What is it like to be a teenager and christian?

[HisPrincess]

okay so deep question right off the bat, but yesterday i was helping to set up for a christmas thing my church does every year and my pastor asked me this randomly. he said that since he hadn't been a christian when he was a teen he wanted to know how it was. I couldn;t answer him, I was stumped so i need answers. anyone?

[ChristianKitsune]

Welll for me it wasn't hard, but it wasn't easy either...

I was often labled as the "innocent one" and all that stuff in High school. I was picked on for my faith...but you know? I was okay with that. I mean... I know that God still loved those kids...and eventually, they grew out of their mean ways, and I was just quietly ignored.

It was difficult for me because I didn't have Christian Friends that I could talk to on a regular basis. All the Christians i had known had graduated and I didn't get to know them very well.

But I still had my parents, my sister, and my church family to get me through. And I am happy to say that I graduated high school, and I am now happily a college student.

Things are even harder at College because there are so many people who really dispise God. The Collegiate people seem to see that God is for the ignorant, and that the smart people know that there is no God.

I don't understand that logic, nor do I ever want to. I will continue to live my faith as much as I can. Reaching as many people as I can the best that I can.Because...that's what Christ instructed us to do.

I heard so many people say, "BUt I can't do this...I can't witness, I can't talk to others about Christ." And they are sort of right...but if we could do all that on our own...would we really need God?

[Momo-P]

The first answer that came to my head was "hard", but really...is it any different from being an adult?

Your hormones don't vanish with age, nor do your peers stop judging you with age. To try and say it's way harder as a teenager seems like some sort of cop out. Like you're trying to justify yourself when you do sin. :/

Overall I'd say it's about as even as any adult. You just try and follow God the best you can and get by. You'll have people who are nasty to you and make fun of you, but you'll have those at work too. You're growing up. Welcome to the real world.

[termyt]

I haven't been a teenager for 15 years, but I was a Christian then, too. In a word, I'd say "confusing," though I doubt I would have said so at the time.

Here I am, 20 years later, and I still have not perfected my faith. I still often do not know what to say to people, how to start a conversation with them, how to love them as Christ does, or simply show them Christ's love at all.

The thing is, I thought I was a lot closer when I was a teenager. It's a cruel trick we play on our selves. By the time we hit our mid-teens, we have all the mental faculties of an adult. We are strong like adults, we can reason like adults, we can teach as well as be taught. We can reason and understand instead of just absorb facts. All just like an adult. They only thing we lack is experience. And you just don’t know what that brings you until you have it.

Sometimes I feel like I messed everything up bad when I was in high school. Like I would have been a better witness for Christ had I never showed anyone I was a Christian. I was easily fooled by Christian-like people, easily swayed by doctrine that had only a hint of truth instead of the whole truth. Not to say I can’t be fooled today, but you become much more difficult to fool once you realize you can be fooled. Know what I mean?

It’ll always be hard to be a Christian. As a teen, I knew those words, but I didn’t understand them. I knew it was hard to be laughed at or looked down on because I carried a Bible to school, but I didn’t understand that that’s not what is meant by it being hard. Like knowing God loves me, but also having to follow all these rules. But there’s grace, so I don’t have to follow the rules, I just can’t do what the rules tell me not to. And if I can’t follow the rules or I can stop doing what the rules tell me not to, then…

Very, very complicated stuff, and I unfortunately did not have the kind of guidance I needed then – not to say people didn’t try, but it’s easier to look like a Christian than to actually be one. I didn’t know I was struggling with this until later, so it would have taken a really special person to figure out I was struggling with something I didn’t even know I was struggling with myself.

That turned college into a pretty dark time for me. I went to college, found no lasting friendships and no one to aid me in my faith. By the grace of God, I am still recovering from that and learning what it truly means to be a Christian. The advantage I have over my younger self is 15 years of experience. Experience that taught me that only experience can teach me how to use the knowledge I gained as a child.

So, I’m looking over what I read, and it looks pretty confusing, Normally, at this time, I’d revise, but this time I think it illustrates my point.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I haven't been a teenager for 15 years, but I was a Christian then, too. In a word, I'd say "confusing," though I doubt I would have said so at the time.

What kind of teenager isn't confused with everything? XD

[Sakura15]

Wow, good question. Well first off all I was homeschooled, so I guess I didn't really have to deal with other kids mocking me for what I believed since the homeschool group I was in was also Christian, I've pretty much grown up in a Christian environment.

But it doesn't mean I didn't have any friends who were not Christian, I found myself a lot of times wondering if I was being a good witness for Christ or not. I didn't really know how to answer peoples questions about God though, thankfully I have a better relationship with Christ now, still got some growing to do, but don't we all? anyways I found myself being stumped a lot, which is why I loved going to church or youth group to learn more about Christ so I could talk to people about it better, started reading my bible more and of course there was a lot I didn't understand, but I made the mistake of not asking people to help me figure it out.

