This spring, Ignite Christian Academy Director Gary O'Neill was privileged to attend several of the graduations at locations around the country and delighted to meet many of our most recent graduates and their families. No matter which city he was in (Dallas, Texas; Washington, D.C.; or Orlando, Florida), he saw groups of some of the most committed families and capable young men and women. He heard many wonderful stories about how families were using ICA to enjoy the most creative and enriched education possible today. According to Mr. O'Neill, "It was also my privilege to provide the commencement address at the 2010 Ignite Christian Academy graduation ceremonies to the graduates". After he shared his message, he received a number of requests to share the message with a broader audience. What follows are some highlights taken from that message.
The Rescuer or the Rescued?
In our society there are two major indicators that children have crossed over from childhood into adulthood, namely turning 18 years old and high school graduation. Graduation is a symbolic rite of passage that puts the world on notice not only that the student has completed all of the academic and legal requirements to earn the diploma, but also that the graduate is entitled to all of the "rights and privileges" that pertain to it. It is truly an exciting time and marks the beginning of adulthood! You can now say "Wow, I really made it."
But there is a problem. Even though you may have fully done your part to establish entry into the world of the adults, I am sure you won't be surprised to learn that there are some adults–some of the crowd who are my age of my parents' age–who are not quite ready to quickly turn over to you the reins of authority. We look at the young faces of fresh high school grads and think, Can they really be trusted with serious responsibility? We are often reluctant to give over real leadership to those who might be considered "untested and so unproven."
This problem is not new; in fact, it is quite old. In the fourth chapter of the first letter to Timothy, verses 12-16, we find that Paul is addressing this very situation with Timothy. Timothy was a young man who was not necessarily receiving the level of acceptance that he deserved from the older crowd. Because of this, Paul begins to counsel Timothy on what he should do to handle this kind of problem. In verse sixteen, I believe Paul summarizes his advice as follows: "Watch your lifestyle and watch your teaching. Persist in these things. Because if you do it you will both rescue yourself and those that hear you."
The word here translated as "rescue" is the Greek term "soodzoo". This word is the same word that is commonly used by modern Christians and translates as "to save, or saved". We normally use this term to identify one who has recognized their sinful condition and asked God for forgiveness of their wrongdoing. Once they have trusted in Christ as their personal Savior, we say that they are "saved". While this is 100% correct, it is also true that the New Testament uses this term "soodzoo" not only regarding a spiritual salvation, but also in a broader sense to refer to rescue for any kind of danger: physical, moral, spiritual, etc.
It is this latter sense of the term, I believe Paul is offering to Timothy an awesome opportunity. That opportunity is likewise also available to young people today….if they will take it. The opportunity is that while others may fail to recognize you as a full-fledged adult you still have an important decision to make that will absolutely make a difference on how you will ultimately be treated for years to come. You can choose to either be the "rescuer" or you can choose to be "the one who needs to be rescued". You can either choose to take the initiative by demonstrating those characteristics that will win respect from others or you can retreat back into the world of upper childhood, sometimes mislabeled as adolescence, for a season. This is your choice and it does not depend upon whether people like you or they do not like you. It comes from within and it is available to you today. What will be your choice?
The apostle goes on to explain the two critical areas that will be visible in the life of those who chose to be the rescuers: a pattern of exemplary living and a pattern of exemplary public ministry. We do not have time to fully unfold each of these areas, but I refer you back to I Timothy 4:12-16, where Paul describes the patterns of exemplary living (good speech, loving spirit, a faith filled mind, and a purity of one's soul) and the patterns of exemplary ministry (public reading of Scripture, providing counseling and encouragement to others, teaching the word of God to others, etc). Much benefit will come by personal examination as to how you measure up in these areas. What is your rescuer quotient?
The opposite response that some young people unfortunately make in these kinds of situations is to escape backwards into the world of their peers. They decide to just hang out with their friends and seek their friend's approval. These are not at all concerned with the problems and issues of the adult world. They simply cave in to the peer pressure of the group. The group norms become their personal norms; their values become your values. In seeking independence from their parents- which they eventually should- many teens simply adopt the attitudes and behavior patterns of their favorite peer group. This may be easy, but it's NOT independence! There is a much better way!
Paul promises that in fact young people can become the rescuers. You, too, like Timothy have the option to "instead of being influenced by peer pressure, you can create some pressure on your peers". This is what it takes to be the rescuer.
For those of you who have decided that you want to step up to the position of rescuer, I offer the following practical steps that will help you move along in that direction. Every one of these could be accomplished this year if you commit to them. You do not need to do all of them, but I recommend that you choose just three and tell a parent and your best friend to help you follow through on them. Here is the list:
1. I will read the book Do Hard Things by Alex Harris this summer.
Like I Timothy 4, the book takes the perspective that "everything you do as a teen is training." The teen years are not a time to goof off. Instead, this is the time to prove yourself and gain increasing independence as you prove yourself faithful.
Do Hard Things is about challenging teens to intentionally do five kinds of hard things:
1. Things that are outside your comfort zone
2. Things that go beyond what is expected or required
3. Things that are too big to accomplish alone
4. Things that don't earn an immediate payoff
5. Things that challenge the cultural norm
2. I will read or watch the news at least twice every week.
In order to influence our culture, we must understand it. An uninformed Christian is an ineffective Christian. Reading the news with discernment and with your Bible open allows you to ponder the relationships between temporal events and eternal truth.
3. I will take create a single sentence summary for every epistle in the New Testament.
Start with Romans and a sheet of paper. Read the first chapter enough times to be able to write a one sentence summary of its contents. Make that sentence as accurate and complete as you possibly can. Go to the second chapter of Romans and again read it enough times to write your summary sentence. Continue this process all the way through the book of Romans. When you have written your sixteen summary sentences for Romans, take your sheet of paper and sit across from a friend. Tell your friend to hold a Bible open and listen as you explain the contents of each chapter in the book of Romans. If you get stuck, ask for a hint. Repeat this process, all the way through Revelations. This exercise will change your life.
4. I will vote. (Okay, if you're not 18, then pretend to vote.)
Today's teenagers are going to inherit the leadership of this country. You cannot afford to be uninformed about what is going on and how you can change it. You must begin the political learning process and register to vote so that you will have the opportunity to participate in the leadership selection process again at the local, state, and national levels!
5. I will take a course in Christian apologetics.
Today people ask questions like: aren't there many ways to get to heaven? Isn't the Bible unscientific? Aren't most church goers hypocrites?
Apologetics is the field of study that examines the evidences for the truthfulness of Christianity. It's great to know what you believe. It is even better to know why and be able to give a reason for the hope that is in you. What we need is a generation of young people who understand the questions that the world is asking and can articulate the scriptural answers to those questions.
6. I will write my autobiography this summer.
Pretend you are now 50 years old. Write a five page biography of your life. Write one page per decade of your life. Write down the things you hope to have accomplished by the time you are 50. Where did you go to college? Whom did you marry? How many children did you have? What is your ministry focus? Where do you work? What challenges have you faced? Where do you live? Share this autobiography with your parent.
The challenge from I Timothy 4 is yours. Will you become the rescuer or the one who needs to be rescued?