Virtue Magazine

The world should see a clear distinction since we are called to be “salt and light” according to Matthew 5:13-14. Let’s look at these issues in light of God’s Word and examine what this means for today’s Christian teens.

Laziness. Ephesians 5:16 (NIV) says, “...making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” Every Friday and Saturday night, about 80 idle teens hang out in the parking lot of a local cafe with police keeping close watch on them. There is no purpose for gathering and many times tensions escalate to the point where the police need to intervene. As teens, we need to redeem the time. Instead of giving in to idleness, we need to buckle down and work hard. There is a time and place to have fun with friends but it’s after we meet our first obligations to God and our family.

Disrespectful to Authority. My dad has said, “Hire a teenager while they still know everything!” This is funny but true. Most teens think they know more than everyone else. Our society even encourages us to question authority. Ephesians 6:2-3 (NIV), however, instructs us to “Honor your father and mother so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.” God commands Christian teens to obey their parents and those in authority even if we think our way is better.

Inappropriate Dress. “A woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 22:5; NIV) Your clothing represents your values. More importantly, it shows for whom you are dressing. Are you taking your clothing cues from Christ or the culture? As Christians, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. When God gave Solomon instructions on how to build the temple, He was particular about the details and the honor brought to Him. Likewise, we should pay attention to details in our dress so that we reflect God’s glory.

In I Corinthians 13:11 (NIV) we are called to put childish things away, “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.” Have you “put away” laziness, disrespecting those in authority, and dressing inappropriately? These are some childish things we need to let go. As Christian teens, we can be salt and light to those around us. Sometimes it’s hard to take a stand, but if we do, the results will be amazing.