Saturday, May 24, 1997

When it comes to faith, some of us could use second childhoods

By Joy Thompson / Knight-Ridder Newspapers

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Recently I spoke to the student members of a Christian club at Jefferson Middle School in Long Beach. I used I Timothy 4:12 as my theme verse: "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." I feel children get so little credit today.

Even in a world where children seem to be growing up too fast, young people still manage to be dreamers and believers. The Apostle Paul probably saw these qualities in the young Christian, Timothy, to whom he addresses in his pastoral letter. Paul's statement to Timothy could be rephrased as: "Don't let anyone look down on you because you have high ideals in a corrupt and burned-out world." It is extremely interesting to note that Paul didn't challenge Timothy to set an example for unbelievers, but for believers. The insightful Paul probably saw that even within the church, cynicism, doubt and compromise can set in. He chose a youthful believer to help set the pace in spirituality for the early church.

When it comes to religious faith, some of us could use second childhoods. We need a return to the days when we were trusting, optimistic and hopeful about the future. We need a return to the time when we said prayers to God and expected answers. We need to return to a time when we saw God in the blue of the sky, the green of the trees and the brilliance of the stars. It is physically impossible for us to return to the days of our youth. But we can do so spiritually, if we make some decisions to change.

What areas can we start changing? Paul offered some suggestions. Set an example in speech, he told Timothy. As adults, we can say some of the meanest things to people. We have learned to criticize, complain and curse when things don't go our way. James 3:5 warns, "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." Try peppering your conversation with soothing instead of inflammatory words.

We should set an example with our lives. In I Timothy 4:16 Paul urges believers to "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." No one wants to be called a hypocrite. But if we don't practice what we preach, we become living and breathing billboards for hypocrisy. Study out in the Bible the things you want to change in your character, such as selfishness, greed or impatience. Religious bookstores also offer some excellent character-building books.

Set an example in love. Love seems like such a rare thing today. But in John 13:34, Jesus stated that people would be able to identify his followers by the love they have for each other. True love requires the ability to forgive, because some imperfect person is always going to do something or another that will hurt you. A good way to forgive is to put yourself in the offender's shoes or try to understand why the offender acts the way he or she does. I've learned that some of the meanest people I've encountered have suffered even meaner lives. It is easy to forgive someone you empathize with or feel sympathy for.

Set an example in faith. The eyes of faith tend to grow dim with age. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Too often as adults we decide it's safer to walk by sight not by faith. Not all good prayers are answered and not all cherished dreams are realized. But I offer that more of these prayers and dreams are doomed by a lack of enduring faith than by God's will.

Set an example in purity. I believe Paul was referring to sexual purity: Being faithful to a spouse, being faithful to sexual innocence before marriage, avoiding sexually tempting situations. I also believe Paul was referring to the heart. We should fight to maintain a childlike innocence in our hearts, minds and souls despite the cynical social pollutants around us.

Become like little children and relish life again. Today's youth, in particular, need your example.

(Joy Thompson is an editorial writer for the Long Beach Press-Telegram. You can write to her at 604 Pine Ave., Long Beach, Calif. 90844.)

(c) 1997, Press-Telegram (Long Beach, Calif.).

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