Challenges of Youths in Our Contemporary World

CHALLENGES OF YOUTHS IN A MODERN WORLD The Long reality new(a) English Dictionary defines early days as the reconcile or quality of being young, the period from childhood to maturity young populate of both conjure upes. A c tot on the wholey told witnessess is characterized by features such as youngness, restlessness, strength, independence, curiosity wait fro greatness, vigor good, health etc. Pope toilet Paul II during his visit to Nigeria in 1982, ad finded the y let ouths in these words c aloneowness is the age of hope, of promise, of enthusiasm, of plans and of ideas.Youth does non privation to give up in the face of difficulties Youth believes in a die gentle cosmos and is determined to do approximately liaison to help bring it about. ROLE OF THE YOUTH IN THE realm OF GOD The younker has great strength, vigour, good health etc. These features should be channe guide towards the propagation of the gospel. Let the children coif to me, do non hinder them, for su ch belongs the kingdom of divinity fudge (Lk. 1816). In the church, the youths take the certificate of indebtedness of evangelizing. It is their duty to witness delivery valet to their peers and to the remotest aras where Christ has not been preached.Anthony Aja, quoting the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II wrote The Church needs your energies, your enthusiasm your youthful ideas in order to make the Gospel of smell get hold of the fabric of the society. Besides, the Pope re-emphasized the part that youth stinkpot play in the c completely to evangelise the world as he addressed them in these words. Dear young tribe, with the philia of generous self-importance giving recognize that you atomic number 18 directly involved in the new evangelization, proclaim Christ who died for all. Where atomic number 18 our Youths at once? Out there in search of terrestrial pleasure or works for the Lord. (Ref. to the past).To be good evangelizer, witnes goofg must be accompanied by good example, being corresponding Christ in all ramification. The bible recorded m both dynamic youths worthy of emulation. Two of such youths get out be treated in this text. They are Joseph and David. Joseph had an encounter with perfection. He reverenced God. The fear of God was in his nubble. Portiphers dwelling house prospered because of the presence of Joseph. How about you? He hated sin. He successfully resisted the temptation from his masters wife. To the sin-laden wife of his master Portipha, he asked, how stinkpot I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? (Gen. 399).To draw the wrath that might befall him as a result of this great sin, he ran and fled from this great evil, sin of fornication. Godless youth would take advantage of this immoral opportunity and yield to the temptation. It takes a heart that has been serve by the Blood of The Lamb, a youth who has experienced the repurchase of the Lord Jesus Christ, a consecrate someone and Holy Ghost filled to overcome such temptation. For the bible says for the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.Titus 211-12. David the son of Jesse, the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse, rose and worked marvels for god right from his youth. He killed a lion, a bear and conquered the old stager warrior Goliath. He overcame the evil spirits that tormented Saul by his anointed fingers on the musical instruments. He was adapted to do all these exploits for God because of his personal knowledge of God and the power of the Holy Ghost that was upon him. by the youngest of Jesse sons, his fear of the lord and his close relationship with God, make him to do the chosen one of God. Then Samuel took the snout of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and the spirit of the Lord came mighty upon David from that day forward (1Samuel 1613). Above all learn from Jesus Christ, who from childhood went about doing the father business, I must preach the good news program of the kingdom of God to the other citizens also, for I was sent for this purpose? Make yourself available for noble use. Challenges lining the Youth Today The general state of youth reveals spirituals, social and psychological crises and confusion.They are being alter by the personal effects and make for of the society, peer groups, parental neglect and the evil one. M both of our youths blindly result the dictates of the secularization of Western glossiness. The effects of secularism on most people have scour made them betoken that churches should accepts the societys new directions. To them, if the society accept the societys new directions. To them, if the society accepts pre-marital sex, adultery, abortion, homo innerity, sex education, use of condoms, lesbianism etc. hey cannot date why the church has to keep calling them sins. The youth sees the yo uth state as a period of fun and freedom. However, they inhume to recognize that this stage is important and transitory a stage betwixt childhood and adulthood. Mistakes youth make at his stage in life could be detrimental bearing with it a lifetime consequences. For example, Youths who take to armed robbery, prostitution, drug trafficking, political thruggery, and all appearance of violent practices carry over such felonious activities from their youthful stage into adulthood.At adulthood they hold in a problem to themselves, the society and invariably their children who may take after them. What a wasted life In fact, they are unable to build a worthwhile beation on which to rest their future. Their Gods given talent lost and life destroyed all in the name of enjoying their youths. In Pauls letter to Timothy, he admonished Timothy in these words Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue Righteous, faith, hit the hay and peace, Along with those who call on the Lord Out of a pure heart 2Tim22 The youthful stage when properly publicaged can lead to disaster.All youths should heed to Pauls admonition to timothy. Flee from all evil desires and run after righteous. M both of our youths are compromising with worldly ideals. Compromise with the world brings corruption. It destroys the child of Gods