Youth Being Ignored or Sidelined Is Identity Denied
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3520232 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Malan Nel (0000-0002-2263-9097, University of Pretoria, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 303 |
| Publication date | 2025-02-27 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Religions (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/rel16030303 |
| OpenAlex | W4407995500 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 10 |
It has happened so many times in history: the youth being ignored or sidelined. Such behaviour was and is often motivated by culture. In most cultures, the youth, children, and adolescents are important and loved; however, in society and churches, they are on the sideline, until culture determines their real belonging. The theological departure point of inclusivity has just not been taken yet. In this article will be argued that however natural cultural behaviour might be, to ignore or sideline children and adolescents is to deny our Christian identity as the church of God. In God's mind, children are included even before they are born. They may be man-and-woman-made, but in fact, they are God-made (Psalm 127 verse 3). They may not even have been part of a man-and-woman-made plan. Coming into being, whether planned or unplanned, does not catch God off-guard. Being is a gift of God, not only to a parent or parents but to the faith community. A theological understanding of our identity as the people of God compels us not and never to ignore or sideline the youth at any stage of life
Art · Criminology · Political science · Sociology · Youth Education and Societal Dynamics
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |