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Most of the time when someone calls me or comes into my office for counseling it is because of a relationship gone bad. Most often it is a marital relationship and one partner is trying to make it work and the other is not working on the problem at all. However, I’m afraid that many of us in youth ministry have teens that we are not really fond of and we are really not working to make it better. Maybe the teen has done you wrong or maybe there is just a personality conflict. We as ministers should be the ones to step up to make things better. You may be saying to yourself right now that you don’t want the relationship to get better. What you really want is for that young person to hurry and graduate out of your ministry. Jesus tells us to love our enemies as we do ourselves. Jesus loved all of us so we could spend eternity with Him. But how is it possible to like someone that you don’t want to be around? There is one passage that I rely on when I am talking to someone about relationships or when I am dealing with a bad relationship myself. This passage often hits me right between the eyes and as hard as I try to pretend it is not there it keeps popping up. The passage I am talking about is Romans 12:14-21. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay, “says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Rely on this passage when you are struggling with a youth minister/teen relationship. Turn to God; He gives us the answers for a reason.
Article Source: http://youth-ministry-resources.com
Paul Evans is the co-developer of Teen Life Ministries. Teen Life is a youth ministry membership resource center for youth workers.
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