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Answers for Teens
Is It Right that I’m Forced to Go to
Church Each Week?
Doesn’t the constitution guarantee me freedom
of religion? First Peter 2:12 says, “Keep your behaviour excellent
Look at it this way. If you do go to church, it’s among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they
not going to hurt you. It might even help you. slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your
But if you don’t go to church, your parents will good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the
probably kill you. Considering the consequences, day of visitation.”
going to church seems a whole lot better choice. If you keep your behaviour excellent, your friends
As long as you live under their roof, and they are may one day glorify God. If you compromise,
responsible for taking care of you, you need to your friends will never see any difference between
do what they ask. your life and theirs. If they don’t, what motiva-
tion will they have to become followers of Christ
How in the World Can I Be Like Jesus?
themselves?
I can’t even swim, much less walk on water.
God wants you to be like His Son in your char- My Friends Complain that I’m too Shy.
acter, that is, what you are like on the inside. They Think I Should Go Out Drinking
There is no outward ideal when it comes to looks With Them. What Should I do?
or abilities. But there is an inward ideal. It’s
If you want a personality makeover,
found in Gal 5:22, 23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is
drinking will do that for you.
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithful- Some shy people become the life of the party once
ness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there they get drunk. Others try to kill themselves.
is no law.” God wants you to allow His Spirit to
If you are really in search of a personality
control you so you will be like His Son.
makeover, read Ephesians 5:18,“And do not get
drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled
I’ve Tried Saying “No” to My Friends, but
with the Spirit.” When you come under the influ-
I Keep Getting into Trouble.
ence of either alcohol or the Holy Spirit, you will
What Should I Do?
act differently. You may not know how alcohol
Swimming against the current requires a lot of
will make you act, but you do know how the
strength. It is always easier to just go with the
Holy Spirit will make you act—just like Jesus. In-
flow.
stead of giving in to your friends’ pressure to
For this reason, it is important that your closest drink, give in to the Spirit’s promptings in your
friends flow the right direction. You must life. Let Him control you, lead you and
surround yourself with the right kind of friends— empower you. Your friends will be shocked to see
friends who challenge you to daily live your life the new you.
for Christ (adapted from Peer Pressure, p. 57).
As much as you will hate it, you should pull out
of the group. You cannot claim to follow Christ r
and continue to compromise. https://www.josh.org/resources/youth-family/answers-for-teens/
The Potter’s Vessel 21