I heard so many people say, "BUt I can't do this...I can't witness, I can't talk to others about Christ." And they are sort of right...but if we could do all that on our own...would we really need God?

Amen to that

[Dante]

Well... For one thing it was great, because the youth pastor at the church I decided to attend was faaaaar better then the adult pastor (we actually had several individuals that handled the task of preaching, and they made some INCREDIBLE messages... man...) Overall though, it stunk that I am no longer a teenager because the adult group pastor only talks about money... and I currently lack enough to make any difference... cause he bit off more then he could chew in construction projects... and I feel like God doesn't give personalized messages in the adult group either because its so huge he can't reach me with all the other people (The youth pastor also knew who I was... the adult pastor... I'm just a face in the crowd it seemed there)! (I don't like that they're getting even bigger(This will sadly destroy the youth group there too... as it too will grow huge), I can't communicate with God on a personal level with such a huge group to begin with)... So yeah, I liked being Christian and being a teenager. (Currently flipping between churches again too to find a place where I can find God once again... miss him greatly in the church setting... but no place has really "clicked" yet)

I was also young, and knew that I could experiment with life so I used my leeway as a youth to find out what would happen if you did try to talk to people about God... but found out that it hurt more then helped... so unfortunately I don't do it as much anymore (my parents found the same thing out and I guess I could have just asked them). So in the end, I started to develop a personal set of beliefs on the ethics of evangelism, and what were within the proper bounds of what Christ would want me to do... but this generally doesn't mesh with what others think about evangelism so I keep it to myself . Really, overall it was a magical time that I wish I could return to if I didn't have all the other responcibilities that I had at that time... cringes... yeah, heh heh... still recovering from life back then...

Anyways, being a teenager, I was also self-brainwashed that I was always right (Like all teenagers) so I while others may have been laughed at for carrying around their Bibles, people probobly ran from me because I would likely bash them over the head as the locale morales police with my "Hammer of righteousness" (I didn't have a Bible with me... I didn't need one to strike fear into their hearts mwah ha ha ha!)... laugh not, lest ye be scolded and told ye are going to HELL!!! And remember what happened when those other kids laughed at Elijah the other guy' with a similiar names bald head, don't make me sig the bears on you too! Ahem... I really hope I wasn't all that bad, but I guess I could have been viewed that way... But I was a teenager, and like a said, it was a great time to have experiments... cause in the end it was the results of a silly kid in the end, and being around nothing but college kids, there really was no use beating me up back then ... I mean, at 21 years old, beating up a 16/17 year old is just plain lame... So I was free to learn!

Being a Christian back then rocked! It rocks today, but it just felt better back then... less warm and fuzzies these days... Its not on account of how I am doing, its just how things are.

-Pascal

-Pascal

[ADXC]

Well, I doubt mine will seem less difficult than others because as Amanda already knows that Ive been in a private christian school, which I thank God everyday for me to attend one. But I do wonder what it would be like to deal with the problems a christian has in a public school. Although I wasn't disliked because of my faith, people never really talked to me that much. I felt alone, like I was the only one that understood me. But I eventually came upon a friend that I like, and also Jesus as well. Basically without Jesus Im really nothing at all, just a handful of dust in the wind, occupying space and signifying nothing(Macbeth cite.). But nowadays I still live in a troublesome class, who although all are christians, hardly any seem to know what spiritual maturity is. All the guys in my class(Except a few) don't act as christianly as they should. And I want to help them, but they just don't seem to change no matter what I say to them or what they hear in chapel. Im a little immature at times too(Like kidding around and acting silly) but I know when to stop with somethings, like crude jokes and things that shouldn't become a part of the christian conversation. I really fear for them, but Im sure God will eventually change their attitudes and behavior.(I just wish it was now.)

[PrincessCosette]

Hum..... I found it hard to be with my friends. When I was in high school, which was several months ago, about 99% of my peers were not Christians. I found myself alone a lot and friendless many times, which made it hard for me. I didn't have a boyfriend either (and still don't) mostly because the guys at my high school were.... well.... non Christians. In fact, some were anti Christians. Well, I'm very glad I stuck by God becuase He was with me when I felt lonely and He gave me the strength to do things in high school I never would have dreamed of. So, yah, I didn't have the best years as a teenager, but it did make me more appreciative of many things.

[mitsuki lover]

Rather normal if you ask me.Then again I grew up in the Church and was raised in a manse being a PK so I wouldn't know what it was like otherwise.
It was just a pretty normal part of life,going to church,going to youth group and going to school.Mostly with the same set of people.So it is hard to try to
imagine what it was being a teen and NOT being a Christian.
Kinda like tyring to imagine what it would be like being a teen and being a Democrat,kinda boggles the mind.

