Too Young...

There is a certain amount of wisdom that can only come from a lifetime of experiences. But there is a certain type of courage that can only be found among our youngest brothers and sisters.

love,

Sopranette

 

ooohhh....I like that. Great quotable quote!

 

I agree.:thumbs:

 

Hey, that IS a great quote!

Mark Twain said, "Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from making bad decisions."

 

Age is not the issue; spiritual maturity is. Too many Christians, young and old, are just looking for another fight to join. Jesus had a couple of disciples that were very zealous and ready to "take an open stand." Jesus rebuked them and said, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." (Luke 9:55) To take a stand with the right spirit is the need for today. Only then can we hope to reprove, rebuke, exhort, and correct.

 

No age is too young as long as you are right. The fact is that God has designed life so that maturity, wisdom, and knowledge come with age. Therefore, we must take that into account.

 

I wrote the quote in question, and the emphasis was not on the age of the person but on the fact that he was passing judgement on servants of God from just a few posts.

I agree that age is not issue.

 

Amen Pastor Bob!:thumbs:

I believe that Timothy was a young pastor in Ephesus and the Apostle Paul told him in 2 Timothy:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. (2 Timothy 2:15-16)

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

The Apostle Peter also said in 1 Peter 2:

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1 Peter 2:2)

 

Yes that is a great statement Sopranette.

The real challenge of rearing children or training young Christians for service comes in teaching them wisdom and understanding without crushing their spirit, zeal, and courage.

 

To the extent that Timothy was younger than Paul, and that there were older men and women in membership of the church at Ephesus, that is true. However, by the time Paul wrote to Timothy, "Let no one despise your youth," some 15 years had passed since Timothy had accompanied him on his second missionary journey. He would, I imagine, have been in his late 30s or early 40s, and had been a Christian more than 15 years.

 

A quote that I heard recently.

I cannot control how I am perceived, I can only control how I am presented.

Anyone here can state an opinion or view and it be perceived as judgement, but that may not be the intent. In fact we could go as far as saying all opinions here that are not like our own are automatically judgements and even more so if it does not meet an age requirement for wisdom.

We should give all posters regardless of age the freedom to express how they see a subject and be willing to learn from one another as I have learned much from this board thus far.

 

The challenge is to balance wisdom with courage.

 

I think it obvious enough from general experience. It is hard to imagine it could be questioned. There are certain things that only come with age and maturity and experience.

This is why the Bible requires a pastor to be a man of proven maturity, an elder, to lead the church. The issue there is not primarily age, though age certainly has something to do with it.

But again, age is not the main factor here. Being right is. And being humble and gracious is. And that usually comes with age.

 

I wonder how old David was when he stood against Golyath?

 

First, wisdom is different from knowing what is right. Wisdom is knowing what to do with what is right. The rashness of youth is generally not a good start, no matter how right the person is. Wisdom may come from the Holy Spirit, and it is also there for the asking. However patience, gentleness and a few other very needed qualities are FRUITS of the Holy Spirit and fruits do not appear on a seedling. Maturity is very much needed in a number of areas.

That given, there are some older people who will never be mature and some younger people who seem to mature very quickly. Spiritually, that spiritual maturity for a born again Christian is a matter of paying close attention to the Lord and obeying Him. It has a lot to do with a quiet heart and a caring disposition.

 

Being right cannot be the main thing. Being right is not the prerequisite for confrontation. It's not a matter of a right position; it is a matter of a right disposition.

Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Proverbs 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

 

This thread is an example of why I am choosing to leave the BB. This kind of thing brings me down. Sigh.

 

Why the negativity? This has been a positive and fruitful discussion on age vs. maturity as a prerequisite or condition for going into the ministry. There has been a lot of good advice that has been given. If you are looking for some of the more heated exchanges that are less edifying I can certainly point you in that direction, but this is not one of them.
This is a debate forum not a complaint forum.