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May 23-30, 2007

Young people using their voices around
the world

Warm-up Question:

If you had five minutes to speak to the world about something really important to you, what would you talk about? Do you think anyone would listen?

  

In New Zealand, 119 high school and college students will gather soon to be a part of the annual Youth Parliament this coming July—a chance for young people to debate issues that are important to them in the same way that the elected Members of Parliament gather to discuss issues important to the country. The young people selected to be a part of the Parliament are hoping the country will listen to what they have to say.

In Evanston, IL, 60 teenagers gathered on a recent Saturday to learn how to engage in the political life of their community. They talked about things like homelessness, gangs, sex education, and college admissions. Ra Joy, the keynote speaker, told the youth: “Your presence and your voice represent your ownership in your school, your ownership in your future, your ownership in your community.”

A college student who volunteered for the event remarked: “This is saying, ‘Wow,’ instead of sitting around and brainstorming as 50-year-olds, let's ask the youth. This is a time for the adults to listen. That's a big deal.”

Evanston Assistant City Manager Judith Aiello expressed her hopes for what this youth-led movement could accomplish: “I hope to see kids who are engaged, making new friends, thinking about ideas they've never thought about before and, most importantly, coming up with their own ideas for solutions.”

In Virginia, 16,000 teenagers gathered for an event called “BattleCry,” where they were encouraged to use their voices as young Christians to help “take back their generation from popular culture.”

“I have a voice!” screamed thousands of teenagers at the prompting of speakers from the stage. In response, the rally leaders urged them: “Then use it!”

One youth group member told the story of how a youth group protested at a local Victoria’s Secret store because they were offended by the way the store’s pictures portrayed women.

One speaker remarked: “You guys are good at ruffling people’s feathers. So instead of ruffling your parents why don’t you use it for God?”

 

Discussion Questions

  1. How much of a voice do you think young people have in your church? In your community? In your country? Why do or don’t people listen to young people where you come from?
  2. How comfortable are you with talking about your faith with other people at school or in the community? How comfortable are you with talking about political issues? (You could use a continuum line from one end of the room to the other on which youth place themselves in response to the questions. Then share why they chose to stand where they are.) How are faith and politics related in your opinion?
  3. What would happen if all the people under 18 years old in your town decided to speak up about an issue that is important to you? What would that look like? What kinds of issues do you think could bring youth together?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, May 27, 2007.
(Text links are to oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

Acts 2:1-21 or Genesis 11:1-9
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b (30)
Romans 8:14-17 or Acts 2:1-21
John 14:8-17, 25-27

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection
The disciples were lonely and afraid. Jesus had just left them—“for good” this time—and although they had a command from Jesus to share an exciting message with the whole world, they knew that many of their neighbors wouldn’t want to hear it. After all, Jesus had just been crucified for speaking up! Besides, many of their neighbors didn’t speak the same language as they did, so how could they do what Jesus asked them to do?

But then a wonderful and frightening thing happened. As they gathered to pray, suddenly the house was shaking and their ears were filled with the noise of a loud rushing wind. Fire fell down from heaven and rested on their heads, and in an instant they discovered that they were able to speak the languages of neighbors from every corner of the world. Filled with the Spirit, they began to speak about all that God had done in Jesus—in the native tongues of all those who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost.

Amazing, right? Well, not so fast. Some of their more crabby neighbors were offended and confused by the disciples’ speaking up. So they called them drunkards and tried to turn the crowd’s attention away from them. But Peter explained: “This is what we have been expecting all along! Remember what the prophet said:

‘In the last days, it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.’”

If only that had been enough. 2000 years later, people are still confused when unexpected people—young men and women, the elderly, foreigners and outsiders, and others—begin to use their voices. Even though we believe that in baptism God blesses all people with the Holy Spirit and calls all people to tell the world about God’s deeds of power in their lives, some voices are still louder than others and some voices still struggle to be heard. God’s Spirit can fall on all flesh—strangers and friends, old and young, male and female alike—calling forth prophets to speak the truth in a world full of falsity; and yet, people in both church and society still don’t want to hear what all flesh has to say:

“They’re too young.” “They’re too old.” “They don’t look like us.” “They don’t speak my language.” “They don’t have enough education.” “They just don’t understand what it’s like in the real world.” And on and on and on.

The New Testament is in many ways the story of God’s Word begging to be heard in and among all flesh, and the challenges that arise when some people don’t want to listen to the voices or honor the gifts of people who are different. Although this struggle continues, we can be sure that God will not rest until all flesh has had the chance to speak God’s Word in strange and wonderful ways. The “last days” are still unfolding as God pours the Holy Spirit onto all flesh causing people of all shapes and sizes to use their voices, no matter what the world might say. And thanks be to God for that! Amen! 

Discussion Questions

  1. Is your church a place where people of all flesh have the chance to speak—and be heard? Whose voices are the loudest? Whose are the softest? Why do you think that is?
  2. What do you think if feels like to have the Holy Spirit fall on you? How often do people talk about the Holy Spirit in your church—and what do they say? When have you felt the Holy Spirit call you to say or do something? How did that go for you?
  3. Talk about a time—in history, current events, your life or the life of the church—when someone said something that others didn’t want to hear. Why didn’t people listen? What might have happened differently?
  4. What if someone said something totally strange or even offensive and said “the Holy Spirit made me say it”? How do we figure out what words are from God and what words are from somewhere else? Why is it important to know the difference?

Activity Suggestions

  • If you were in charge at church, what would be different?
    Brainstorm things you would like to change about how your church does things. Also list the things that you think are going well. What issues would you like to see your church get involved with? Work with your teacher, pastor, or youth minister to think of ways that you might make your feelings known to the leadership of your church. Think about writing letters, bringing proposals to church council, decorating a bulleting board, speaking in church, writing for the newsletter—the sky is the limit.
     
  • Using your voice in the world
    Think of an issue that is being discussed in Congress, on the opinion pages of your local newspaper, or on a Web site news summary that you think has something to do with your faith (immigration, war, gang violence, affirmative action, abortion, gay marriage, farm legislation, school funding, the environment, etc.). Draft a letter in which you speak from the perspective of a young person of faith about the issue at hand. For example:

“Dear Senator/Representative ____: As a young Christian, I believe ______. That leads me to think _______ about ____ [the issue you are writing about]. Please think about voting _______ when you have the chance. You are in my prayers as you make decisions that my generation will inherit. Sincerely, ________”

[Leaders: If you can help young people by having a list of bills that are being voted on soon, or to know who their legislators are, that is wonderful. Please, though, let them speak their mind and their faith freely even though you may not all be in agreement on particular issues.]

For more ideas on becoming a an advocate for others and for certain issues, check out the ELCA Advocacy Web site at http://www.elca.org/advocacy/ or the ELCA World Hunger Web site at http://www.elca.org/hunger/.
 

Closing Prayer
Dear God, thank you for giving your Holy Spirit to the whole Church. Help us to learn how to use the voices you have given us to help shape the world we live in. Help us also to listen to other voices—especially those that often get overlooked in church and society. Continue to bless the whole world with people of all flesh who can speak your Word with boldness and courage. Thank you, God! Amen

 

Contributed by Pastor Jay McDivitt
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Denver, CO
 

Permission to reproduce for local use. Copyright © 2007 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. ELCA Youth Ministries. 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2447. To offer your comments or responses to Faith Lens, e-mail:  rod.boriack@elca.org.

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