Christ Youth

CHRIST AND NEW GENERATION YOUTH
TRANSFORMED YOUTH FOR TRANSFORMING THE WORLD
Rev. Dr. J. N. Manokaran
MISSION EDUCATIONAL BOOKS

CHENNAI
Christ and New Generation Youth

- Rev. Dr. J. N. Manokaran
Copyright 2010 Published by Mission Educational Books with special permission from the author
Other books by the author: Christ & Cities Christ & Missional Leaders Christ & Transformational Missions
Copies are available Mission Educational Books 11, Konnur High Road, Ayanavaram, Chennai 600 023. India Phone : 91 44 26744293 Email : mebpublication@gmail.com Website : www.missionbooks.net
Price : Rs.150/- US $ 15/2 Christ and New Generation Youth
Personally Speaking
But for His grace, this book could have been just a dream. Starting this writing project was not easy. Indeed it was a struggle. Certainly, India is one of the youngest nations with a huge youth population. As I was getting older, I thought let the work among youth be done by younger leaders. But, the Spirit of God compelled me to look into this direction. Sam George, my friend wrote: Missionaries are lifelong students of people, culture and what Spirit is doing in the world. We must not only study second generation, their culture and popular culture of our times, but also sensitive to what Spirit is stirring up among them.1 This statement challenged me to think about helping young people to be transformed and encouraged by the love of Lord Jesus Christ. Our children, Hosanna and Thambos give younger perspective of life and world. Their knowledge of the world and adaption to modern technology amazes me. My younger brother Peter Daniel, who worked among college youngsters, prodded me to go ahead. There were numerous youngsters who looked up for direction and mentoring. That would be a long list from around the world; few were just Internet contacts, whom I have not met. Vineta Livingstone, my cousin sister who lives in New Jersey and works in World Finance Centre helped me to think seriously about young people. Her sharing about the struggles of postmodern youngsters was a wakeup call. Vijay Mohod, invited me again and again to speak to young people in Mission Maharastra events several times that gave me opportunity to interact with young people. Anita Victor, her testimony of transformation after attending one of my sessions was an added encouragement. Deepa C, Gomathy, Jeyanthi, Jerry, Priscilla, Angel, Arun, Bencey David, Latha, Madhukar, Amit, Sanjay, Ashmita, Andrew, Yesurathinam, William, Emmanuel P, Rebecca, Dilip S., Sunil K., and many others. I bought and read at least two dozen popular books read by modern youngsters to understand their world, vocabulary, context, life style,
Sam George, Understanding the Coconut Generation: Ministry to the Americanized Asian Indians (Niles, Illinois: Mall Publishing Company, 2006), p.197. 3
aspirations, sub-culture and values. Read the Scriptures again to discover Gods love and concern for young people. The Scripture is a treasure, where numerous young people shine out as stars. In the first section of this book, bible studies from young characters are done. The second section is a group of important life lessons that are essential for youngsters. The third section provides help to understand the youngsters of this generation. I am grateful to Paul Landrey, International Director for Trainers of Pastors International Coalition (TOPIC) who wrote the first Foreword. He and his wife Carol always send short notes of encouragement and affirmation . It was Joanne Fast, Assistant to President of Grace University, Omaha, Nebraska who carefully edited the manuscript to make it presentable. Vijay Mohod, who was benefited in one of my teaching sessions and relentlessly pursued the vision of church planting among strategic people groups in Maharashtra agreed to write the second foreword,. He has inspired young people from all districts of Maharashtra through the events Mission Maharashtra to be involved proactively in missions and gives me privilege to minister in those events. Rev. S.D. Ponraj who pioneered Mission Educational Books, deserves special thanks for contributing the mission literacy among Christians in India and abroad. My fellow pilgrim and wife Rosy was gracious to let me have freedom to think, to write and to stare at the computer screen for hours. Thank you for choosing to read this book. May God bless you. Yours in His Vineyard,
J.N. Manokaran
jnmanokaran@yahoo.com http://glocalleadersnetwork.com
Foreword
The Lord Jesus Christ, said: "You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." In other words, just being salt is not enough. In fact, if we are salt and are not being salty, we are in big trouble. More than twenty years ago E. Stanley Jones, the great Methodist writer and missionary, was asked to name the number-one problem in the church. His quick reply was "Irrelevance." Not that the church was inherently irrelevant, but that Christians were failing to show in concrete ways and to tell in understandable terms how the person of Christ is relevant to all of life in the 20th Century. The number one way, then, for Christians to be the salt Christ calls them to be is to teach His relevance, to demonstrate His relevance, to live His relevance in every area of life. We cannot accomplish this by talking only to ourselves and working only in the "safe" careers and professions. Being salt is not nearly so much about having more pastors and missionaries as it is about having many more committed Christian people thinking strategically about and acting on ways to build the kingdom in such areas as public policy, advertising, media, higher education, information technology, entertainment, the arts, and sports. Keeping Christ bottled up in the churches is keeping salt in the shakers, and He does not go where we do not take Him. We need to take Him everywhere and show His relevance and the relevance of His Word to every aspect of modern life. The process of obeying Christ's command to be salt is about penetration. Salt must penetrate the meat to preserve it. Christians must penetrate key areas of culture to have a preserving effect. It is about being inside through competence and talent and, with God's help and the Holy Spirit's leading, offering scripturally based alternatives to those things that are corrupting and evil. New generation youth in India is that kind of challenge. In J. N. Manokaran's book: Christ and New Generation Youth, you will find plenty of information gleaned from news articles and recent publications which
Christ and New Generation Youth 5
document the size, worldview and dreams of this segment of the Indian population. The point however, is to move beyond an understanding of the new generation, to a grasp of what can and should be done as we endeavor to make Christ known to these younger women and men. Spiritual need touches every class in India, whether traditional village farmers who have practiced the ways of their fathers for hundreds of years, or workers in its new and fast-growing hi-tech industries. In cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad/Secunderabad and Delhi, a new and upwardly mobile class represents unique challenges. "The rapid growth of the high-tech industry in India, provides one of the newest, largest, and most influencial unreached people groups in the country," according to Dr. T. Valson Abraham (President of India Gospel Outreach). People in this group come from a variety of religious, social and economic backgrounds. Primarily, they are younger men (and women) who have engineering and computer backgrounds. They have become the 'new rich' in Indian society. This is just one of the groups highlighted in Christ and New Generation Youth, by J. N. Manokaran. There is more here than just an overview of the new generation. You will find hope and love and faith. Praise God for those valiant pioneers who are being used of God to live the life of Christ with the youth of this generation and do it such a manner that they are being drawn to Him, whom to know is life eternal.
Paul Landrey,
International Director Trainers of Pastors International Coalition (TOPIC)
Foreword
Leadership is a combination of strategy and character, and if you must be without one, may you be without strategy. I was surprised to receive call and mail from the author to write a foreword for his new book. J.N. Manokaran is an inspiration, who imparts visions, affirms people, encourages young leaders to excel and amazingly gets along with people of all culture, language and age. I have been in the forefronts of the evangelistic & Church planting ministry for the last 25 years, beginning at the age of 17 while still studying in the Junior College. As a young gospel worker what I have been desperately looking for was a role model with noble virtues and good leadership skills. I came across with many skilled & intellectual preachers & teachers. But sadly I have not found many to be my role-model, over the years to look to, for imitation. Jesus Christ was the best role-model for His young disciples. He Choose and recruited and trained them with much motivations and entrusted them with the task of global evangelization. All of the disciples were in their mid or late twenties when Jesus called them. Jesus knew the importance of youth ministry. He invested eternity in the lives of those young men, irrespective of their backgrounds and pasts. Today the youth in India have become the largest people group with more than fifty per cent of its population between 0 to 18 years of age. In the fast track of instant world the youth have become success-oriented and for which they are taking the shortest possible routes. In an age when words like Integrity & Ethics have become foreign as well as out-dated words, a time when no one is ready to say wrong to wrong things, in a generation when evil practices & shameful relationships are wrapped up in colorful covers of style or fashion & modernism, youth are readily taking the routes full of compromises & unethical practices to make their lives. Its time for ministries, with sufficient role-models, to sprout up to teach the youth of their need to learn to cooperate with God to bring out His best plan
for their lives, just as the author speaks about a young virgin, who was willing to face any shame, humiliation & misunderstanding, for her supernatural conception, just to bring out, what we later come to know as Gods plan of salvation for mankind. To have our youth live a life of purpose they need to learn the purpose of their lives, which God has designed for them. And to make their lives work, where can the youth find blue prints for their better then the Word of God. Its time to bring the youth back to the Bible. Its time to rightly focus on the youth; to catch them while they are young. In this book the author has shown: The way to building relationships with God and young people; how to engage them with God; connecting with youth in an appropriate way, so they understand God is relevant to them today; enabling today's youth to be tomorrow's Christian leaders; planting seeds of discipleship to grow great Christians. The importance of preaching, teaching, leading & the Christian life to excite & inspire young people; fishing them to be fishers of men; impacting them through the message of the Bible to create young men & women who love Jesus, using all appropriate methods to excite, inspire, capture & ignite them for Jesus. To enable young people to understand and recognize who Jesus is, and what it is to live for Him only. Bringing the contemporary message of Christianity to today's youth; building solid Christians on the right foundation of the Solid Rock, Jesus Christ. I highly recommend this book as it has been a source of blessings to me while reading it and has helped me to evaluate my priorities & focus for ministry.
Pastor Vijay Mohod, Founder & Senior Pastor, Indian Stewards Fellowship. Nagpur
CONTENT
I Biblical Basis For Youth Ministries 1. Elihu A Young Man Speaks ____________________13 2. Apostles A Band Of Assorted Young Men _________17 3. Teenage Girl Vehicle Of Incarnation ______________21 4. Light Burning And Shining _____________________25 5. Virgin And The Lost Coin _______________________29 6. Esther Who Won Miss Persia Contest _____________33 7. Anger To Murder: The Story Of The First Murderer___39 8. A Rich Young Man A Question Of Priorities _______43 9. Parable Of Virgins: Preparation Meets Opportunity ___49 10. Two Choices, Two Lifestyle And Two Destinies ______53 11. Serving Gods Purposes In Our Generation __________57 12. Esaus Eternal Error ____________________________61
II Life Skills For Young People 13. Always Embracing Change_______________________69 14. Dating _______________________________________73 15. How Do You Make Decisions ____________________77 16. Operating On A Higher Plane _____________________81 17. Dreams ______________________________________85
18. Radical Or Rebel _______________________________89 19. Right Self-Image _______________________________93 20. Stars And Scars ________________________________97 21. Adventurers Make Things Happen ________________101 22. Changing Destiny _____________________________105 23. Unique, Special And Precious____________________109 24. Slackness Vs. Diligence ________________________113
III Understanding Ministry Among Young People 25. Changing World Of Young People ________________119 26. Understanding Postmodernism ___________________123 27. Understanding Urban Young People_______________131 28. Understanding Marginalized Young People _________159 29. Youth And Violence ___________________________165 30. Money And Wealth: God Vs. Mammon ___________195 31. Job And Meaning _____________________________199 32. Innovative Strategies To Reach The Young _________203 33. Emotional Baggage Of Postmodern Generation ______209
Epilogue: Run To Win ________________________________215
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SECTION I
BIBLICAL BASIS FOR YOUTH MINISTRIES
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Chapter 1:
ELIHU A YOUNG MAN SPEAKS

