Not Just My Parents’ Church Anymore

The well-meaning counselor was convinced my family’s religious beliefs were not mine. As an eighth grader I had to explain what I, personally, believed.

Along the grand race of life, we cross significant milestones. Whether it is obtaining a drivers’ license, graduating from high school, selecting a major or profession or choosing whom to marry, certain moments leave an indelible impression on the rest of our lives.

Questioned about my beliefs

For me, one such moment occurred in the eighth grade. For whatever reason, I was called in to see the school guidance counselor. This well-meaning individual had apparently grown increasingly concerned about my religious beliefs. Growing up in the Church of God, some of my biblical practices were out of step with the larger Christian churches and the customs accepted by the majority. After all, I was in the school band but I wouldn’t march on the Sabbath nor would I play in the Christmas concert each winter.

Perplexed, she reached out to question why I held such standards. Incredibly, she insisted that I didn’t “have to” do any of this. Such an assertion was foreign to me! I had always kept the Sabbath—or at least had been instructed and taught to by my parents. And to keep Christmas was out of the question!

She pressed the issues though—querying whether these were my beliefs. In an attempt to encourage me, she insisted that these were just my parents’ ideas. It wasn’t my church after all.

Or was it? For an eighth grader, it was a confusing situation. I don’t remember exactly what I said other than I somehow insisted that this really was my church. However, the memory of being told it was just my parents’ church and just their beliefs stuck with me for years.

Growing up in the Church of God

Being a teen in the Church of God presents its own opportunities and challenges. There are camps to attend and eventually serve as staff at, biblical festivals to celebrate and activities throughout the year to expose young people to a wide array of culture and adventure. These were certainly highlights in my own teen years.

On the other end of the spectrum is the regular reminder that many of our beliefs differ from those of most young people around us. As a teen this can be especially challenging when so much of what friends, the media and pop culture demand is to “fit in.” Deciding to honor God’s Sabbath and avoid pork can exasperate friends and classmates who don’t share the same convictions.

As a teen, I also began to realize with greater clarity that the day would come when I would have to choose God’s way of life on my own. It couldn’t just be my parents’ church or belief system anymore. I was going to have to stand squarely before God, facing my own future and make a choice. It was a daunting prospect and one with eternal ramifications.

All teens will face this decision at some point. Oftentimes, it is reflected in a series of seemingly small choices to obey God or to take another path. Nonetheless, it is still a choice. There is no effective way to run from the opportunity to choose life with God or reject it.

Making a choice

Choosing to have or reject a relationship with God that is founded on truth and reality is the most important decision we will make in life. While it may be challenging, teens can help determine a positive, fulfilling outcome by considering these four suggestions:

• Get to know God.

God promises that if we ask Him for wisdom and guidance, He will certainly provide it (James 1:5). God desires a relationship with the young people in His Church. Spend some of your time getting to know your Creator. Discover what God enjoys and learn to share in it now.

• Seek wise counsel.

Solomon advised, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14, English Standard Version). It is important to choose our advisers carefully. Look for those individuals who have your best interest at heart—individuals who have proven their commitment to God. Start with your parents, seek out your pastor and discuss concerns with young adults who are following God.

• Prove all things.

The apostle Paul encouraged people in the Church to “test all things,” meaning that Christians should examine and prove our beliefs from the Bible (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Start this process now. Start with the Fundamental Beliefs listed on our website. Set aside time to examine each one against the backdrop of the Bible. Don’t wait for college or your first job out of school to begin determining what God expects.

• Don’t let it go.

Paul followed that instruction with the admonition to “hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Once you prove what God’s standard is on any subject, stick with it. Start a list in your Bible of doctrines and beliefs that you have proven to be true. Commit to following God’s expectations in these areas.

Time waits for no man. Some of my fondest memories are from summer camps, youth trips and Feast of Tabernacles spent with close friends. Yet the time comes when we must make a choice.

Remember, it doesn’t have to be just your parents’ church. It can be yours too!

Jason Hyde attends the Louisville, Kentucky, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, with his wife, Emily, and daughter, Ava.