testimony and makes his enlighten grow dim. Learn from David and Joseph, the course to upright living. The youth is being influenced and challenged today in the keeping areas 1. INFLUENCE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY Modern technology had led to the invention of personal computer, the satellite, Digital television, the internet, mobile phone (GSM).These devices had in no atomic measure made the world a planetary village. However, the challenges facing our youths (Christian youth) is how to use them without abusing them. The truth is that these devices rather indeed being used for the advancement of knowledge which is capable of making the world a collapse moor ing have stupefy powerful tools in the hands of Satan for the perversion of morals. For example, the computer has both simplified and speeded up the operation in many fields of human endeavor data storage, medicine, architecture, music and air industry.These are interactive computer software for learning of virtually any subject. The mobile telephone has made communication easy. The satellite technology also has greatly eased the burden of real time global communication. The internet is a great source of information, Books encyclopedias on any subject, theses, revise, online news, libraries are now available on the internet. Various school activities which were manually carried out in the past, such as purchasing of admission forms, recompense of school fees, access to course outlines, result etc are now done online.Sources of information and different educational operations are now available on the internet. However, one must not lose circle of the evil associated with these devices (internet, GSM and computer). Many (including children, youth and as yet older people) are introduced to do world of deceit, indecency, immorality crime, sexual perversions, violence and many other vices done the use of these inventions of modern technology. The computer and the internet have much(prenominal) damaging influence on the youth. Youths spend long hours watching digital videos (DVD) or playing violent, even bloody and demonic computer games. well-nigh youths spend hours or the whole night browsing veto site on the internet thereby getting exposed to inappropriate materials, such as sexy and erotica because some youth get initiated into Satanism, Spiritism and other esoteric region. The TV and internet have taking over the place of the bible and prayers in a good number of homes. Youth treasure their roomy exploration of the internet in place of reading their books and other intellectual activities. This a leading to a dramatic decline in the academic per formance of the youth and a juicy rate of unprofitably of the youth in all spheres of life.Wise parents should rise up to this challenge, and set up corrective measures to arrest this trend of self destruction of the youth. 2. THE FILM INDUSTRY Many youths spend long hours watching the television denying themselves of meaningful activities that provide promote heathy living and advancement in life. The danger of the film industry today is that it present a distorted African culture which negages godly virtues. For example, pre-marital sex is against God an abominable issueg in African culture, but the film industry today presents it as the norm and what must follow or be part of a relationship.Invariably, the film industry is promoting promiscuity and without restran our youth are imbiding it as the norm. Similarly, traditional idol worship and allegiance to the devil which have been overtaken by Christainity is gradually being brought to light and encourage by the film produce rs. What about movies dominated with violent operations?. This negates God peaceful co- human beings among men. Parents must therefore rise up to control what their children watch on the television. 3. NEGLECING OF HARD WORK Many youths want to go the easy way of life. No work but wants to be rich.They wish for success in life without paying the price of diligence. You need to see the coutless number of youths at the cyber cafe, browsing the internet facial expression for innocent preys to devour of thir hard earn money. Some Pentecostal pastors are not left out in the craze for prosperity through miracle galore at the expense of diligent labour. 4. SEARCH FOR GREENER tramp Many youths run the risk of searching for illegal means to go out of this country for better life. Experiences of those who attempted leaving this country reveal the agony many had to go though traveling through waste land to cross over to their promised land.In the process many had lost their lives and their s ense of value of life. Those who made it to their dreamed land are out their doing menial jobs and worst still are out into crimes of various degrees. 5. Domestic Problems Many youth are confronted with Domestic problems ranging from hostility from parents, strife between their fathers and mothers, parents inability to provide the basic necessities of life. Youths from such homes run away from home, get involved in all forms of crimes such as 419, armed robbery, thuggery, prostitution or hired assassions.Parents should wake up to their responsibilities and make sustainable plans for their children. 6. INDECENT DRESSING AMONG YOUTHS We have been wonderfully made by God. Praise the Lord Let us trace our dressing to the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned against God, they realized that they are naked. They sewed fig leaves together to make themselves aprons (Gen37). This covered only a part of their bodies. This is fact was not proper clothing and so the Lord God made for Adam a nd his wife garments of skins and clothed them. This implies that the lord God covered their nakedness. at that placefore, any clothing that does not cover the dust fully is an indecent cloth. Let us also consider the demoniac in St. Lukes gospel Chapter 8 26-35). The demon possessed man was naked. The bible set forth him as a man from the city who had demon for a long time he had weak no habit, and lived not in a house but among tombs. With encounter with Christ Jesus, he was delivered from the emcee of evil spirit, he was clothed and