Young people are Gods resources and treasure. However, many times they are treated with contempt and not given opportunities to exhibit their wisdom or opinion or talents or gifts. In the Book of Job, we read stimulating conversations between Job and his three friends. The arguments are wonderful, insightful and thought provoking. Along with them was a young man, Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, a silent attentive listener to the conversations between Job and his three friends. In chapter thirty-two he begins to speak. His long speech is recorded in six full chapters (Job 32 to 37). This may be the longest speech given by a young man in the Bible. The age of Elihu is not clear, but certainly he was younger than all the three friends and Job. Elihu is a great role model for young people to follow and do the will of God in their lives. Here are some lessons from this fascinating young man: He was humble He was humble before God and man. I am just like you before God; I too have been taken from clay.2 Humility is a noble virtue that allows Gods grace to flow in a persons life. Like water rushing to
2
Job 33:6 13
lower areas, Gods grace and wisdom flows to the person who is humble in heart, mind and attitude. God uses humble people and is against the proud. Elihu said: I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know.3 He was aware of his youth. Certainly, his experience would not be at par with the experience of the older men. Therefore, he was fearful and humble in the presence of the elders. He did not dare to tell what he knew out of turn. He was a listener Listening is a very important skill that is needed for every leader. Samuel had to learn from Eli the skill of listening to God. When young people discover their talents and gifts, they tend to be arrogant and not listen to others. However, Elihu was different. What a remarkable statement he made. I waited while you spoke, I listened to your reasoning; while you were searching for words, I gave you my full attention.4 Listening to others, giving full attention to others, and understanding the words of others are important traits for a leader. He respected his elders Elihu also acknowledged the experience and wisdom of the elders. Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.5 He expected wisdom from the older men because of their experience. Wisdom comes by experience and reflection of those experiences. By reflection, a person can learn life lessons, which could not be learned elsewhere. Like Elihu, young people expect older people to be wise because of their experiences. They are frustrated when wisdom is not heard from the mouths of their elders.
Job 32:6 Job 32:11, 12 5 Job 32:7

3 4
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He had the Spirit of God Elihu, though young, had the inspiration of the Spirit of God. But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, which gives him understanding. He had courage to speak up.6 The Spirit of God gives conviction and boldness to speak. Joel prophesized that the young will be filled with the Spirit and see visions. Peter, when he was called, was about 25 years old. That means on the day of Pentecost he was 28 or 29 years old. Age does not prohibit the Holy Spirit to work through people. He was jealous for the Lord Elihu was upset with the friends of Job as they could not marshal their arguments for God. Their arguments were faulty and without sound basis. For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me; inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst.7 His zeal for God made him restless. He was like a bottled up wine, ready to burst. He could not be silent when Gods name and glory were at stake. He gathered courage to speak for the sake of the glory of God. He had a sense of justice It is interesting to note the three friends of Job were not able to find any fault in Job. And they could not refute Jobs claim that he was righteous. In spite of that, the friends condemned Job. To condemn without enough evidence is a travesty of justice. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.8 Elihus sense of justice made him angry with the friends of Job. Being appalled and confronting injustice is a mark of an effective leader.
Job 32:8 Job 32:18, 19 8 Job 32:3

6 7
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He was a man of integrity Holiness is the watchword for Christian leadership. This young man was so confident about his personal life that he said: My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely speak what I know.9 He had the courage to claim that he was upright in his heart, affections and attitude. He had right understanding about God Elihu had the right understanding about God. In the six chapters his concept about God is amazing. When God spoke, he condemned the three friends of Job but did not condemn Elihu. Though he was young, he had sound doctrine. Being a student of the Scripture is important for any person in leadership. Challenge today The challenge today for the church is to produce young leaders of the caliber of Elihu. Instead of writing off the young generation as good for nothing, work alongside them as mentors and coaches to bring the best out in them. Young people are encouraged to take Elihu as their model and take the role God has assigned them to contribute to the Kingdom of God.
Job 33:3 Christ and New Generation Youth
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Chapter 2:
THE APOSTLES A BAND OF ASSORTED YOUNG MEN

There was a consultation of human resources managers. They were examining the general qualifications managers look for in a person. Each one suggested one or more of their priority requirement they looked for. The list was something like this: mature, responsible, knowledgeable, skillful, teachable, committed, positive attitude, etc. Choosing people for a job is one of the more difficult tasks in the world. Lord Jesus chose the twelve How did Lord Jesus choose his disciples? Many times when seeking leadership roles in the church, young people are rejected on the basis that they are immature or irresponsible or have no experience. Jesus chose young men for his disciples. Except for Peter, all the eleven were yet unmarried. Gunter Krallmann writes that Simon Peter was the only married person among the disciples, the Jewish age of marriage being 18. Jesus himself addressed his disciples as lads (John 21:5).10
10
Gunter Krallmann, Mentoring for Mission: A Handbook on Leadership Principles Exemplified by Jesus Christ (Waynesboro, GA: Authentic Media, 2002), p.52. 17
Jesus Christ in His earthly ministry chose disciples. The twelve were appointed as Apostles. The twelve followed him, learned from him, and were trained by him. After Christs resurrection and ascension, the twelve were sent out as witnesses and were commanded to make disciples of all nations.11 The original twelve disciples/apostles are listed in the Gospel of Matthew.12 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him. The Bible also lists the twelve disciples/apostles in Mark 3:16-19 and Luke 6:13-16. A comparison of the three passages shows several minor differences in the names. It seems that Thaddaeus was also known as Judas, son of James13 and Lebbaeus.14 Simon the Zealot was also known as Simon the Canaanite.15 Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, was replaced in the twelve apostles by Matthias.16 Background Lord Jesus Christ had disciples from various professional backgrounds. Among the twelve were fishermen, a tax collector, and a revolutionary with strong ideological leanings. Blue collar workers like the fishermen were among his chosen band. White collar workers like Matthew were also found in his band. It was mixed group of less educated and well educated young people. None of them were trained theologically in the school of rabbis. They did, however, excel in their professions. Bartholomew Nathanael, son of Talmai, lived in Cana of Galilee. Tradition says he was a missionary in Armenia. A number of
Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:18. Matthew 10:2-4. 13 Luke 6:16 14 Matthew 10:3 15 Mark 3:18. 16 Acts 1:20-26.
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scholars believe that he was the only disciple who came from royal blood, or noble birth. His name means Son of Tolmai or Talmai.17 Talmai was king of Geshur whose daughter, Maacah, was the wife of David, mother of Absalom. Zealot means a follower of an ideology of extremism. Zealots were not afraid to use violence to overthrow the ruling establishment. Simon the Zealot was one among them who opted to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. The Zealots were fanatical Jewish nationalists who had heroic disregard for the suffering involved and the struggle for what they regarded as the purity of their faith. The Zealots were crazed with hatred for the Romans. It was this hate for Rome that destroyed the city of Jerusalem. Josephus says the Zealots were reckless persons, fervent in good practices and extravagant and reckless in the worst kind of actions. From this background, we see that Simon was a fanatical nationalist, a man devoted to the Law of Moses, a man with bitter hatred for anyone who dared to compromise with Rome. The band of disciples Jesus recruited was from various backgrounds. They were from royal family, rebel ideology, blue-collared workers and white-collared workers. Age When the Lord gave the Great Commission, it was to a band of youngsters, many of whom were in their twenties. Can we imagine having a bishop or senior pastor in his twenties in leadership today? It is estimated that John was about 30 years of age when he adopted Mary as his mother. In those times, sixteen years was considered full adult age. That means Lord Jesus recruited the disciples who were in mid-twenties or even less.
17
II Samuel 3:3. 19
Regions It is said that Judas came from Judah near Jericho. He was a Judean and the rest of the disciples were Galileans. He was the treasurer of the band and among the outspoken leaders. Promising bunch? The twelve disciples chosen by Jesus Christ was not a promising bunch of leaders by any standards. As in churches today, all of them would have been rejected for their inexperience, lack of spiritual maturity and reasonable age. Some would have been rejected in todays terms because they were with a dangerous ideological or political group. Such people would be disqualified for life to take on a leadership role in the church. Some would have been rejected because they belonged to certain regions. There are divisions in the name of caste or gender or language or regions or rural/urban and many more. But the Lord Jesus recruited such a group of young people, motivated them, trained them and entrusted with them the task of globalization of this world with the Gospel. Amazing leader! And amazing assorted bunch of disciples!!
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Chapter 3:
A TEENAGE GIRL, THE VEHICLE FOR INCARNATION

The first Christmas was not an accident. It was divinely planned by God. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive full rights of sons.18 When God sent His Son, He needed cooperation from human beings. One of the key persons who complied was a young teenager; her name was Mary. A simple, teenage girl became the vehicle for the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1. Favor of the Lord. Mary found favor of the Lord. She lived an upright life and found favor from the Lord. She was able to get approval from the Lord as her life was holy, she had the attitude of humility and a pure mind. It is not an ordinary feat. Todays young people strive hard to receive popularity, like being crowned as the most beautiful or handsome person in the world. Some work hard to become super rich. And certainly, there are a few also who strive to gain power over people and resources. But Mary pursued one goal: to find favor of the Lord. Her moral, spiritual and ethical life pleased the Lord. She did not live
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Galatians 4:4. 21
such a noble life for the sake of becoming the mother of the Savior, but it was her lifestyle. Her motivation was from within, and not for rewards. 2. Surrender to the Lord. She surrendered herself to the Lord. Her desire was not to fulfill her ambitions or aspirations but to fulfill the will of God. When the angel gave the message, her spontaneous response was: I am the Lords servant, may it be to me as you have said.19 Though she had questions and doubts, and could not understand the whole plan of God, she simply surrendered to do the will of God. The call was a great honor, but also had risks and danger. She was willing to endure hardness to fulfill Gods will. Being the mother of the Savior is really a privilege, but there was a price to pay. She could not do it by her own strength or power, but by His grace. It was given to her and she accepted it by becoming a servant. There was no disobedience or rebellion in her thinking or attitude or behavior. 3. Bearing shame for the Lord. She was a virgin, engaged to be married. Her fianc could give her a divorce quietly or shame her publicly and stone her to death. She could be branded as a woman of easy or loose character. But, she was willing to go through all these suffering. Even Joseph thought of a divorce; only Gods intervention saved the day. Certainly other people may have known of her pregnancy and would have been spreading gossip about Mary. She had to take this shame and yet persevere in faith. 4. Enduring physical pains Mary had to bear a great physical pain. Apart from being insulted and hurt by insensitive words, she had to travel to Bethlehem so that the prophecy may be fulfilled. If it were any other child, she could have ignored going there. That would mean risk - violation of Empires
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Luke 1:38. Christ and New Generation Youth
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order. But the Word of God should be fulfilled, so she had to endure great pain in traveling in the desert regions when she was pregnant. The travel was not easy or comfortable as in todays world. In Bethlehem, she went through the hardship of giving birth to her Lord Jesus away from the comfort of home. Challenge Mary was a channel of blessing to all of humanity. The teenager Mary is a challenge for young people today. She teaches at least three important principles of life. First, young people should lead a life that is pleasing to the Lord. That means the very life style of young people should be worthy of His approval and applause. Second, it is wonderful to fulfill the will of the Lord, rather than pursuing selfish agenda or ambitions. God has greater plans than those generated by the imaginations of the human minds. Third, suffering for the name of Jesus Christ and for His Kingdom is not equal to the glory that is promised in eternity. It is a great privilege to suffer for His names sake. The suffering could be physical, emotional, or psychological.
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Chapter 4:
LIGHT - BURNING AND SHINING

John was a lamp that burned and gave light.20 In another version it says that John was a burning and shining light. The testimony about John the Baptist by Jesus Christ indicates the function of a believer or a church in the world. There are two verbs used: burning and shining. Burning denotes the internal status of a believer or the inhouse status of a local church. Shining denotes the external effect of a believer or the far-reaching effect of the mission of a local church. John the Baptist was a light, not phos-lux, light (so Christ was the light), but lyknos-lucerna, a luminary, a derived subordinate light. His work was to enlighten a dark world with a voice in the wilderness preparing the way for the coming Messiah. He was as the Morning Star. Christians are not originators of light like the sun, but reflectors of light like the moon. Jesus Christ is the source of light so He is known as the Light of the World.21 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.22 Each and every believer is called to be a light of the world like John the Baptist.
John 5:35. John 8:12. 22 Matthew 5:14.

