It’s been said, “The more you know, the more you know you don’t know”. As someone who has invested 24 years in formal education (and still going), I can say that is true. It seems like those with the least experience have the most answers. Yet, the older we get, the more we realize that we don’t have it all figured out. Perhaps this is why mentoring has become such a missing part of our Christian experience.

Today’s new generation of Christians have little interest in knowing the “old ways” of the faith. Christian practices of the past generation are seen as narrow, harsh, judgmental, or a misguided product of a bygone era. Instead, they seek answers about cutting edge issues, the latest faith fad, or how to justify their chosen lifestyle in light of God’s Word. They simply don’t believe the older generation either understands their issues nor has answers that will meet their needs. So, they find other “teachers” from their own generation who will affirm their itching ears – sometimes at the expense of doctrinal fidelity.

Likewise, many of the mature Christians of our day have little interest in mentoring others. This simply wasn’t a common practice of their generation. Teaching and discipleship was the job of the Pastor, Sunday School teacher, or missionary – it wasn’t for the common Christian. They often have feelings of obsolescence or have been marginalized by young people. And, of course, as they are older and more experienced, they have lived long enough to see failures and deficiencies of their own. As such, many just don’t feel they have the qualifications to be a teacher.

Yet, having the older generation become mentors for the young is not a new idea. It was a vital part of the structure of the early church. In Paul’s instructions to Titus for organizing the fledgling church in Crete, the Bible establishes this precedent. Take a minute to read Titus 2:1-8. Here, both the mature men and ladies of the faith are to conduct themselves as examples for their younger counterparts. This is to include taking both an active and personal role in teaching them. This is a vital means by which discipleship is meant to occur within the context of the local church. Based on these verses, challenge yourselves in these areas:

Older Christians – Make it a point to get your lifestyle in order before the Lord so that you can be a model for younger Christians to follow. Men, “be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience” (Titus 2:2). Ladies, “be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers” (Titus 2:3). Then, take it upon yourself to find a younger man or lady in whom you can make an investment. You don’t have to have all the answers. You don’t have to have everything right in your life. Share your wisdom, your trials, your experiences, and your faith with those who need this type of instruction. Share with them God’s Word.

Younger Christians – Put on some humility, recognize that you don’t have all the answers, and ask for help from someone of the older generation. The Bible tells us that “there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). This means that your elders have something to say about the cutting edge issues your are facing. Go to an older Christian who you admire for their faith and ask them to mentor you. Spend time with them, absorb their knowledge and receive their wisdom. Don’t allow yourself to run to your own friend groups or teachers from your own age bracket for the answers you need. You will find that God’s Word spoken through them will directly relate to your situation in life.

I think we will find that if our churches went back to this model of mentoring, we would find more growth, joy, spiritual maturity, and fulfillment. “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24). It’s time that we put ourselves under a good teacher, invest in a mentoring relationship, and find our purpose in the process of discipleship.