Teenagers and the Discipline of Silence

We told Gen X that busyness was success. We told Millennials that collaboration was success. We told Gen Z that influence was success. I think we should tell Alpha Gen that obedience is success.

One of the missing pieces of youth ministry is the emphasis of silence and the sabboath commandment. Yes, that’s right, the commandment to be silent and to rest. To be honest, I believe that much of the mental state of Gen Z, and certainly Alpha Gen coming behind them, can be blamed on the pace and the volume of society around them.

We are too busy. And the volume and pace of society has clouded the minds of our young people and affected their mental health. Adolescent’s are not comfortable in their silence. A silence that is actually restorative and therapeutic for total health.

The Economy of Attention

The concept of rest and silence can actually be seen in the importance of attentiveness. The Economy of Attention is a simple principle. What gets our attention is often what is most important to us. And this is why it is important to be silent and to value a sabbaoth - to lessen the things that call for our attention.

There is a whirlwind of things screaming for our attention. But, the quicker we can tend to the things that are most important, the easier it will be to focus on the things of most importance. And not just the whirlwind of things screaming for our attention.

For example, the economy of attention may be the kind of value that we put on just a few things and not the whirlwind of information around us. Maybe we simply focus on our attention on the family, on our friendships, on our vocation, on our wellness, and on our faith! This economy of the amount of time and energy we place on the most important things is what keeps a teenager from going crazy.

Here are 4 ways to focus on silence and the economy of attention:

I Timothy 4.7-8 says, "Don't waste time arguing over foolish ideas and silly myths and legends. Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit. Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually, and practice being a better Christian because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too."

1. Focus on the Spiritual Disciplines first. How much time we spend on the most important things in our life will determine our overall total health. That includes the following spiritual disciplines:

   · Prayer, reading the word, worship, fasting, giving, simplicity, and outreach

2. Remove the non-essentials. What do we need to cut out of our life? Wasted time and energy keep us from the best of things in our life. Where do we spend our time and energy?  If we take a good look at our words and actions we can determine what kind of a person we are.  We have heard the term ‘Garbage in, Garbage out’ as it relates to computers. But is is the same in our personal life.

3. Rest is spiritual. Did you hear that? Rest is spiritual. And in a society that promotes busyness, rest becomes less valuable.  We have seen a decrease in mental health and a feeling of purpose with a corresponding rise in depression and ultimately suicide in the Gen Z set. There are multiple factors contributing to the lack of rest, including:

   ·       The pervasive influence of social media comparisons

   ·       The gaming role-playing world

   ·       The fantasy of artificial intelligence

   ·       Online image and body shaming marketing

   ·       The competitive nature of educational scholarships

   ·       The spiritual vacuum of a generation 

   There are many other triggers, of course, but these prevailing issues take up center stage to destroy teenage mental health, self-esteem, and purpose.

4. Time Management and Organization. Manage your time so that you are organized enough to complete the most important tasks that will define your life and ministry. Instead of succumbing to the clock, make it work for you. There are many troubling signs that develop from a lack of time management and organization, and from a lack of silence and rest. Here are a few of them:

   ·       Poor academic performance in school

   ·       Withdrawal from family, friends, and activities

   ·       Sadness and hopelessness 

   ·       Lack of enthusiasm, energy, or motivation

   ·       Anger, rage, and aggression

   ·       Overreaction to criticism

   ·       Feelings of being unable to satisfy ideals

   ·       Poor self-esteem, cutting, or bodily harm

   ·       Substance abuse

   ·       Organ dysfunction

   ·       Suicidal thoughts or actions

Finally

These should be the best days of a teenager’s life. Stop the busyness. Obedience to the important discipline of sabbaoth and rest is a needed spiritual discipline in the adolescent.

One final word from Jesus in Matthew 11, “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance.” (Matthew 11:16–17)

I don’t want it to be said of me that I was too serious and missed an opportunity to slow down and enjoy life, to dance…or play. I believe what Jesus was saying is that we should become like children and their response to the stresses in life, and, their response to Him.

It was the job of the children to fill the streets with joy during a funeral. While others were playing a dirge, and assembling mourners to show their grief, the children had another role.

It was to fill the streets with joy!