20 21
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Burning Light John the Baptist was a burning light, which denotes sincerity. Now there are fluorescent paints that can make give an illusion of burning. But this is a true burning fire. It denotes also his activity, zeal, and fervency, burning in love to God and the souls of men; fire is always working on itself or something else, so is a good minister. Burning light denotes the life within the church that builds people, edifies and comforts people, gives vision and dreams to young people and pervasively penetrates the society. Praise for the reigning King of Kings and Lord of Lords; passion for lost souls; prayer for the unreached; sacrificial giving for missions; and where all members are active ministers and not passive spectators. Shining Light Christians must shine by their good living. They must be examples and role models to others for instruction, direction, encouragement, and comfort. Our light must shineby doing such good works as people may see, and may approve that and get the right perception of Christ and His followers. We must do good works that may be seen to the edification of others, but not that they may be seen for our own glory. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.23 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.24 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.25 Christians are set up as lights. Christ has lighted these candles, they shall not be put under a bushel, not confined always, as they are now, to the cities of Galilee, or the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but they shall be sent into all the world. The churches are the
Philippians 4:8. Daniel 12:3 25 Matthew 5:14.
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candlesticks, the golden candlesticks, in which these lights are placed, that their light may be diffused; and the gospel is so strong a light, and carries with it so much of its own evidence, that, like a city on a hill, it cannot be hid, it cannot but appear to be from God, to all those who do not willfully shut their eyes against it. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth).26 It will give light to all that are in the house, to all that will draw near to it, and come where it is. Those to whom it does not give light are those who will not make a diligent and impartial inquiry into it, but are prejudiced against it. Transforming Light Christians must shine as lights by their dynamic witness. The knowledge they have, they must communicate for the good of others; not put it under a bushel, but spread it. The talent must not be buried in a napkin, but instead it should be used. The disciples of Christ must not retire into privacy and obscurity, under pretence of contemplation, modesty, or self-preservation, as in the Himalayas, but need to live among the crooked generation. John the Baptist was a shining light, an eminent diffusive influence. He was illustrious in the sight of others; though he was in the desert, his life became very remarkable, and attracted the eyes of the nation. Shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.27 Challenge There is a great need for Christians to be burning light, shining light, and transforming light. The world in darkness is yearning for light, which only Christians can offer. Young John the Baptist is a great model for youth today.
26 27
Ephesians 5:8 Philippians 2:15-16. 27
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Chapter 5:
THE VIRGIN AND THE LOST COIN

Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin. In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.28 Young Girl The parable by Jesus in Luke chapter fifteen speaks about a young woman. She had ten silver coins. They were this womans status symbol and possibly her dowry. Near Eastern custom informs us that this may have been a headdress. It was significant and important for this young girl. She was poor, as her home did not have windows; she had to light a lamp for the search operation. Each coin is considered equal to a days wage of a soldier. For a poor girl, this coin meant a lot.
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Luke 15:8-10. 29
Responsive Girl How did she get these coins? Possibly her poor parents would have earned them and gave them as an inheritance for her. Maybe some benevolent donor gifted that to her. Or she might have worked hard and started collecting the money for her future. The issue is not how you got the money, but how you use it. Sometimes it is easier to get money than to wisely use it or invest it. She took responsibility for the coins that were in her custody. She must have checked frequently to see if all the coins were safe in her custody. This regular practice helped her to figure out when one was lost. Many times people lose their gifts or talents or opportunities without realizing it. Introspection at regular intervals would help us to move forward rather than lag behind. Responding to the lost coin When she knew one coin was lost, she immediately sprang up into action. She did not have an attitude saying: Why bother? It was, after all, just ten percent of her total wealth or possession. Nor she was negligent, unconcerned about the loss. She was not ignorant of her loss or how to respond to the loss. It would have been good if she could have evaluated herself, how the loss occurred, but it is better to search and find it. Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.29 In the world, where all things are not perfect, there is always a possibility of loss or fall. But, dwelling on the loss and refusing to come out is a greater blunder or sin. A man is not righteous because he falls, but because he always rises again. Instead of crying for the loss, she works out strategy to recoup or regain what was lost. Search mission The woman began a search mission. There was no time to worry or cry or be self-condemning about the loss. She needed to find ways to
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Proverbs 24:16. Christ and New Generation Youth
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redeem or get back the coin. So, she immediately launched a search operation. Her intention was to retrieve the lost coin. Search mobilizing all resources For that search, she needed resources. First, she needed light. She lit the lamp, as the room was dark. The poorer homes of this time had no windows and thus no natural light. Then she needed a broom to sweep and search the corners of the house. She had the good intention of searching, but she needed to implement the intention of mobilizing resources and begin the task. Search until you find The search was with a purpose. The search would continue until the coin is found. There is no prescribed time. She decided to search until she found the coin. There is no record to know how much time she spent in searching. But, it was a diligent search, and her efforts were rewarded. She was able to find and retrieve it. Rejoice It was a great effort and it was rewarded. She was able to find that which was lost. So she must celebrate with her friends. She informs them about her foolishness, her efforts and her victory. Friends join the celebration.
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Chapter 6:
ESTHER, THE WINNER OF MISS PERSIA CONTEST

This is an amazing story of an orphan girl in a strange land becoming the queen of an empire. Esther was originally named Hadassah, meaning the myrtle. She did not have a mother or father so her uncle Mordecai adopted her and took care of her.30 Esther is a form of an Arabian/Persian name. The root word could be Satarah, which means star. Esther was the daughter of a Benjamite, Abihail. When Cyrus gave permission for the exiles to return unto Jerusalem, she stayed with Mordecai her cousin. The name Esther means star; she was beautiful and attractive. King Xerxes decided to display his abundant wealth for 180 days followed by a seven day feast. The feast was to boost his military ranks by appeasing generals and mercenaries. On the seventh day, King Xerxes called Queen Vashti in order to display her beauty to the guests. She refused to come and is eventually banished from the kings presence for life. A new queen is sought. This is the beginning of God opening doors for Esther. God, as sovereign ruler of the world, orders even the history of the world.
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Esther 2:7. 33
Some historians feel that there was a war and Xerxes, who went with an army of one million, faced defeat and came back with just 5000 soldiers. The counselors saw the depressed king could be lifted up in spirit if he were married. Also there was the possibility of dealing with so many single women, as most men died in the war. A Miss Persia beauty contest was held. It was different from any modern contest. The audience at that time was just the kingnot a panel of judges. And the king took liberty to bed with those virgins. Most of the girls ended up as concubines of the king in his harem. But, Esther was chosen to be the queen. Four years after Queen Vashti was banished, King Ahasuerus chose the Jewish Esther for his wife and queen because he was captivated by her beauty and intelligence. Mordecai overheard a plot to assassinate the King. He promptly told Esther of it, and she warned her husband of the threat. An investigation was made and the conspirators were swiftly arrested and executed. As such, the King ordered Mordecais deed to be recorded in history. King Ahasuerus gave authority to Haman, the kings prime minister, to kill all Jews in the Persian Empire. Haman called for this ruling to be given because Mordecai refused to bow to Haman. Haman felt ridiculed and stripped of his authority by Mordecais refusal to bow down to him and so he went to the king to claim that all Jews were the same and should be killed. Knowing this, Mordecai persuades Esther to act. The reluctant Esther goes to meet the King, though she was not summoned, and invites him and Haman for a banquet. After the feast, the King asks for her petition and Esther invites them again for another banquet the next day. She then gave her request to grant her life, as well as all the Jews. The King understands the whole conspiracy and hangs Haman and withdraws the authority granted for killing all Jews. The pogrom to kill the Jews was thus averted.
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God is Sovereign God is the Sovereign ruler of the whole earth. He is in control over all people, processes and events. Nothing can happen without his permission. Even the number of hairs on a child of God is counted. A sparrow cannot fall without His will. The events in the political situation during the time of Esther were also controlled and directed by God to fulfill His purposes. Xerxes ruled over 127 provinces from Cush (Upper Nile region) to India. The banishment of Vashti was the decision of the king. God allowed it to happen in order to pave the way for Esther to be in a place and position to avert the pogrom to destroy the Jewish race. The pogrom was inspired by Satan so that the nation of Israel would not exist, and Gods redemption plan of sending Jesus Christ into the world might be thwarted. But, God used Esther and overruled human decisions and Satans conspiracy. The contexts like political, economic, social, etc. are under the control of God. He uses these contexts to reveal His glory through His children. God used Esther in an adverse social and political context to bring great deliverance for the Jews. God has a plan God has a plan for each persons life. Even though Esther was an orphan, God had a plan for her. Maybe Esther did not have parents to chart out a good career for her. She may have lacked opportunities in her early life, like other normal children had. Mordecais wife could have mistreated her. Gods plans are not thwarted by our contexts. God unfolds His plan in our lives through ordinary circumstances. The dismissal of queen Vashti and the king seeking beautiful virgins were ordinary or routine happenings in the ancient world, yet God revealed His plan in the midst of these ordinary events.
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God sends help through his people Esther was an orphan and did not have any help. God worked in the mind of Mordecai that he adopted her. Many times God helps us through ordinary people. The people who help others need not be super-rich or powerful but ordinary people with generous and gracious hearts. Even though the world seems to be moving in fast track, there are people today who stop to help others. Mordecai was one such person who was generous in his heart and was willing to help Esther. When we depend on God, He may send His help through common people, not necessarily angels. God opens doors God opens doors of opportunity for us. When we are alert we can enter those doors. The king ordered beautiful virgins brought to him and held a beauty contest and chose his bride. Opportunities like this do not happen every day. This was a God-given opportunity. For a Jewish girl to be in a beauty contest was a taboo. It was a nontraditional door that was open. Mordecai and Esther could sense Gods hand in this. She went to the contest: she prepared herself to look good, smell good and be healthy with a proper diet. God enabled her to be successful. Discern Gods purposes God enabled Esther to discern Gods purposes. The blessing God bestows upon us is not for selfish purposes but for Kingdom purposes. It should be used to bring glory to God and blessings to the people of God. Esther was bestowed a great position as queen with enormous power and privileges. It was not for her selfish use, but for Gods glory. She was there to represent the Jews and deliver them from the conspiracy of Haman. She was somewhat unsure of her calling, but Mordecai, her mentor and uncle, was able to remind her of her missional call.
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Take risks to fulfill Gods purposes When she understood her life purpose and Gods will, she was willing to take the risk. It is not possible to do Gods will without taking risks. The degree of risk or obstacle could be different, but they will always be there. Esther knew that entering the kings presence without a proper summon could mean death for her. But, she took a risk and gambled with her life. She was willing to sacrifice her life to accomplish Gods purpose in her life. Simple acts of faith brings rich dividends She invited King and Haman for a banquet. It was a meticulous and revolutionary plan. Generally, people would not have invited an adversary for a dinner. Esther was patient and biding her time. On the first day of the banquet, she did not reveal her request and asked for a second days banquet which was again granted. At the end of the banquet she pleaded for her life and her fellow Jews. She was emotionally restrained throughout the process. She did not display anger or hatred in the whole process. She was wise and gentle. God used her to avert a great disaster that could have wiped out the Jews from the planet earth. Esther saved the Jews as a nation and gave them a new life. Challenge Esther is a challenge to young people. In spite of her poor, insignificant background, she rose to become the queen of an empire. She accepted help sent by God. Understanding that God opens doors of opportunity, she used them. God blessed her diligent efforts. Sacrifice and not selfishness was her lifestyle. By being patient, she could accomplish great things in Gods time. She is an inspiration for every young person.
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Chapter 7:
ANGER TO MURDER: THE STORY OF THE FIRST MURDERER

