A new book arrived this week at Toad Hall, one that I am looking forward to reading. The Juvenilization of American Christianity by Thomas Bergler is a study of youth ministry, by most measures considered a success in modern American Christianity and how that ministry has in turn changed the church and the faith it proclaims. A quick scan of its pages found these intriguing statements in the Introduction:

            Adolescent Christianity is any way of understanding, experiencing, or practicing the Christian faith that conforms to the patterns of adolescence in American culture…

            Adolescent spirituality favors physical activity, touch, and other bodily ways of expressing faith. Adolescent Christians are concerned about how their faith relates to their sexuality and their romantic relationships. They want to experience a “personal relationship with God” and like the idea of ‘falling in love” with Jesus…

            Adults influenced by adolescent Christianity romanticize the supposed idealism and zeal of youth and try to force each other to conform to those patterns. Adolescent Christians blame someone else for the world’s problems and seldom recognize their own role in evil social systems. In an ironic twist, some adults influenced by juvenilization blame teenagers for society’s problems. Adolescent Christians spend their energy denouncing evils and staging symbolic protests rather than engaging in the less glamorous work that can lead to long-term change…

            Adolescent Christians seek out intimate, nurturing groups of friends who will support their faith journey. They care more about the quality of their religious friendships than about truth. Adolescent Christians are most comfortable around believers who are just like them, and they may have a hard time widening their circle of friendship. Some can become obsessively conformist in their religious beliefs or behaviors, while others pride themselves on their self-conscious rebellion against the crowd—although they often need a group of friends with whom to share their rebellion!

            Adolescent Christians are preoccupied with self-exploration and personal transformation. They want to personalize their faith and use it as a resource in identity development. They want to know how their faith can help them with important life decisions like marriage and career. Adults affected by juvenilization will glorify spiritual searching and look suspiciously on believers who have “settled” beliefs and habits. Because juvenilized Christians are still figuring out who they will be, they are free to experiment with new ways to live out their faith. They may see themselves as potential heroes in the drama of redemption. On the other hand, without a settled sense of identity, they find it hard to make strong commitments to particular beliefs, people, or religious institutions. Indeed, they may see institutions and commitments as impediments to personal spiritual growth. Even if they like church, such Christians are tempted to see it as a tool for personal fulfillment…

            Adolescent Christians see the faith as incomplete unless it is affecting them emotionally. They are less likely than adults to settle for a faith that offers only a dutiful adherence to particular doctrines, rules, or institutions. On the other hand, they have a hard time keeping religious commitments when their emotions are not cooperating. They are drawn to religious practices that produce emotional highs and sometimes assume that experiencing strong feelings is the same thing as spiritual authenticity. They may be tempted to believe that God's main role in their lives is to help them feel better or to heal their emotional pain. Juvenilized adults agree that a main purpose of Christianity is to help them feel better about their problems.

I am not suggesting that these statements adequately summarize Bergler’s conclusions—after all, I have yet to read the book—but find the ideas captured in these quotes interesting. Interesting because they put into words a sense I have had about aspects of the church over the past several decades.

My question here is, what is your response to these statements? Do they parallel your experience of the faith expressed in today’s church? What do you think?

Source: The Juvenilization of American Christianity by Thomas Bergler (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans; 2012) pp. 8-12.

Recently my friend and Covenant Seminary professor Donald Guthrie has pointed out that though it is common to do so, spiritual maturity cannot be separated from emotional maturity. We are whole beings, and mature as whole beings. The Spirit works as he wills in each person, of course, so this observation does not mean the process or timeline for maturity will be identical for every follower of Christ. It merely means that growth in Christ embraces all of our life and being, because Christ is Lord of all.

Guthrie notes that in Emotionally Healthy Spirituality author Peter Scazzero identifies four stages in the process towards emotional maturity. They are worth considering. How are we doing in this lifelong process? In what ways can emotional immaturity evidence itself in Christian community? What spiritual difficulties might arise in someone due to various forms of emotional immaturity? Of what do I need to repent? In what areas of my life do I need to be open to growth, even if that process is painful?

Here are Scazzero’s four categories:

Emotional Infants

* Look for others to take care of them

* Driven by instant gratification need

* Have great difficulty entering into the world of others

* Use others as objects to meet their needs

Emotional Children

* Are content and happy as long as they receive what they want

* Unravel quickly from stress, trials and disappointments

* Interpret disagreements as personal offenses

* Are easily hurt

Emotional Adolescents

* Tend to be defensive

* Are alarmed by criticism

* Keep score of giving so they can ask for something later

* Deal with conflict poorly

* Become preoccupied with themselves

* Have difficulty truly listening to another person’s pain or needs

* Are critical and judgmental

Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Mature Adults

* Are able to ask for what they need or prefer clearly, directly, honestly

* Recognize, manage, and take responsibility for their own thoughts and feelings

* Respect others without having to change them

* Give people room to make mistakes and not be perfect

* Appreciate people for who they are, not for what they give back

* Are able to enter into the feelings and needs of others without losing themselves

* Have capacity to resolve conflict maturely