Young people today need authentic leaders. Leaders who know how to listen to them. Skilled leaders who know how to use intelligent resources and, above all, mature leaders who know how to look like a Christian who is more adult than them.
But sometimes, this maturity represents a paradox for youth leaders. Especially if we want to refer to a genuine maturity. The church usually measures maturity in age, clothing, religious activism and let's say "seriousness," although I'm not sure if that is the right word.
With the activism, youth leaders have no problems. On the contrary, most youth leaders are champions in being in charge of half of the possible activities that are done in the church. But the others are usually a challenge. Think: Most youth leaders in Latin America tend to distance themselves from the age of their leaders. That makes the dress not too different and finally the paradigm of youth leader in Latin America is just the sympathetic who plays an instrument and can smile while holding the microphone in his hand. With these characteristics, youth leaders are often seen as less mature than the rest of adults in the church.
The equation ends up being more or less like this: If the person who leads has many years, dresses like no after 80 and hesitates to smile when speaking, it is automatically suspected that he is a mature person. But if she is no more than 30, she wears jeans and sneakers and likes to invest time with teenagers she is automatically suspected of being immature. This is compounded by the unfortunate concept that youth ministry is a mere [practice] towards ministry "seriously."
Christian maturity should be measured by other parameters than age, clothing and activism. We all know adults with ecclesiastical titles, gray hair and suit or dress who are irresponsible with their words and deeds, are foolish or live bitter.
Spiritual maturity should be measured by the fruit of the Spirit. The apostle Paul speaks very clearly to the friends of Galatia pointing out that what the Holy Spirit tries to produce in us is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, meekness, perseverance and self-control. All characteristics that make us people growing and not stuck in being always the same.
Let no one despise your ministry, but set an example.