Humanitys first murder is recorded in Genesis chapter four. An angry Cain kills his brother Abel, apparently without any legitimate reason. Was it a murder done under strong passion or emotion? It was a well thought-out plan. God confronted Cains anger; but without repentance, Cain went on to murder Abel. Two young men from the first family could have been wonderful friends and enjoyed loving fellowship. Unfortunately, Cain becomes a bad role model. Offering Two brothers were brought up in a similar environment. Their parents would have shared their story of failure and being rejected from the Garden of Eden. Certainly, they would have worshiped the Lord as a family and would have been taught the right way of worship. Both brought offerings to the Lord and it shows they were inclined towards spiritual things in life. The Lord looked with favor on the offering of Abel, which was fat portion from the firstborn of the flock. Maybe Abel realized and understood that an offering should be with an innocent animal sacrificed on behalf of his sin. But instead, Cain brought fruit of the field as his offering, which God did not accept.
Offering and faith While Abel brought offerings on Gods terms, Cain brought offerings on his own terms. Abel brought the offering with faith.31 Cain wanted to be spiritual according to his own desires, standards and methods. But God did not accept his version of spirituality. Today also, people are like Cain, who want to be spiritual, but in their own terms. They will not follow Gods ordinations, but devise their own methods and strategies for worship and spiritual life. Anger and downcast The response of Cain was anger and his face was downcast.32 He was angry with God for not respecting his brand of spirituality and his offering. His anger doubled because the offering of Abel was favored. His anger was not only with God, but it spilled out against Abel. His brother was an intruder in the transaction between him and God. Since Abel offered something better, Gods expectation of Cain was also high. If Abel would have offered something like him, he would not have faced such humiliation. Cain felt that Abel played smart to degrade his status in the presence of God. Instead of being angry with himself, he was downcast. He must have felt a strong sense of rejection. He compares himself with Abel and finds him well off. God confronts God speaks to Cain, Then the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.33 Cain did not do what was right, even though he knew it. So, he was rejected. The result is sin crouching at his door. That means the
Hebrews 11:4. Genesis 4:5. 33 Genesis 4:6-7.
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terrible consequences of sin will master a person, when he opens the door of temptation and yields to it. Cains way Cain chooses his own way to respond.34 He invited Abel to accompany him to the field, where he kills him. He eliminates his own brother who was better, more righteous than he was. By doing so, he thought he would be approved by God, for God did not have any other option. 1. Way of unbelief: While Abel chooses the path of faith, Cain chooses unbelief. Abel had faith to bring the lamb that would point to the Lamb of God who will take away the sin of the world by shedding his blood. Cain was self-dependent rather than God-dependent. He was so proud he could not bring the God-required offering in faith. 2. Way of Envy: Cain also was envious of his brother. Abel had qualities that he did not possess. Instead of striving to be like Abel, he chose to eliminate Abel so that he would become the sole receiver of blessing. Envy is rottenness to the bones. 3. Way of Negative Attitude: Cain chose to dwell in his negative state of mind. There was no remorse or repentance; rather defiance. He preferred to be at war with God rather than repent and be reconciled to God. His negative approach to life led him to wickedness, which led him to become a murderer. 4. Way of violence: Cain chose violence as a tool for punishment. He wanted to punish his brother Abel for doing and being good. Cain could not tolerate any person better than he to live on the face of the earth. 5. Way of rebellion and stubbornness: In spite of warning from God, he went ahead and killed Abel. When God confronted
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June 11. 41
Cain, he lied, stating that he did not know where Abel was and asked whether he was keeper of his brother. His attitude towards God, Abel and moral values was that of rebellion and stubbornness. There was no humility or confession for his murder. Challenge Walking like Abel in life invites the wrath of people like Cain. The righteous people are envied by unrighteous people of the world because the righteous are better than they. The world system cannot tolerate such deviations and wants to eliminate them. Cain is the forerunner for creating his own religion and persecuting Gods people. All the religions create their own gods, values and, worship practices; yet God has ordained his own worship practices. These manmade religions persecute Gods people around the world.
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Chapter 8:
A RICH YOUNG MAN A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES

This generation is known as the Post-Modern generation. The predicament of the young people of this generation has been captured well in the words of Dominic Crossan: There is no lighthouse keeper, There is no lighthouse, There is no dry land, There is only people living on rafts made from their own imaginations. And there is the sea.35 In the Gospels we come across a young person who looks similar to a post-modern youth. His encounter with Lord Jesus Christ has been recorded in Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-30, and Matthew 19:16-30.
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Eddie Gibbs, LeadershipNext: Changing Leaders in a Changing Culture (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2005), p.62. 43
He had five great qualities that are needed for success in the modern world: riches, restlessness and dynamics, religious, ruler and resourceful. But Jesus Christ touched the critical aspect in his life which he lacked, that was essential and vital. He was called to repentance, restoration and radical discipleship of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1. Riches36 This man who came to Jesus was a rich man. He had more than enough. It is said that Socrates once exclaimed, looking at the sea ports vast merchandise: How many things are here that I do not need at all. Todays malls also pile up a variety of things, which may not be even be used once in a lifetime. Wealth is good but not good enough for a meaningful life. Riches have an inherent quality of deceitfulness to numb a person from spiritual things. The Word of God, which is like a seed, cannot fully grow when the deceitfulness of riches chokes it.37 Riches also can make a person arrogant, overfed and unconcerned,38 as were the citizens of Sodom. Riches lead to consumerism and materialism. There is a futile attempt by people to substitute all aspects of life by material things. Instead of love for children, parents offer gadgets. Instead of time for children, parents offer tour to Singapore. In the same vein, they try to offer God huge sums of money in lieu of worship, love and obedience. Riches give the mindset of commercialization. With market forces dominating the thinking of our post-modern world, time, service, water and other things become commodity for trade. If riches have so much power in the world, then why are not forgiveness and even citizenship in heaven purchases?
Mark 10:22. Matthew 13:22. 38 Ezekiel 16:49.

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Money is not the root of all evil, but love of money is the root cause of all evil in the world.39 Young people in the cities have so many opportunities to earn money, and yet that has led them into all kinds of evil habits such as drug abuse, sex abuse, alcoholism, and hedonism. Young people working in BPOs and children of rich studying in educational institutions are trapped in a variety of sins. 2. Restless and Dynamic All the three gospel writers describe the rich man as young. He must have been dynamic, restless and with a winsome personality. He stood out in the crowd. His very expression demonstrates he had lot of self-confidence. With courage, he came to meet the Lord Jesus Christ in order to get an interview. Todays generation is also an over-confident generation. Previous generations saved money to create assets in the future. But today, young people buy assets with their future income (loans) as they are confident about their future, themselves, physical fitness and their skills. But the Bible says that it is not by might or power but by the Spirit of the Lord.40 Dynamism, strength of youth and drive are all good; but meaningful things and enduring fruit are the outcome of the work of the Spirit of God. 3. Religious41 Astonishingly, this young man was religious too. He was confidently stating that he followed the law (moral law), maybe like Pharisees-legally not spiritually. Regarding legalistic righteousness, Pharisees were superb, but neglected the spirit of the Law justice, mercy and faithfulness. The problem of this young man was the same. He was religious but not righteous. It is easy to follow the external forms of religion: traditions, rituals, customs, festivals, and other requirements. Post-moderns are also religious but not righteous. See the craze of meditation techniques, websites that are dedicated to religious life, crowds in all religious places, yet at the same time sin has increased. Immoral lifestyles, white collar crimes, live-in relationships, adultery,
I Timothy 6:10. Zechariah 4:6. 41 Mark 10:20.
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divorces and drugs persist, but the spiritual quotient has dramatically increased. Even in the churches this corruption has set in. It is fashionable and modern to be part of cell group or a mega church, but without change in the inner life. The Roman Catholic Church has sacrament (mass) as the centre of worship; Protestantism has Word of God (pulpit) as the centre of worship; Pentecostals brought worship (choir or worship team) as the centre of worship; and modern churches are fast replacing all with entertainment in accordance with the postmodern generation. Malachi warns of strange sacrifice and strange fire.42 Cain was religious to offer sacrifice, but only Abel was righteous. This young man was religious in his own sight but not righteous in Gods sight. 4. Ruler43 Luke records that this man was a ruler. He had a good position in the government as well as in society. As a young man he was certainly successful and had a promising and bright career. With his position he was influential and powerful. He could have been in a position of authority. The post-modern world worships success that comes from power. 5. Resourceful44 This young man was wise and had good knowledge. One of the fundamentals of wisdom is curiosity that prompts a person to ask questions. He was able to reflect upon life and aspired for eternal life. The life he lived did not provide him inner satisfaction. Though the world saw him as perfect role model, he felt inner inadequacy. Wisdom is to ask the right questions to the right people. The right question regarding eternal life was directed to Jesus Christ who claimed: I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. The wise young man asking a relevant, important and significant question to the right
Malachi 1:7. Luke 18:18. 44 Mark 10:17.
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person shows his resourcefulness. Unfortunately, he could not give right response to the solution offered by the Lord Jesus Christ. His resourcefulness was limited and shunted. Jesus Christs response45 The Lord Jesus said the young man lacked one thing. He had to go, sell his riches, distribute it among the poor, take up his cross and follow Him. Christ called him to repentance, restoration and radical discipleship. 1. Repentance When Lord Jesus Christ commanded him to go and sell, He did not condemn his riches or wealth; but demanded him to repent from his lifestyle that trusted riches more than God and his lack of stewardship. This young man thought life was abundance of riches, his purpose in life was to acquire more riches, and his priority was not God but mammon. By selling, he would repent from his pseudo-god to the true God. 2. Restoration Giving to the poor brings a healing process. Life which is selfcentered tries to possess more and more material things. Giving helps us to understand the under-privileged and become stewards of what we have. Giving is a therapy against selfishness. Zacchaeus was willing to restore the riches that were ill-gotten and illegal. 3. Radical discipleship Taking up the cross is a paradigm shift from cosmetic religion to commitment to lordship of Jesus Christ. Following the Lord means no compromise, but life based on biblical convictions. It is not life in comfort zone, but incarnational ministry of compassion to others. Life will not be lived with carnal effort but with Christ-enabled effort.
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Mark 10:21. 47
Rejection The young man rejected the Lord Jesus call for repentance, restoration and radical discipleship. He opted to commit spiritual suicide to uphold his dignity, honor and status in society. He was a street-smart, successful and great young man, but he rejected the abundant life, fruitful life, victorious life and meaningful life. What about you?
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Chapter 9:
PARABLE OF VIRGINS: PREPARATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY

This parable teaches how preparation meets opportunity. Though the parable is about the Second Coming of our Lord, it also teaches how Christians should always be prepared in order to respond to opportunities that knock at their doors. The soldiers are prepared to be engaged in the war always. They may not encounter a war in their lifetime, but they are always prepared. This parable shows the contrast between two sets of virgins. One set is called wise while the other set is called foolish. All virgins were in the same level, but five of them were wise to prepare ahead, rather than wait until the opportunity arrives. The wise had a mindset that prepared long before the event. The foolish virgins were not awake enough, not prepared with needed fuel, had not trimmed the lamps and lost an opportunity. Be awake The virgins were tired, felt drowsy and went to sleep. But, they were awake in their minds that when the message of the arrival of
bridegrooms was flashed they woke up. Being awake means to keep aware of the situations around us, the emerging opportunities around us and have a sense of timing. Situations or contexts keep changing. In that turmoil opportunities and challenges are churned out. A wise person has discernment to sense the opportunity and timing and act upon it. You cannot outsource It was announced that the bridegroom has arrived, and the virgins were expected to go with their lamps to greet and meet him. Five of the virgins ran out of oil. Maybe they thought they could outsource it whenever they needed. 1. You cannot beg: There are certain things for which a person should not beg. We can beg for Gods mercy, grace and blessings. But we cannot beg from others for our resources. Begging means to live under the mercy or sympathy of others. It also means that we are under the control or manipulation or possession of someone else. This certainly means we are a slave to somebody. God has created us, redeemed us to be free and not to be in slavery. These virgins, who did not have oil, started begging the wise virgins to provide some oil. Those who beg are generally lazy. 2. You cannot borrow: The next idea floated by the foolish virgins was to share. That means they will borrow some oil temporarily and would return it later. The wise virgins were very wise to say that Sharing oil would be disaster for all of them. The limited oil will not be enough for all of them. When you try to borrow, it pulls down to a lower level those who give. 3. You cannot buy: The wise virgins suggested that they find a sales person and buy the oil. But the market was not open 24/7 as it is today. In the night, there would not be a seller available whose customer could be only fools. Even though we may have talents, abilities and skills it is not possible to perform magic at any time. We may have money, but there may be no seller.
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Going and searching for a seller will also mean that precious time was wasted. 4. You cannot steal: Maybe the foolish virgins could have contemplated stealing oil from the virgins who had it. But the wise virgin had a steal proof security system that cannot be stolen. It is not possible to use other peoples oil; we need to have our own. Trim Lamps could perform optimally only when the wick is trimmed. The trimming is a dirty process but an important process. People do not like to dirty themselves, but wish to have good light. The foolish girls could have trimmed the lamp early. That means their preparation was totally inadequate. At least if they had trimmed the wick, they would have discovered the lack of oil and made arrangements for it. The wick has to be cleared of the negative feelings, doubts, worry, fear, misunderstanding, jealousies, strife, etc. This is a continuous process, not only to be done when opportunity comes. Memorable moments vs. Missed moments The foolish virgins could have had memorable moments in the great celebration. They would have cherished them for their lifetime. But instead had missed moments for which they would regret throughout their life. The missed opportunity would never return in their lifetime. Challenge How is your life? It is filled with memorable moments and missed moments. If memorable moments are greater, then life is purposeful, meaningful and fruitful.
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Chapter 10:
TWO CHOICES, TWO LIFESTYLES AND TWO DESTINIES

