Sanctification is a process. Some may be further along in this process than you, but it is still the same process. One’s age can affect this development, but there is no direct correlation. We all come to know Christ at different ages, and some of us have different churches and support around us that can impact our progress. Additionally, some of us just process new ideas and information more quickly than others. If you are in Christ, your salvation and call to serve and glorify God are no different whether you are 20 years old or 80 years old. I think this is what was behind Paul’s words of encouragement to Timothy.

Who was Timothy?

Timothy is first introduced to the reader in Acts 16. Paul meets Timothy in Lystra, which was a city in the Roman province of Galatia (modern day Turkey). We learn Timothy’s father was a Greek and his mother a Jew. This placed Timothy is a unique position: because of his father, he had access to the civil and educational opportunities expected of a Greek, but because of his mother, also the religious teachings of the Jews. Consider it similar to dual citizenship, and having the rights afforded by two different nations. Luke, the writer of the book of Acts, adds that Timothy was “well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra” (Acts 16:2). That is, other Christians in that region are saying good things about him.

These passages from 1 Timothy 4 and Acts 16 permit us to reasonably assume: 1) Timothy was considered a youth in his society, and 2) he was active enough in the early Christian church that some people Paul cared about in Lystra thought highly of Timothy. These two descriptions could very well be you. Perhaps you are the high school student helping lead worship a couple Sundays a month, or the college student away from home, volunteering with the local church’s youth group. Maybe you went straight into the workforce, but are sure to stop by men’s Bible study at 6:30 a.m. before you head off to your job. Timothy was the young person some of the elders in the church took notice of, as did Paul.

Much of Paul’s ministry occurred while traveling or even under arrest. This means he could not always be physically present with all the churches he helped establish. Studying his three missionary journeys in Acts shows us he was preaching the gospel in as many places as he could. His letters to churches gave imperative instruction, but whom would he write to? Who would represent Paul? Who could he trust in the various cities while he was away? Paul partnered with many individuals to further the kingdom of God, including Timothy, Barnabas, Titus, Lydia, Aquila, and Priscilla. Each of these men and women of faith played important roles in laying the foundation of Christianity after Jesus’ resurrection, but in Scripture Timothy has been given special attention. He ministered in a number of cities, including Corinth, Ephesus, and Thessalonica.

In 1 Timothy 4 Paul not only tells Timothy to not let anyone get on his case about being young, but Paul also encourages him. Paul gives Timothy instructions to demonstrate that despite his youth, he is a leader in the body of Christ. In this passages he advises Timothy to do five things: set an example to other Christians, read Scripture in public, exhort, teach, and not neglect the gifts given to him.

Concerning the first instruction of setting an example, have you ever been told by a parent, a teacher, or perhaps a pastor that you are to set an example for someone younger? If you’re an older brother or sister, you have probably heard it a million times. I’ll admit it’s my go-to when my four-year-old is misbehaving around her younger brother! For others, maybe a parent at church thanked you for spending time with their child who is several years younger than you: “Thank you for setting such a great example for my daughter.” The funny thing here is that Timothy, the one who is portrayed as younger than many in the community around him, is to set the example. This seems entirely backwards.

We too often assume that with age automatically comes wisdom. And while age very often does bring wisdom, it is not an immutable law of nature. As Voddie Baucham has said, “Maturity in Christians is marked not by gray hair, but by the fruit believers bear in keeping with their sanctification.”1

Surely we can all think of folks much older than us who have been unable to keep a job because of laziness, or are spendthrift, or despite attending church for decades still looks suspiciously towards someone with a different shade of skin. Again, this is because age does not automatically bring wisdom, rather, “the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding” (Prov 2:6). So if you want to be wise and set a great example, it’s not a matter of l...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Chapter 1: Timothy
• Chapter 2: Emerging Adulthood
• Chapter 3: Young Adults Matter
• Chapter 4: Spirit of Immediacy
• Chapter 5: A Brief Word of Caution
• Chapter 6: Whatever Happened to Timothy?
• Chapter 7: What Is Persecution?
• Chapter 8: Pre-Persecution in the West
• Chapter 9: Persecution Around the World
• Chapter 10: Persecution from False Teaching
• Chapter 11: But There Is Hope
• Chapter 12: Love Is a Verb
• Chapter 13: Love God
• Chapter 14: Love Others
• Chapter 15: Sharing the Gospel
• Bibliography