he was in his right mind (Luke 835). This implies that only people who are not in their right mind would go about without clothes not greathearted enough to cover their nakedness.The modern day christains especially youths are without estrain imbiding and embracing worldly principles, values, culture and tradition without making refence to the word of God. The bible says Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man lo ves the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is inworld, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the hook of life is not of the father, but is of the world. I John215. Unholy attitudes or worldliness has become the culture of the church. Some church members tell you what you wear does not matte, after all religion is in the heart.However, they forget that there is a link between the state of mans heart and the outward appearance. In fact, ones outlook is greatly influenced by the condition of the heart. It is not uncommon today to have different kinds of immodest and indecent dressed worn by the majority of young people and some older people in the society, even in the church of God. These ladies wear transparent and body hugged clothes under the guise of fashion and civilization. In fact, you see girls of cheap and easy virtue wearing charged or seductive apparels that partially expose sensitive reas of their bodies such as breast, navels, abdomen and thighs, such youth are not left out in their heavy make-ups. Their make-ups are so excessive and horrific that the girls are not less than masquerades and cannot but be mistaken for prostitutes. Why would a Christain woman or lady imitate Jezbel? When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it and she painted her eyes, and adorned her head and looked out of the window 2King930. Some ladies dress in such way that they stimulate lustful desires in men. The harlot dresses shamefully only to advertise, comete and do the opposite sex.They wear revealing clothes which create in men some immoral desires. Mini-skirts are symbolic of those ladies who want to seduce men. Every mini-skirt is a fuel that sets the mind of a man to remember the most de found thoughts. On the other hand, ladies who are seductively dressed are more believably to be harassed by men. In the actual sense, a lady who is immodestly dressed is solely adverstising herself, telling the male folk that she is availab le. No wonder, today that the rate at which women are raped is passing alarming. The men folk are not left out of this craze for fashion.They fry their hair (jerry curls or perm0, weave their hair, wear earring, leave their shirits unbuttoned, exposing their beareded chest, have funny styles of hair cut, fool make up upright to prove themselves as senior guys. 7. Sexual Immorality/ adultery Many youths do not see sextual immorality/formation as sin. They see it as a way of expressing their love to a person of the opposite sex. In popular advert which says if you love me prove it by making love to me Fornication is the sexual relationship between unmarried persons.God condemns fornication Do you not know that your body is a temple of he Holy spirit, who is in you whom you have received from god? You are not your own, you were received with a price. Therefore, honour god with your body (1cor 619-20) Anyone who destroy the temple of the Holy spirit which you are will face wrath of God. The bible says you are Gods temple, anyone who defiles that temple, God will destroy. Some youth who engage in fornication (pre-marital sex) tell you they are in search of happiness, pre-marital sex has brought shame, disgrace and to many, unfulfilled destiny and untimely death.According to Ibid Pre-marital sex has many adverse effects surrounding it. By so doing expose themselves to many risks such as pregnancy, abortion, death, death, veneral disease, fear, shame, disrespect, sterility, uncompleted career are grievous sins against God, your creator. These are what we risk ourselves for, Just a mere pleasure which does not last. Similarly, punch composition had on one of its publication pointed out that Pregnancy is just one of the ways one can reap on unpleasant harvest from fornication It is better to avoid pre-marital sex. 8. Wild aspiration Youths, no doubt are very ambitious.Being ambitious itself should be commended. But when the ambition becomes obnoxious, equipment c asualty signals are elayed. It is not uncommon today to find youhs engage in all manner of nefarious activities that are opposed to Christain virtues in a bid to acquire great wealth, fame and success. They are usually recruited as political thugs, fake drug peddlers, armed robbers, hostage takers, murderers, assassins while others become cultists, prostitutes and so on. Some become involved in dubious and undefiled business. The bible tells us to flee from all appearance of evil. whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.Finally, brethren, some(prenominal) things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are good report if there be any virtue and if there be any paise, think on these thing (1 Cor1031. Phil 48) Do not get involved in any activity that is contrary to the tenents of God. Anything contrary leads to hellfire. 9. Peer Group Influence Many Youth have been led astray by those they regard as friends. The influences of peers ca n bring about a positive or a negative change in ones life. But today, such influences have been found to destroy the lives of those who keep had company.Thomas Martin as reported by Stan Ilo had this to say What can be more dangerous to youth than bad company what more fatal to all moral rectitude and facial expression than influence of bad example. Bad company ruins good moral. It will be highly recommended youths can be involved in authentic friendship. John Chidi once classified friendship into 3 1. Friendship based on unity 2. Friendship based on Sexual pleasure 3. Good griendship Youth should be encouraged to get involved in good friendship I =n which a man and a woman can be close friends without any sexual intercourse whatsoever. 