Chapter one in the book of Psalms is a beautiful psalm that portrays two choices, two lifestyles and two destinies. The psalmist contrasts the life of the wicked and righteous in a captivating manner. One young college student was disappointed with the kind of food served in the hostel he stayed. Several other students also felt the same. Collectively they went and spoke with the management, who took a stand that the food provided was not as bad as the students thought it was. These students, not satisfied, went out and took suggestions from some political leaders. One politician said, Who in this nation listens to any grievance? No one is bothered. If you want to get their attention to your grievance, you have to do one thing. Break some window panes, furnitureetc.; then the management of the college would listen to you. These enthusiastic boys came back and did the same. The principal of the college just called the police officers, who came and promptly arrested the miscreants.
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Walk, Stand and Sit The young man went the process of walking, standing and sitting as defined by the Psalmist.46 A person walks; then when a little tired, stands under a tree; and then may sit down to relax. In the moral and spiritual realm, it seems to be a three step process. The young man asked counsel from the wrong quarters and was misguided. He walked in the counsel of the wicked. After taking counsel from the wicked, a person thinks or reflects and takes a stand or forms an opinion about the counsel. If he adopts the counsel as his own, then he stands with the company of people who have similar opinions--obviously known as sinners. The spiritual devolution from walking to standing happens. This could be on one aspect or several issues. His stand does not make him worthy even to stand in the assembly of righteous.47 When a person continues to take similar stands on various issues on the basis of counsel of the wicked, he would be progressing (or regressing) to the next level. That person eventually sits with the mockers. It means he identifies with mockers or people who question faith in God. Mockers are proud people who think their status is higher than those who are being mocked. Then wickedness becomes almost a lifestyle for that person. Noble lifestyle But, the blessed man has a different source for his counsel. He is the man who is pleased with the Word of God or loves the Word of God.48 That means, in contrast to one who walks in the counsel of wicked, this man walks in the counsel of God or the Word of God. God-counsels are wonderful, good and eternal. So, this person rejoices in the counsel of God and hates the counsel of the wicked. He meditates on the Word of God day and night. That means he reflects or thinks through Gods counsel to apply the truths in his
Psalm 1:1. Psalm 1:4. 48 Psalm 1:2.
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present circumstances. His meditations give him the right stand or perspective in his life. As a result, when he does something it flourishes or prospers and there is success. Noble life This life of the righteous is defined by these classic terms: blessed life, prosperous life, fruitful life, and stable life. The graphic metaphor brings all the aspects of life into focus. This man is blessed, not in material terms but in godly terms. The definition of blessedness in the world is riches, power, position, etc. But spiritual blessedness is different: a blessed person is one whose sins are forgiven and not accounted against him, as Jesus Christ cleanses the person from all sin due to his faith. God prospers the labors of such a person. There is victory or prosperity and blessing in his work. With wisdom from God, with the power of Holy Spirit, that person can be successful. Again, the world defines success as achieving what a person wants. But, true success for a Christian is doing what God wants in our life. That person is like a tree planted besides the streams. It is not a wild tree but a planted tree. Trees are planted for definite purposes. The purposes could vary, like providing shade or fruit or protection like a fence. That means God strategically plants righteous people as His witnesses. A Christian, wherever he/she is, is planted by God with a purpose. The primary responsibility of a Christian is to fulfill His purpose. The tree is evergreen, as it is beside a fresh flowing stream. That means there is no lack of life-giving water for the tree. For the Christian, the life-giving and nourishing resource is the Holy Spirit who indwells a believer to provide spiritual nourishment and strength. A tree also denotes stability. It is not shaken by ordinary winds. Christians are also not shaken by events that happen in his/her lives,
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as they belong to the unshakeable Kingdom.49 In contrast, the wicked are like chaff driven by the winds.50 Two Destinies: The way of the wicked will perish.51 The way of wicked is the path to hell and eternal death and judgment. There is no hope for the person who is bent to remain in sin and wickedness. But, God watches over the righteous, not only in this world, but also in the world to come. There is protection in this world and eternal life in His presence in the coming world. Challenge It is a great privilege to walk in the Way. The whole world is running and yearning for stability, prosperity and security, but that remains a mirage. However, when we follow the Lord Jesus Christ, these are added to our life.52
Hebrews 12:28. Psalm 1:4. 51 Psalm 1:6. 52 Matthew 6:33.

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Chapter 11:
SERVING GODS PURPOSES IN OUR GENERATION

David served Gods purposes in his own generation.53 God has a purpose for each one of us like he had for David. Blessed is the person who fulfills Gods purpose and contributes to his/her own generation. Serving God and completing Gods purpose is real celebration of life. 1. Celebrate Life Life is not merely existence, but has purpose. Life is a glorious and wonderful gift of God. This gift has to be used in such a way that it brings glory to God. Life can be abused by indulging in sin. Life will have purpose and meaning if it is spent in expressing gratefulness to God and rejoicing in Him. Celebrating life is to have a positive outlook of life. Pessimism and Christian hope cannot co-exist. Christians have eternal hope and they march towards it with joy each day.
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Acts 13:36. 57
2. Celebrate your calling Christians are called to be children of God.54 It is a privilege to be delivered from darkness and to walk in light. Being adopted into the family of God can be the highest aspiration for any person. Jesus advised His disciples to rejoice in the fact that their names have been written in heaven.55 Our name in the heavenly register is worth more than this whole world. We are commissioned as ambassadors of Christ in this world.56 We are citizens of heaven working in the world and building His kingdom. It is a rare privilege bestowed upon us. We have also been given the ministry of reconciliation57 that we are peacemakers between God and mankind. Bringing rebellious children into the family of God is a vital ministry that God has called us to do. 3. Discerning Times Understanding and discerning the times is important to fulfill Gods purposes in life. You cannot perform modern dance with classical music. Jesus Christ rebuked the Pharisees for being unable to discern and interpret the times.58 Moses asked for wisdom to number his days.59 Discerning the historical context and understanding our limitations and strengths will help us to be relevant and contemporary. 4. Face Challenges Opposition is a part of life. David faced opposition from several quarters and the most painful and unpleasant was from Saul. David utilized the opposition to sharpen his skills and abilities. Life is full of opportunities. The Lord set an historical context for David to prove his leadership qualities. David entered the open door and fought with Goliath and rest has become history. Crises challenge potential but hidden leaders to come out in the open. The Lord allows
John 1:12. Luke 10:20. 56 II Corinthians 5:20. 57 II Corinthians 5:18. 58 Luke 12:54-56. 59 Psalm 90:12.
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crises to prove us. David took over the leadership of the nation of Israel when Saul died. 5. Leave a legacy Absalom left a pillar as his memorial.60 He thought it was not possible for him to have a son to perpetuate his memory. His legacy was a mere memorial that disappeared as time went by. The legacy of a person should be a movement and not a monument. The movement should be dynamic and unending. The group of disciples left by Jesus Christ is a movement known as the Church, even after two millenniums. This is the only dynamic movement that the world has ever seen. As Christians, we can be a part of this great movement. For that we have to invest our lives in people who will become disciples and in turn make more disciples for Christ. We have to learn to invest our time, talents, and treasure strategically and in high leverage activities. Challenge Each generation is unique. The problems, struggles, aspirations, contexts and lifestyles of each generation are unique. As Christians of this generation, God has a clear plan for each one of us to fulfill. Young people should have a motto for their life to serve God in their own generation.
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2 Samuel 18: 18 59
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Chapter 12:
ESAUS ETERNAL ERROR

Momentary decisions can be monumental decisions. A momentary blunder can be a monumental blunder. Esau and Jacob had equal opportunities, more so because they were twins. One used them while the other abused them. The way in which Esau missed his privilege of birthright speaks of negligence, indifference, callousness and carelessness. Birthright Birthright entitles certain advantages, privileges and responsibilities in a family. The birthright is an honor bestowed upon the first born. Birthright is similar to the right of becoming a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ.61 It gives four special blessings: 1. Leadership -- Birthright provides an opportunity to be the leader of a large extended family. It is a privilege to lead, guide and take decisions for the welfare of the family. It is also an opportunity to serve. When we come to Christ, we are called as light of the world and salt of the earth. The world is in darkness and the people
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John 1:12. 61
are blinded by the prince of this earth. The children of light are expected to be the leaders of the society. There is a proverb: Among the blind, one eyed man is the king. Christians are kings in this earth, because people all around us are blind. God has provided us the leadership role in society. We are to be the advisors, counselors, trendsetters, pioneers and pastors of community. 2. Inheritance -- By rejecting his birthright, Esau lost his inheritance. The first born was entitled to receive a double portion of the property. If there were five children, the estate was divided into six and the first born received double portion. As Christians we also have double inheritance. We are blessed here and are assured of glory in heaven. In this world we have joy, peace and relationship with Father God, Son, Holy Spirit, and other children of God. We also have rooms in a mansion that has been custom-prepared by Jesus Himself.62 Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.63 3. Priesthood -- In Esaus time the priesthood of Aaron was not instituted. At that time, the head of the family officiated as the priest. Hence Job sacrificed as the priest of the family.64 It is a privilege to be a priest. Esau may not have had the inclination to become a priest; hence he could have despised the birthright. In Christ, all Christians are priests and kings.65 We are called to minister to God and people. Priests intercede on behalf of people and also worship God. Worship, intercession and witness are essential ingredients of the Christian life.
John 14:2. Romans 8:17. 64 Job 1:5 65 I Peter 2:9.

62 63
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4. Covenant blessing -- Esau was supposed to be part of the covenant blessing. When Isaac blessed66 Jacob, he mentioned the Gods promise to Abraham. In the Bible, God is addressed as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Esaus name would have been the third name instead of Jacobs, but Esau missed the opportunity. We are a part of the New Covenant in Christ Jesus. By faith we become partakers in the New Covenant, which was sealed by His own blood.67 We are partakers of all heavenly blessings in Christ. Covenant always includes promises. The promises of God are yes in Christ Jesus.68 Esaus failure Lack of faith -- Esau was a man of skill and abilities. While Jacob lived in tents, Esau was an adventurous man always in the wild hunting animals for food. But he lacked faith. With all things of the world, if we lack faith, we are nothing. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul.69 Godless life -- Esau was godless.70 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the way of the ungodly.71 A godless man is a haughty man. In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.72 According to M. Unger, Godliness is the virtue that brings blessings to the possessor. Godliness is piety and holiness. But Esau was godless, which in fact is behaving as if God never existed. In his thoughts and desires, God had no place.
Genesis 28:4. Luke 22:20. 68 II Corinthians 1:20. 69 Matthew 16:26. 70 Hebrews 12:16,17. 71 Psalm 1:1. 72 Psalm 10:4.
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Despised birthright -- Esau despised his birthright.73 He understood the privileges and responsibilities of his birthright but despised it. Though he regretted his decision and sought after it with tears, it was too late.74 A drunkard was advised and counseled by a devout priest, but the man ended up one day in the priests office demanding money for a drink. The priest agreed to give money if he would take an oath never to pray again. The man agreed, took an oath and left with the money. On the way, he began to think, Did I meet the priest or the devil? I cannot pray for myself, in sickness or on my deathbed. In remorse, he returned the money to the priest, repented and later was transformed. Lacked eternal perspective -- Esau lived for the present with very little consideration for the future. He assumed he was dying. In his conversation with Jacob, he reveals that he may not live to see the covenant promises fulfilled, so his birthright was not worth much. This faithless and pessimistic attitude made him callous towards his birthright. Jacobs desire Jacob must have been excited about Gods promise and covenant whenever the discussion happened in the family. Jacob understood the implications of receiving birthright and had an earnest desire for it. His desire was noble and right but his method was mean and wrong. He took advantage of his brothers moment of weakness. The asset of Jacob was his faith. James exhorts us to build ourselves in the most holy faith.75 Jacob was not perfect and mature but he had faith in God. God does not snuff out a smoldering wick.76 His faith saw him through his failures and blunders.
Genesis 25:34. Hebrews 12:16,17. 75 June 20. 76 Matthew 12:20.