[Akane]

Welllll, I think there would be different answers from different peeps. I think I could go on and on 'bout this subject...but I'll keep it brief

So for me? Other years have been easier than others. On one hand you may feel like you wanna fit in with everyone else, so 'twould be really hard to stick to your guns. But on the other hand you have quite an advantage 'cause you have God, imo, durin' the most character buildin' part of your life. So when everyone else is tryin' to figure out wha to do or not to do, all you have to do is rely on Him and you'll be on the right path. You may have the same struggles as non-Christians and also the struggles that come with bein' a Christian, but God will always have a solution for you~ I think 'tis fantastic to grow up in His Love (But knowin' God at any age is fantastic, 'course)

[oro!]

I haven't been a teenager for 15 years, but I was a Christian then, too. In a word, I'd say "confusing," though I doubt I would have said so at the time.

Amen to that, although it has only recently been confusing for me. I thought I had everything figured out since I was 12. Not the truth. Maybe those things I believed in then are true, but reality makes truth harder. Harder to find and to follow it is. Going to public school isn't the best environment for truth. Most of my friends are non-Christians. I've tried to find Christian friends- it hasn't worked so far. As a teen, I think I'm stuck between idealism and cynicism. As a follower of the Messiah, I want to follow loving God and others, but when it isn't returned, it's hard.

So, basically, for me, it's hard. It's not like people are hitting me for being a Christian, but most of my acquaintances' lifestyles and ideologies clash with mine. I assume this will only intensify once I go off to college...

[ADXC]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that although one may go to a christian private school that doesn't free you from religious discrimination unless you are of the exact same denomination. It happened today when some people in my class were making fun of me for being of the church of Christ. And one of them was baptist and the other methodist. Now really I don't know why they pick on me like that because church of christ(Mind you Im not united church of christ) and baptist are very close. So they were comparing me to Baroq Obama who is was of United Church of Christ and they pick on me just because Im church of christ, but Im not united like Obama is so they are very much different from each other. Man, I can't believe this! Why can't everyone just get along?!(This is a private christian school for heavens sake, I thought maybe there would be some spiritually mature people there. Well I guess not, wait there maybe a few diamonds in the rocks though so I shouldn't judge.)

Well Im sorry for being a little negative, I just needed to get that off my chest.

[termyt]

Perhaps you should rejoice that you enabled a Methodist and a Baptist to actually find some common ground.

[ADXC]

Yeah, not neccesarily. Because my history teacher is Baptist, so he and my methodist classmate keep arguing about "Baptism". (Although its all in good fun sometimes just to see them quible over the issue.) Do I have to explain the argument since its so straight forward?

[Anna Mae]

I would say that it largely depends on the type of Christian the teenager is.

The weird thing about high school is that everyone is at such different places on their spiritual journey. I attended a public high school that had a large number of... church attenders... in it. They find it easy to hang out with other generic church attenders without having to be serious about faith. But now, I shouldn't be speaking for them.

I found it difficult to form deep friendships because most of the Christians in my high school and youth group didn't want to have theological discussions, bother with modesty, or show God's love to the losers, and the atheists usually weren't mature enough for me to respect their position (I can respect thoughtful atheists). I befriended the social outcasts, but many of them had slight mental disabilities, so it just wasn't the same. The few real friends I did make among my peers were still much older than I and soon graduated. It's a funny thing how high schoolers are so isolated from the rest of society.
I'm certainly not saying I was/am perfect; I made myriad blunders. It just felt like I was the only one who actually wanted to change that.

In short, I couldn't wait to graduate so that my sphere would have a higher percentage of mature, serious Christians.

[oro!]

I would say that it largely depends on the type of Christian the teenager is.

The weird thing about high school is that everyone is at such different places on their spiritual journey. I attended a public high school that had a large number of... church attenders... in it. They find it easy to hang out with other generic church attenders without having to be serious about faith. But now, I shouldn't be speaking for them.

I found it difficult to form deep friendships because most of the Christians in my high school and youth group didn't want to have theological discussions, bother with modesty, or show God's love to the losers, and the atheists usually weren't mature enough for me to respect their position (I can respect thoughtful atheists). I befriended the social outcasts, but many of them had slight mental disabilities, so it just wasn't the same. The few real friends I did make among my peers were still much older than I and soon graduated. It's a funny thing how high schoolers are so isolated from the rest of society.
I'm certainly not saying I was/am perfect; I made myriad blunders. It just felt like I was the only one who actually wanted to change that.

In short, I couldn't wait to graduate so that my sphere would have a higher percentage of mature, serious Christians.

That is almost me to a tee. So true.

Many people in my school go to a church and all of that, but they are not serious in their faith. It's the same with my youth group- or at least perhaps they are too embarrassed to talk about theology.
It is pretty sad, but my friends are the outcasts as well- and one never knows what you're going to get with them. They're sweet and I love them, but a few also have the mental disorder thing going on. I guess odd people simply attract me, but sometimes one doesn't know what to say. I just try to love them.
People don't mock me or anything for my faith- my school is much too large for most of that. A couple of times they try me to see what I'd say; even the atheists are interested, which bemuses me.