Some people are all gung-ho for youth groups in the church. Other people are fiercely opposed to the idea.
How does one know which position is the best--especially since the Bible does not specifically address the topic of a youth group? The answer: what does the church elder board think? Do they believe that a youth group would better facilitate the overall spiritual good of the parishioners under their charge? If so, then go for it. If not, then desist.
Issues such as youth groups, for instance, which to a lot of folks would seem rather innocuous, are good examples of how church life should be handled, in general. Whether or not to have a youth group should have absolutely nothing to do with personal, or familial views or convictions on the subject. Instead, it has to do with the wisdom of the church leaders, as they seek to best serve their flocks.
Now, if no one in a church was interested in a youth group, then it would probably be best not to start one. But, even this decision, though probably made for somewhat pragmatic reasons, would not impugn the idea of a youth group, in general.
The sooner God's people learn principles of God's form of both shepherding, and submission, the better off they will be.
The Forum for Ecclesiocentricity is designed to educate Christians and non-Christians alike to understand the Biblical teaching concerning the Church (the "Puritan" church in particular), with regard to its principal role on the earth. When this is achieved, it is hoped that the Church would then be in a better position to convey Christ's redemptive virtues to the civil government (state), and the family. (You may email me at: markjhenninger@gmail.com)