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Challenge We must understand and appreciate the immense blessings we have in Christ Jesus. The life of Esau is a warning to us. By his decision, he lost his opportunity to be a part of Gods covenant blessing. Jacob, though imperfect, had faith, had noble and eternal desires. God honored his desire and faith. We either use or abuse Gods grace and blessings.
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SECTION II
LIFE SKILLS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
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Chapter 13:
ALWAYS EMBRACING CHANGE

In ancient days, one king gave strange punishment to people who deserved the death sentence. He had two black doors. One door led to the place where the person would, for certain, be hanged. The other door was known as a mystery. No one knew where it led. The convict had a choice to any one of the doors. Almost all convicts chose the first door that gave certain death. None wanted to try the second door. One adventurer chose the second door. The mystery door actually led the person to a faraway place to freedom. Those who chose the door of mystery would have freedom. But most people choose the known rather than the unknown. Known devil is better than unknown angel- is a familiar proverb. If you regularly go to a park, you could observe daily visitors to the park occupy the same bench or run the same track or jog in the same direction. The daily visitors would be upset if they see strangers occupying their benches. So, people avoid taking decisions for change. Change is not a convenient option for most people. Moses commissioned to change God called Moses to change the status of slave Israelites to become a free nation. The Lord said, I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave
drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honeythe home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.77 Two kinds of opposition For Moses to accomplish this task, he had to face dual challenges. One kind of opposition was within the community of Israel and another was from outside, i.e. Pharaoh himself. The Israelites were not mentally prepared to make the change. Many times people do not want change; there could be several reasons, many of them genuine and valid, but that should not keep a person from making progress. 1. Status quo If you watch how people sit in church on Sundays, it is an interesting observation. People tend to sit in the same seats Sunday after Sunday. Sitting in another seat means making a decision. Most are lazy to make decisions, so prefer to sit in the same location. One of the reasons for people not making change is not being willing to think and as a result not willing to make decisions. The Israelites desired to maintain status quo instead of making changes. 2. Maintenance Mentality Maintenance Mentality is opposite of Progressive Mentality. No army can win by staying stationary. The attitude or mindset of an army is always to progress. By just maintaining, people generally lose. A business man who tries to just maintain the business will incur loss; only when he tries to grow and expand will he make progress. The children of Israel wanted freedom but they were not prepared in their mind to make progress.
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3. Comfort zone It is possible for human beings to adapt to their circumstances. But, it is not wise to make that as their comfort zone. The man beside the Pool of Siloam was paralyzed for 38 years. He made that life a comfortable life. So, when Jesus Christ met him and asked, Do you want to get well?78 his reply was not forthright with enthusiasm. He was complaining that he did not have an opportunity for nobody was there to help him. He had resigned to fate and was comfortable in his present state. Israelites also made slavery in Egypt their comfort zones. 4. Peter Syndrome The Lord Jesus Christ took three of His disciples, Peter, James and John, to a high mountain where He was transfigured.79 The disciples saw the Lord Jesus in glory and also Moses and Elijah talking with Him. Peter, impressed with the glorious situation, said Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put three shelters one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.80 He wanted to be permanently there with Lord Jesus. He was speaking about three shelters or tents but forgot about the three more tents required for three disciples. While he was still speaking, God spoke, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him! Israelites should not make their own tents and dwell permanently as slaves, but should listen to God, who spoke through Moses, and move out. Voluntary and Involuntary changes Changes can be voluntary and many times are involuntary. Josephs change from a loved son to a slave was involuntary but God had a purpose. On many occasions, human beings are not prepared mentally, spiritually and emotionally to make voluntary changes. So, God allows involuntary changes, which are for good for all those who love Lord Jesus Christ. And we know that in all things God works
John 5:6. Matthew 17:1-7. 80 Matthew 17:4.
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for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.81 Challenge to Change People change when they know the pain of staying put is more than the pain of changing into a better future. The disciples of Jesus Christ are called to change (repent), change progressively (sanctification) and change the world. If Christians are not willing to change themselves, they cannot change the world. Always embrace change that God brings or allows in our lives.
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Roman 8:28. Christ and New Generation Youth
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Chapter 14:
DATING
A young man is interested in a girl and falls in love with her. But somehow he is unable to communicate his intention or feelings with her. He shares his inner longings with his friend, who devises a way to bring her to him for a lunch. The boy and girl are alone. Lust and passion overtakes his mind and he rapes the girl. In modern parlance it could be termed as date rape. Then, he rejects her and also hates her with the same intensity he loved her. This is an adapted version of the incident recorded in the Bible.82 The victim of this was Tamar and the rapist was Amnon. First, Amnon thought he was in love with Tamar, but he was interested in her body, not in her. He had infatuation rather than true love. Second, he did not have respect or regard for her as a woman, but lusted her physical features. He was not looking for a companion or life partner, but a toy to play with. He did not have respect for Tamars feelings or desires or aspirations. He imposed his selfishness on her. Third, he did not have words to express his love or appreciation for her. He did not have the conviction or courage to communicate with her, as his love was not genuine but instead had evil intentions. Fourth, he also operated with the mind-set that he could force his will upon any person, including Tamar. He did not
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II Samuel 13:1-21. 73
think love as reciprocal or that relationships need mutual consent. Fifth, he also saw sex as a casual activity, without reference to marriage. Tamar on the other hand was nave and not smart enough to smell the evil intentions of Amnon. She was totally unprepared to confront a situation like this. If she had been wise, she would have discerned the evil intention of Amnon when he wanted her to come to his bedroom. In that case, she would have asserted herself and would have refused to go to Amnons bedroom to provide him meals. Developing healthy relationships: It is very important in modern life to develop healthy relationships with people of the opposite sex. Purity in relationships is essential. Considering people of the opposite sex as brother or sister with purity of mind is essential. An intimate relationship is possible only within marriage and with one person only. That means, sex is holy within the context of marriage and it is sin outside of marriage. Definition: Dating is any social activity undertaken by, typically, two people with the aim of each assessing the others suitability as their partner in an intimate relationship or as a spouse. The word refers to the act of meeting and engaging in some mutually agreed upon social activity. Traditional dating activities include entertainment or a meal. Dating is not physical relationship: Dating is a social activity and it is done generally in public places like restaurants or parks. It does not happen in private rooms and homes. It is the time to talk with one another in order to understand the other person. In our postmodern culture, dating has been degraded into a physical relationship, which is not good for young people. Dating is to understand one another: There are several areas both should try to understand. Discuss to understand the attitude of a person towards various aspects of life, which includes religious life, spirituality, career, money etc. Also figure out the breadth and depth of the thinking of a person. Is the person narrow-minded or broadminded? Does s/he have sub judice or pre judice that may affect your
relationship? Is the person a prisoner of the past or future-oriented? What are the likes and dislikes; choices and preferences; hobbies and habits? What is the communication style? Dating is to determine the possibility of commitment: When a person understands the general aspects of another person, then s/he could explore whether this relationship could have a long term commitment. Knowing the other persons strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, etc. you can determine whether there could be commitment to one another. Can I trust this person with my whole life? Dating is to decide on marriage: If you are sure that you could understand that persons intentions, lifestyle, thinking pattern and attitude, and determine to trust your life with him/her, then you can take the next step. The next step is to think and commit for marriage.
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Chapter 15:
HOW DO YOU MAKE DECISIONS?

This is an ancient story. The Israelites were led by Joshua into two magnificent victories defeating cities of Jericho and Ai on their way to possess the Promised Land. This spread panic around the people in the middle eastern part of the world. Gibeonites were one people group who were greatly afraid of the invading Israel army, and thought of a deceptive plan. They did not want to be killed in the war like the citizens of Jericho and Ai. They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wine skins, cracked and mended. The men put worn and parched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. They wanted to have a treaty with Israel so that they were not killed. The Israelites sampled (researched) the provisions and found that it was really old stuff. Maybe they were sympathetic and felt they should make treaty with them. But Joshua and other leaders failed to inquire of the Lord, and they did make a treaty with them. Three days later they found out that they were not from far off, but instead were their neighbors. So, they made them slaves and did not kill them.83 The information, based on knowledge the Israelites had, was good and wonderful, but not accurate. Their intuition, based on their
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Taken from Joshua 9:1-22. 77
feelings, was to show sympathy. But, they did not have insight, i.e., understand the will of God. Therefore their decision was a total failure and had serious implications in the history of Israelites for many generations. Dcisions of Mary and Martha Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, You are worried about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her. 84 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Gods will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.85 Principles for decision making In the above verse, Jesus Christ appreciated and commended the decision of Mary. Why was it appreciated? First, it was a better decision than that of Martha. In decisions, there are always options. It is possible to make better decisions, but only with wise choices. Mary made the best choice and so her decision was better than that of Martha. The decisions should be mature. For example, if we offer a choice of picking up banana and Rs. 100 currency, a one-year-old child would pick the banana and not the money. The child makes an immature choice as he/she do not understand the value of money. Mature decisions are made based on value. Mary did a responsible choice. All choices and decisions have consequences. You are morally responsible for all choices and also for the consequences. You can blame others, circumstances, environment or your fate (if you believe in fate and fatalism) but you are responsible for all your decisions and their consequences.
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Luke 10:41,42. Romans 12:2. Christ and New Generation Youth
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The choice of Mary was superior as it was an eternal choice. She chose what would not be taken away from her. Your decisions should have eternal or long-term impact. Small wins and a short winning spree may not be beneficial in the long term. Three components of decision making There are three important components of decision making: Information, Intuition and Insight. Information is gathered, analyzed and interpreted by the brain. The thinking faculty provides inputs or various options for making right decision. If you play the game of chess, you think ahead of your opponent and move towards victory. This capacity to think is a Godgiven gift and should be used optimally. But this thinking paradigm can be negative or positive; pessimistic or optimistic; past obsessed or future oriented; task oriented or people oriented, etc. When there are wrong paradigms then your decisions will naturally be wrong. Having the right foundational paradigm is essential for making right decisions. Intuition is based on feeling or gut feeling. Sometimes it seems irrational or without logic. Some people tend to ignore reason and just depend on their emotions for making decisions. But these decisions also could vary if the feeling is flawed. If a person is dominated by the feeling of hate, the decisions would naturally be destructive. Insight is understood as divine light or revelation. It is not just thinking or feeling but receiving wisdom from God in order to make decisions. Gods will or plan is good, pleasing and perfect. When you know what Gods will is by insight, your decisions will also be good, pleasing and perfect. In the story given in the beginning, Joshua had the right information, right sympathetic and merciful feeling, but missed out on the third insightas he failed to inquire of the Lord.
Practice Finding Gods will is exciting and can also be a struggle. It is based on the relationship a person has with the Lord Jesus Christ. This relationship provides courage and confidence to ask for divine guidance to make decisions. Gods will, which is general, is revealed in the Word of God. Gods will does not violate the Word of God or His righteousness. God also reveals His will by ordering your circumstances that you have only one option left. Sometimes God can reveal his will by dreams, friends, and also prophets. But God does reveal His will by His Word. Project Evaluate the decisions you made last week and see whether you followed these principles. If you didnt, how much better would it have been to use these principles?
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Chapter 16:
OPERATING ON A HIGHER PLANE

