Radical teenager approach yielding results

What would happen if we treated our 13-plus-year-olds as young adults instead of teenagers? It’s been a radical approach with great results for my family, writes Olly Goldenberg.

Did you know that teenagers aren’t biblical? Nowhere in the Bible will you find the word ‘teenager’. They’re a very modern concept!

Since the last century we’ve stretched out education to last longer and longer and in doing so we’ve created this stage between childhood and adulthood.

It does have its advantages, but let’s face it – it can also be confusing. As parents, we want our teens to act like adults, yet sometimes we still treat them like children.

Sometimes teens want responsibility, other times not. Friction can arise.

It’s interesting that Jewish culture has a different model. At 13, boys have their Bar Mitzvah and girls their Bat Mitzvah. From then on they’re viewed as adults. Not half adults. Full ones. Sons and daughters of the law.

It’s a model we see in the Bible too. In Acts 2 it says, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”

You see how there are two clear generations? Imagine a younger person saying, “We’re going to fill a stadium with people praising Jesus!” but an older one replying, “Great dream, but why don’t we start with filling your living room?”

Put together, the two generations strengthen each other: the youth with their energy and zeal and the older people with the wisdom to temper it.

… story continues