Age

Age. We here many old people say that age is a state of mind. Or that if you are young at heart, you will stay young in being.

But I have found in my daily life that the same principle does not apply in reverse. People look down on young people as being childish or unworthy of their attention. Growing up, my family attended a myriad of churches and in almost all of them, there was this idea that the youth of the church were the church of tomorrow. I contended then, and I still contend that the youth are the church of today.

Having to answer questions once again this week about my age and how I can justify being a Bishop and being so young (as if 30 is really young!), it made me consider this notion once again.

The prophet Samuel was called of God at a very young age as he was serving the High Priest Eli. Eli saw this calling and encouraged it and cultivated it. If it had not been for that Samuel would not have been the major prophet of history that he turned out to be. If Eli had treated Samuel the way “Spiritual Leaders” treat the youth of the church today, Samuel would have turned out like Eli’s sons. Eli’s sons turned out to be evil and hateful men. God ended up smiting them for their evil ways!

And look at the prophet Jeremiah. He was young when God called him. Jeremiah 1:6-10 says, ” And I said, “Alas, O Lord God! Behold, I know not to speak for I am a youth.” And the Lord said to me; Say not, “I am a youth,” for wherever I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Fear them not, for I am with you to save you,” says the Lord. And the Lord stretched out His hand and reached my mouth, and the Lord said to me; “Behold, I have placed My words in your mouth. Behold, I have appointed you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to crush, and to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.”

Jeremiah was appointed by God to be a prophet and to preach to the people of Israel in a time when their country was in turmoil. It was Jeremiah that helped save the people of Israel from complete destruction!

Saint Paul spoke to Saint Timothy about this issue as well. In 1 Timothy 4:12, Saint Paul says, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

And finally, Jesus himself was 30 when he began his public ministry. Jesus, by many accounts, had died on the cross by the age of 33! If this is the case, the standard of not even considering someone for the episcopacy until they are 35 would have excluded Jesus!

Something to think about, that is for sure.