Once I was in the city of Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka. Lal Withanage, National Director of Global Action is my good friend. We usually have long friendly conversations. One time, I was sharing my life story in which there were many struggles, failures, and deceptions by friends, exploitation by organizations and other painful experiences. He responded saying, How could you be so cool and unperturbed while sharing your experiences. I learned to walk into the future, rather than be a prisoner of the past. My friend was amazed and said that many lesser mortals would have committed suicide. Yes, it is always possible to lose hope, lose perspective of life and be tempted to give up. But, accelerating the throttle of the airplane and operating one level higher than the present level gives new direction in life. Passage: Pauls philosophy of life Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took
hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.86 Principles 1. No victim mentality When a person is defeated, it is natural to think himself as victim maybe a victim of circumstances or a casualty caused by the apparent winner. Thinking as a victim means to dwell in defeat and give into pessimism. Declare, I am not a victim but I would set the agenda for the future. Let others know that the past was theirs but future would be mine (yours). Many times I felt hurt as being used by others for their own selfish ends. I had self-pity in that I felt I was unable to help myself away from that situation. But, these thoughts were always momentary. Like birds that can fly over my head, but cannot build a nest on my head, these negative thoughts were momentary, and not allowed to brood for long. I managed my thoughts so that it did not affect my life or lifestyle. 2. Thanking God for those gave me new inspiration and motivation I always learned to thank God for allowing me those experiences and also for those who exploited me. Yes, it is very cool to do that. It is certainly radical thinking. The defeat or failure strengthened my mental resolve to fight and be victorious. Not accepting failure as final, to persevere towards the goal means victory mind-set. Stumbling blocks were converted as my stepping stones of success. The more they mocked me, more determined was I to taste victory. Like a ping pong ball that rises higher when hit harder, I rose higher than my detractors and proved myself. It gave a new drive and motivation to succeed in life.
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Philippians 3:12-14. Christ and New Generation Youth
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Today, there is no race, for it may take 20 years for most of them to catch up with me. In one institution we served, there was a younger friend, a disciple of Jesus Christ (both worshipped in the same church) who was envious of me. Though I never did or mean any harm, he was in the forefront to make me quit. Yes, I quit with a hurt heart like Julius Caesar saying, You too, Brutus! Nearly 15 years later, the young man is a middle-aged man struck with the same institution, not even traveled beyond his State, dejected and downcast. While I have traveled to 14 countries, 135 cities in India and 35 cities around the world, this man lives like a frog in the well. The rejection pushed me to the embrace of a wider world. 3. Progressed forward Thinking about future and moving towards it gives a great advantage. Stanley Jones, a great missionary statesman who served in Lucknow said, If people kick me, I position myself in such a way that when they kick, I move forward. That is the most brilliant idea I ever heard in my life. Even when people kicked, it was always a forward march. A forward looking person cannot fall backward into meaningless flashbacks. What will I be in ten years time, fifteen years time? The present misery will not determine or dictate my future. Having great dreams about the future is a great asset, for it gives steel nerve to overcome the current misery. Unmindful of environment and circumstances, a river continuously flows. It does not stop, but constantly and consistently keeps on flowing. Life is also like a river; it continues to flow. We can shape and mold the direction in which the river flows. Practice: Forgive, Forget and Focus First, learn to forgive yourself. You may have committed blunders, but you cannot undo that now. It is too late for course correction. So, ask forgiveness from God and forgive yourself. Then forgive those who offended you. That does not mean to go into slavery again under
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the same person. Just consider the person is non-existent to you, for all practical purposes. Second, forget those experiences as bad dreams. Forget about the people who did those oppressive blunders. Do not allow them to make you bitter but mold yourself to become better. Third, focus on your dreams, goals, aspirations, and what you desire to achieve in your life. Sharpen your vision; focus on your long term goals, because God has not finished with you yet. He will unfold a great plan for you, which will be special and unique for you. Project: 1. List the bad experiences that bother, restrain or hamper you. 2. Recall and list the lessons you learned from these episodes. 3. Work on a time bound plan to Forgive, Forget and Focus. 4. Start operating on a higher level, by setting your goals high.
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Chapter 17:
DREAMS
I was a doctoral candidate in a very prestigious institute in India. Though I took many of the required courses for a year, I was derailed by petty politics, sabotage and silly conspiracy. One of my friends who heard about it came to meet me to offer sympathy. He was more downcast and disappointed than I. I said, I have already written two books. In the next two three years, I plan to write a few more books. One of the candidates from this very institution would pursue his/her Ph.D. thesis on my writings and thoughts, books and articles. I dream that would be a greater honor instead of worrying about a sabotaged opportunity. He was startled and perplexed. A poor boy used to stand outside the office of a newspaper in New York and dreamed that he would become its editor one day. And his dream came true. A village boy was fascinated by airplanes and wanted to become a pilot. His dream was fulfilled and he added Pilot as his surname. A young boy saw that his father was murdered and yet the officials did not act. He vowed to become an official and bring those murderers and guilty officials to justice. His dream came true.
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Biblical Passage Where there is no vision, the people perish.87 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lords great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.88 Biblical Principles Dreams can be creative imagination about the future. Vision is foreseeing the future. It needs lot of courage, guts, and faith to foresee the future. Dreams can be building castles in the air or daydreams, if it is only fancy imagination and fascination. True dreams open up the potentials within a person to realize those very dreams. The Wright brothers, inspired by flying birds, creatively imagined that human beings also could fly, and invented the airplane that revolutionized the modern world. Dreams provide hope for future. When dreams are believed and acted upon, hope is provided for the future, excitement for the present and clear deliverance from the past. Future hope inspires the present. Survivors in adverse circumstances claimed that the dream of meeting their beloved ones when the ordeal was over helped them through the situation. Those who did not have a similar dream or hope perished in loneliness and hopelessness. Our daughter shared her experience: She landed in Moscow where she did not know anyone nor did she know the Russian language. The first 24 hours she did not have any food to eat. I knew that I am here to become a medical missionary. This is the first hurdle to cross for my future hope. The dream of becoming a doctor sustained me in that trying moment. Dreams provide purpose and meaning for life. The dream of Joseph, which hinted of his becoming a leader ahead of his older brothers and even his parents, gave him purpose and meaning in life. He could endure all difficulties and sufferings, clinging to the hope that the dream would come true. The mundane things in life become joyful,
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Proverbs 29:18. Lamentations 3:21-23. Christ and New Generation Youth
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interesting and exciting if the dream provides perspective and purpose for life. Dreams provide passion in life. Life without passion or desires is just survival or existence. Dreams give purpose to life. When dreams grip a person, he becomes as though possessed, pursing relentlessly the dream. The hidden energy, potential, talents, abilities, gifts and skills within oneself are released, providing dynamism to life. Dreams sustained Joseph to endure hardships, deceptions, jail sentence, etc. In the end, he achieved what he dreamed, as given by God. Practice What is your dream for your life? What would you like to see in the next ten years or twenty years of your life? List your life dreams for next few years or until you reach the age of 60. Aim at stars; you will at least reach the moon is a good proverb. In whatever you do, do it with whole heartedness and passion. This will help you to achieve your dreams. Project What is the highest point you could achieve in your life or career or profession? Dream about that. I advised my daughter Hosanna, when she started her medical school, something to this effect: In ten years time, if the Prime Minister of this country needs heart surgery, you should be one of the doctors consulted.
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Chapter 18:
RADICAL OR REBEL
William Carey was a young cobbler, who taught himself to read and write. He became a voracious reader and was excited about the travel expeditions. His commitment to Jesus Christ and his concern about the people of the world gave him a burden to reach India with the gospel. He shared this burden with a group of elders of the church. One elder shouted, Sit down, young man. You do not know what you are talking about. If God wants to save Indians, he could save them without your or my help. In other words, he said, You rebel better sit down. Maybe William Carey sat down physically but not spiritually or mentally. He collected a group of likeminded friends, shared his vision, formed the Baptist Missionary Society and came to India to preach the gospel. Today the rebel is acknowledged as radical and called the Father of Modern Missions. Radicals are generally branded as rebels by their contemporaries, but history belongs to radicals. All of history has heroes who are radicals, who did something extraordinary or different. The elders of the church who treated William Carey as if he was rebel are not remembered, but history speaks of William Carey.
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Biblical Passage I can do everything through him who gives the strength.89 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.90 Biblical Principle Herd Mentality: It is easy to follow a crowd but very difficult to stand firm in a conviction against the crowd. Herd mentality is to follow the crowd instead of following what is right. Generally, people feel safer in a group rather than standing alone. Also, people would like to have as many as possible in their group to gain power. If someone were not willing to be part of the group, often he/she is branded as a rebel. Rebel or Radical: There is a difference between rebel and radical. Rebels oppose anything and everything for the sake of opposing, even without valid reasons. Radicals on the other hand take a stand for what they believe is right and are willing to pay the price for that stand. Radicals always face opposition. The teenager David was a radical who dared to fight Goliath when the entire army of professional soldiers was not willing to do so. When he expressed his desire to go against Goliath, his brothers teased, mocked and tried to restrain him by stating that it was boyish naughtiness. Radicals are offered traditionalism: Saul was not convinced that David was the right person to face Goliath, but gave in when he saw Davids faith and heard his narrative of his shepherd experience. But Saul wanted David to wear the military tunic and take conventional weapons of war like his shield, sword and spear. The radical David refused to put on traditionalism or nominalism or conservatism but opted for a radical methodology, never thought of in warfare.
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Philippians 4:13. Psalm 18:29. Christ and New Generation Youth
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Radicals opt for new methods: David calmly went for a walk, picked up some pebbles and went to war with sling and pebbles, which is unconventional. David depended on the spiritual weapons of the Name of God and faith in God rather than the physical equipment of war. You probably are familiar with the outcome, that Goliath was defeated and killed, and the radical David emerged triumphant. Radicals opt for creative solutions. Problem-solving need not be a conventional or traditional effort; rather it should be a creative effort. Creative solutions are possible only when there is shift in the paradigm of thinking. Radicals are courageous. Since they are confident of their call, that God has brought them to this place for such a time like this, they know their resources are from God and move forward in Gods strength. So, like David, radicals are remarkably successful in their endeavors. Radicals are more concerned about the end result. They do not see those who oppose their idea as enemies, rather they recognize the need for the solution to the problem. So, they work on radical solutions rather than arguing with their opponents. For radicals, actions speak louder than words, so they do not attempt to defend their positions. Practice Do not follow the crowd, but decide for yourself based on your values and merit. Maybe the people will brand you as rebel. But do not believe that. You are not a rebel but a radical. When you are a radical you contribute to the world for its progress and growth. You are engraving your name in the history books.
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Chapter 19:
RIGHT SELF-IMAGE
I was one of the panelists to interview a girl for a job in a Christian organization. She was about 40 years old, single and not well educated. Her story made me pity her but it also frustrated me. Because she was blind she never thought about her life or future. Being the eldest among siblings, she felt responsible for her younger brother and sister. Her parents did not earn enough to bring up all the three children and give them a good education. She worked hard, sacrificing her studies to put her younger brother and sister college. They studied well, got jobs, got married and left home. The mother was sick and the girl had to take care of her for a few more years until she died. This girl is left alone with her father, with little education, less income and no hope for the future; and now the married brother and sister do not even bother to speak with her. She became a victim of her own Martyr Complex so that she did not think about her life when she should have and lost opportunities in life. She did not even have self-interest, as she thought self-interest and selfish-interest were one and the same.
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Biblical Passage Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.91 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb.92 Biblical Principles The order ordained by God is: First God, Second Self and Third Others. Loving God with all ones heart, mind and soul gives the right relationship with God, and meaning and purpose for life. You need to have self interest and not selfish interest. Self-interest is to love yourself, i.e. accept who you are. God has created and designed you even when you were in the womb of your mother. That means God has a definite purpose in your life and you should not miss it at any cost. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and you have been chosen to be His representative or ambassador in the world. Your physical being is the best according to Gods definition and you should not worry about the opinions of others. Learn to allow Gods love, plan and promise to shape your thinking and attitude towards life rather than allow human opinions to define or distort your self-image. Self-interest is to protect you from losing your vitality, energy and harm yourself by having a robust self-image. If self-interest is not there, you will get martyr complex and suffer for an unproductive purpose. In this, suffering is magnified instead of purpose. There would be many who would benefit from the martyr complex, but the person is not rewarded. There are always needs around you, and sometimes emotionally or sentimentally you are attached and feel
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Matthew 22:37-38. Psalms 139:13. Christ and New Generation Youth
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responsible to solve them. It may not be Gods will that you solve all the world problems. God has ordained certain functions, roles and purposes to fulfill in this life. Trying to write your own job description for life is tragic; God has a job description for each persons life. Your personality is unique. Psychologists may define it as four types and sometimes use a combination of types. They are helpful tools to understand your own strengths and also weaknesses. It is essential to build on the strengths and develop survival skills so that you weaknesses do not shipwreck your life or marriage or career. Self-image is built when you discover your natural talents, aptitude and capabilities. These shape your career and may determine how successful you will be in life. Do not only discover them, but also develop the talents, aptitude and capabilities by training and practice. God gives opportunities or open doors to move forward and become successful. These opportunities come from unexpected quarters. You have to be mentally alert, spiritually agile and street smart to grab those opportunities. Someone said, Opportunities have wings, they fly away! They rarely come again and again. When you experience such small wins, it boosts the self-image to aspire, attempt and accomplish more. Practice Your resolutions should be: I accept myself as I am, as God has created me in such a way with a noble purpose. In fact, I can celebrate my own life as Gods gift, my body as Gods specially designed customized gift. My personality style is Gods unique gift and I need not worry about what I do not have. Discovering my natural talents and spiritual gifts would be my priority. Upgrading my skills to enhance my effectiveness and usefulness in society would be my long-term goal. Using all opportunities would be my life goal, so that I do not slack behind in the race of life.
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Project Discover your personality type by doing a personality test. It is available free on the Internet. List your talents, aptitude and capabilities and examine whether you use them optimally. Plan to use and develop those you so far have not. Find out what training you need to grow and develop, and draw a long-term plan to do it.
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Chapter 20:
STARS AND SCARS