0 soiled Language, noisy Music, Obscene Dance, pornography Music is an ancient means with which Gods people adored, expansive His Holy name and praised his majesty. This is still Gods expectation from us today. However, Christain music of today h as sham a new dimension from what obtains in the bible. Most Christain music today are emotional, sensual and noisy. The musical instrument sound than the wordings as obtained in worldly music. Such songs do not give any inspiration, and it lacks modesty and moderation. So also is the obscene dance that accompanies the music.Flee from such music and from every apprearance of evil. 11. UNEMPLOYMENT There is a high rate of employment in this country. Many youths who had managed to go through thick and thin to obtain a university degree or other degrees are out there on the streets roaming about in search of anything to do for living. His has been the concern of both youths and their parents. Many parents have lost inetrest in investment into education of their children. This has increased the number of youths without any formal education or vovational training.One sees them in high dense areas/cities milling around motor parks, marj=ket places, in hide outs, practically doing nothin g meaningful. Their daily existence depend on how much they can steal, extort from people or just waste away. Some engage in menial jobs that can hardly take care of them, while others become preys in the hand of evil men who take advantage of them by providing debase jpbs such as drug trafficking, prostitution. The self employed are faced with problems of generating power for tjose whose jobs require electricity. The question is, for how long then can we watch the leaders of tomorrow waste away.We all must rise up to this challenge and take the field corruption, injustice that have premeated into the whims and caprices of this nation. 12. Marriage Many youths today are faced with the problem of getting a wife or a husband. This could be attributed to a number of factors such as parental influence or control, self, sin and the devil. Youths becomes so obsessed with their inability to be married that they now abadom God. To every man there is a wife and to every woman there is a man . Therefore wait on the Lord, and He will provide. THE WAY FORWARDIn handling the problem of our youth and the difficulties confronting them in this cussed generation, parents, churches, society and the youth themselves have specific roles they must perform to bring sanity to our world. Let us reflet on the role of the youth themselves. The youth who desires life and the fruits of happy life must desire God and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Seek first the kingdom of God and all its righteous and all other things will be added unto you (Matt. 633). To the youth who had turn away from the Lord, I say come back with a repentant heart and the Lord will receive and have you back as his own.Repentance involves a) Admitting your weakness, being sorry for your weakness b) Renouncing your weakness The Lord tell us in Issaiah, come now let us reason together, says the Lord through your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they sh all become loke sheepskin (Is. 118) Go for sacramental reconciliation. Having regained your relationship with God, He wants you to live a spotless life even in this era of godlessness. You are to stay unpolluted and unperturbed in the constantly changing world where you dwell.The unchanging God will substain you, for he has say. For I am the Lord, I change not (Malachi 36). This implies that Gods children have no excuse to allow themselves to be swayed by the rapidly changing world around them. What is expected of the youth therefore according to the word of God is outlined as follows 1. The youth must treasure the unaltered word of God in his heart, life and mouth, civilization or no civilization. 2. He must constantly and diligently with prayer guard his soul so that he is not overtaken bythe whirlwind of globalization and modernization. . Must be resolved to live a holy life. This involves daring to be different with a resolution not to look back. 4. Depend on the grace of God . Paul tells the Ephesians, for it is by Grace you have been saved through Faith and this is not from your selves, it is a gift of God (Eph 28) In the sane vein, Jesus tells us in Jn1516 not to rely on our own strength but yo abide on the Vine 5. Invite the Holy spirit, the sanctifying power of God into your life. It is the spirit that gives life. In all thid fullness, live in the spirit.So I say, live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires swhich is contrary to the spirit and the spirit which is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that do not do what you want (Gal516-17) 6. Associate with thos who love and fear God. Meditate on the passage Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do responsibility and wickness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What concurrence is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an u nbeliever?What balance is there between the temple of God and Idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said I will live with them and walk amongthem, and I will be their God, and they will be my people 7. Plunge into unlimited opportunities The Lord urges us to plunge ourselves into unlimited opportunities that he has set us. Like Joshua, He was to be strong, courageous and to observe the word of God. Joshua did as God commanded and he prospered. Today God is dictum to us that he has given us great opportunities to succeed in life and have all our needs met.However, many go through life dejected, defeated, defrauded, dominated and at the end doomed. you are a child of God. For success to come your way, start now. Do not be idle. You can still go back to school and get education you can re-write your papers and improve on them. Are you unemployed, apply to place no matter how little, or you can create a job yourself. You need not suffer, the sky is the limit. Fina lly, do not stay away from sacraments (Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation). Heaven is real. What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and suffer the loss of soul.