Dear Conrad -- Being in the church youth group, I am always getting 1 Timothy 4:12 “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young,” thrown at me, like 99% of Christian teens claim it as their favorite verse. I've always looked at it as young in your walk with God, not young in age. It could probably go either way, but I'm so tired of people taking the obvious meaning and pumping it up real big. Just wondering your view on that. – BillyKRAM

Dear BillyKRAM,

I see your issue with how it’s being used. We have to take this verse into context and apply it. Paul was talking to Timothy who was a young pastor. He was qualified to be a pastor. But Paul did not want Timothy to feel bad if people looked down on him because he was still a qualified pastor.

Kids can misuse this verse if they don’t see that distinction – youth and qualification. People might not be looking down on them not because they’re young, but rather because they are just unqualified or immature.

Of course if they are young AND qualified or mature, then it’s a problem with the adults. But on the other hand, if the kids are young and immature in their faith - then this verse isn’t a good defense for them to use.