I Don’t Know (and that’s okay!)
By Steven Case Posted on October 09 2009
Amusement parks around the world have found a new gimmick: While the kids are jumping off the roller coaster and running around to the entrance to throw themselves on again, what's to happen to the grandparents, the middle-agers, and sensitive of stomach? They visit the "authentic" Japanese village where a Asian woman will dive down into a manmade pool filled with sea water and bring back an oyster for clamoring tourists. For just a few bucks you can have the pearl diver bring you an oyster, which will then be pried open by a minimum-wage college student. You may find seawater and oyster innards. Or you may find a pearl of great price, which can then be mounted on a ring, bracelet or attractive pendant.
I've always wanted to know what the odds are of paying your fee and actually receiving the pearl of great price. Somehow I think it's got to be comparable to finding a volunteer to work with the youth group.
If you are a volunteer and you are reading this article....God bless you.
You are a true rarity. The lady who runs the nursery never seems to have trouble. That's because people like working with toddlers. Two and three-year-olds act like they are happy to see you. In Sunday school, you can amuse an elementary school child with a Styrofoam egg carton and some pipe cleaners. Education directors will shop around for the curriculum that is the easiest to use and written most like a script, making the job simple and enjoyable for anyone who wants to help.
Children Will Say: "Why didn't David wear King Saul's armor?"
You Say Something Like: "Because he had faith that God would protect him."
Children will Say: "Ohhhhhh. I understand. You are so smart."
Finding a volunteer to work with the teenagers or to teach the high school Sunday school class is a completely different story.
Teacher: So David had faith in God that...
Students: Why did he take five stones?
Teacher: I'm sorry what?
Student: If he really had faith why did he take five stones and not just one?
Teacher: Well, David...
Student: This girl in my school has five stones on her class ring and it's really ugly. She thought it would make people like her more but guys only hang out with her because she such a slut.
Teacher: Wait...who's a slut?
Student: Why did God name David as like one of his main guys when he slept around and murdered people?
One of the biggest reason people don't want to volunteer for working with teens is that they are afraid of looking stupid.
"I don't know enough about the Bible to teach it at that level."
"I don't know enough about my denomination to talk about..."
"I don't know enough about my own faith..."
"I don't know enough..."
"I don't know..."
Those three words can keep teens from meeting, getting to know, and being mentored by some of the greatest people in the congregation, all because people are afraid to say, "I don't know."
If you are thinking, "I don't know enough about what Jesus said in order to teach it to anyone." You are in good company. I can name you twelve guys off the top of my head that thought the same thing...Peter, James, John, Judas, Matthew, Bartholomew, Thaddeus, James, Philip, Thomas, Simon, and Andrew.
Jesus constantly sat them down and went over the message again and again. Still they didn't get what he was talking about. (See Luke 18:34)
Even after the resurrection, at THE GREAT COMMISION (as the boldface headings tell us) there were still some disciples who doubted. (See Matthew 28:17).
His own guys didn't get it—but apparently they "got it" enough so that Jesus said, "You're the ones. You're the ones who are going to start my church."
So believe me, it's okay to say, "I don't know."
Why did God choose David when he was such a screw up?
"I don't know."
Why would God ask Abraham to sacrifice his own son?
"I don't know."
Why would a God of love and compassion allow madmen to fly planes into buildings?
"I don't know."
Becoming a Christian is not about becoming perfect. (Another thing that tends to make young people shy away: "I'm too much of a screw up to be a Christian.")
What we need in youth ministry are volunteers who aren't afraid to say, "You think you're a screw up? Come on over here and see how badly we 'old folks' do it, Sparky."
Being a Christian simply means we are going to take a road trip together. Jesus did not say, "I am the destination." Jesus said, "I am the way."
Being a Christian is about the journey itself.
Being a youth leader is about inviting someone else along for ride and there ain't no Google for this trip!
So next time you're leading a Bible study, or teaching a lesson and your students respond with, "How do you know that?" you can be the youth leader who says "I don't know. Lets talk about it. Let's see if together we can get a little closer. And even if we don't, we'll find a rest stop that sells pie."
It's okay to say, "I don't know." You'll always be in good company.