Joseph was a teenager and was loved by his father more than other brothers. Naturally, this favoritism was resented by his older brothers. Along with that, Joseph had dreams from God, indicating that Joseph would be a ruler and his brothers would pay homage to him. That made the brothers envious and they wanted to teach him a lesson. How can a dream be fulfilled when the dreamer himself no longer exists on this earth? They wanted to get rid of him and they threw him into an unused well, leaving him to die. Instead, the eldest brother interfered and convinced the others they should bring him out and sell him as a slave to traders who were passing through to another nation. He ended in Potiphars home as a slave, refugee and in a strange culture. There he had to face sexual harassment allegation by Potiphars wife and was thrown into prison. In prison, he excelled and helped two servants of Pharaoh to understand their respective dreams and the dreams were truly fulfilled. But, the friend was forgetful and did not bother to speak on behalf of innocent Joseph. Another dream, Pharaohs this time, landed Joseph in the Egyptians court. The interpretation of Pharaohs dream and the action plan, given by God to Joseph, made him the Chief Executive Officer of Egypt. Great story! But, how did Joseph understand this experience and how did he eventually have a relationship with his brothers?
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Biblical Passage But Joseph said to them, Dont be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.93 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.94 Biblical Principles Good and bad experiences: In life, all go through interesting, bad, exciting, adventurous and monotonous experiences. Some experiences cheer you up and when you look back you are elated or comforted by thinking about those experiences. They could be termed as star experiences. Other experiences were painful, and just the thought of them creates uncomfortable feelings. They could be termed as scar experiences. Whether you like it or not, both experiences are part and parcel of your life. Attitude: These experiences should always make you better and not bitter. Bitterness will sap your energy and kill you. Do not be a prisoner of the past but be focused on the future, while using all opportunities of the present. You cannot always have star experiences, though that would be preferable. In the same way, it is not good to stay fixed in scar experiences. You need to move on. Joseph had a healthy attitude. Perception: Joseph perceived his experiences from the perspective of God, instead of seeing it from his own perspective. That would have been a worm view localized perspective; but instead he had the eagle view perspective from above. That view is clear, sharp and also gives the bigger picture. Sovereignty of God: Joseph also saw his experiences happening under the sovereign rule of God. God is in perfect control of all situations in your life. These experiences are permitted by God;
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Genesis 50:19, 20. Romans 8:28. Christ and New Generation Youth
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according to your tolerance level; for your benefit, welfare and progress; for your growth and maturity; and for your long-term benefit. God does not make mistakes. His plan is perfect, so our experiences are designed for a definite purpose. These bitter experiences are needed for a pupa to develop into a beautiful butterfly. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts in this process. Human intentions do not succeed: Joseph spelled it very precisely; his brothers intentions were vile, evil, and wicked. But God did not allow their wicked schemes to succeed. Out of envy, hatred and revenge, people may conspire against you, but they do not need to succeed. In that same way, Joseph saw his brothers who schemed against him as Gods tutorial instruments, and not as his personal enemies. Learning in adversity: Joseph used all the opportunities available to him. He optimally learned from all situations. He learned management skills in administering in Potiphars home. He learned about the palace and the Egyptian administration system from his friends in the jail. So when he was provided the opportunity, he displayed his quick thinking, analysis, strategic plan and implementation method in his proposal to the Pharaoh. All experiences are life tutorials and much can be learned from them, if one chooses to. Greater Purpose: Joseph understood that all these experience happened to him so that he could save many. Yes, he dealt with the economic problems of surplus and scarcity, saving Egypt and the neighboring nation from perishing due to the great famine. Todays sad, bitter and painful experiences are preparation for a glorious ministry of being a blessing to others. Practice Create the attitude of Joseph. Learn the new paradigm of Gods sovereign rule, with human beings as Gods agents, redeeming every opportunity and learning from adversity.
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Project Create a Life Map. It is a simple exercise that could be done on a sheet of paper. Draw a line in the center of the page. Divide the line into segments denoting time periods, such as 0-5 years, 6-10 years, 11-15 years, 16-20 years and 21-25 years. In each segment reflect and state what your star experiences were and mark it above the line in the 0-5 years column. Do the same for scar experiences below the line. Continuing for each five-year segment until this time. Think and reflect why you consider the star experiences as important. How have you dealt with your scar experiences? What kind of star experiences do you anticipate happening in the future? What kind of scar experience are you afraid of in the future?
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Chapter 21:
ADVENTURERS MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

There is a familiar saying There are three kinds of people in the world: the first make things happen; the second kind watch things happen; and the third wonder what happened? In Acts of the Apostles we read about a prominent incident that shook the city of Jerusalem.95 A lame beggar, who collects alms in the front of the gate called Beautiful (Should the gate be called beautiful with ugly scenes of beggars human beings who have lost their self image and dignity begging for a few coins?), was healed and he jumped, praised God and entered the temple to worship. It was a miracle that defied the laws of nature and science but demonstrated the power of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Adventures that make things happen Peter and John went to worship as usual. As they were walking towards the temple, they saw this lame man asking for alms. It is strange that gate was known as Beautiful where ugly scenes of human misery, suppression of human dignity and poverty was displayed by the beggars who depended on the alms. Then Peter said
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Acts 3:1-10. 101
to this lame man, Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.96 Maybe church leaders today cannot make this confession, as silver and gold are available but the Name of Jesus Christ and His resurrection power are missing. Peter and John demonstrated the faith in action, as they extended their hand and helped the lame man to get up and walk. Inherently they did not have authority or power to accomplish this great feat, but they were channels of Gods love and power. Christians are called to be channels of Gods love and power to the people around them. The man was healed, he jumped up, went inside the temple to worship the Lord and give glory to Him and not to the apostles. He was added to the Kingdom of God. Audience who watch things happen There were onlookers who were watching this drama taking place around them. They could not believe their eyes, as it was beyond belief and supernatural. Many of them believed God and came to worship at that time, but many were people who just happened to hang around this prominent place in the city. There were both believers and unbelievers in this crowd, but they were just spectators. The believers among them could have accomplished the same feat if they were willing to be instruments of God. They opted to be in the audience instead of in the action, a spectator instead of being a player. The Church today is filled with people who are just the audience or spectators. They are supposed to be players in action, doing the will of God, demonstrating Gods love and power in the world, but instead confine themselves to be among the audience. Lack of faith, fear of being a failure, busyness of life, being satisfied with mundane blessings, and lack of zeal for the glory of God keeps these people remaining as spectators throughout their lives.
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Acts 3:6. Christ and New Generation Youth
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Adversaries who wonder what happened The third group was the priests, scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees a host of religious leaders. They were upset that non-professionals were doing something not in accordance with the parameters of their understanding or their interpretation of theology. It is an unusual feat that happened outside the temple. They were disturbed97 and wanted to find out how it happened out of their sphere of influence and control? The facts were clear that the paralyzed man was healed and able to walk, jump and worship God by going by himself into the temple. Many people were happy and joyful as this person who wasted his life begging, dependent on alms, is now able to take care of himself and contribute to the welfare of society. He is no longer a parasite, sucking the resources of society, but could now contribute to the welfare of the society. The selfish leaders, however, were very upset with this miracle. They harassed those who made things happen. The apostles Peter and John were summoned before a gallery of religious leaders and were demanded to give an explanation. Their explanation was not convincing for these educated theologians. They were biased, because Peter and John were unlettered men, yet they knew they were with the Lord Jesus Christ.98 The leaders could not deny that the miracle really happened, as the healed man was his own testimony. Since no legal violation could be found, they were set free. The religious leaders threatened and warned them not to preach again in the name of Jesus. The response of the apostles was that they should obey God rather than the leaders who sat judging them.99 There are always critics, skeptics who question the love, power and grace of God. They have their own ideas or concepts about God, traditions in which God should operate, and these happenings should not jeopardize their social, political and economic status.
Acts 4:2. Acts 4:13. 99 Acts 4:19.

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Which group do I belong to? The question we should ask is to which group does each one of us belong? If you belong to the adversary group, unknowingly or by mistake, I would encourage you to move out and up to the audience group for some time. Then from that group move to the group that makes things happen. The world is a needy place. God has given Christians all the spiritual, moral and earthly resources to change the world. But many Christians are satisfied sitting among the audience without interest in being part of the group that makes things happen. What a tragedy! The Church today is filled with spectators who could be agents of transformation by the love and power of God.
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Chapter 22:
CHANGING DESTINY
This is an interesting incident that happened in a small village in England. Two naughty boys of the village always did adventurous mischief, and sometimes the villagers had to bear the loss. One day, these two stole a sheep and had roasted lamb as their feast. The villagers caught these two and were furious. The leaders of the village met to decide the punishment for these teenagers. The verdict was to tattoo the alphabet S T, denoting Sheep Thief on their foreheads. Anyone who sees them would know they were thieves. So they were branded S T on their foreheads. One of the boys saw that as humiliating, ran out of the village and drowned in a lake. The other boy also ran away from the village to a far-away village. He was perturbed and terrified. A kind-hearted man took him to his home. He heard the story, and told the boy he could change his destiny. He mentored and coached him to grow up as a nice man. This man grew up and taught the village children every day. He became the most loved man of that village. One day a stranger visited the village and discovered this man was the naughty boy from his own village who was a thief. To humiliate him in public, this man from the old village said to the people of the new village, Do you know what this S T stands for? The villagers, especially the
children, shouted: S T stands for SAINT. The man from old village was puzzled and shocked and did not open his mouth. The man did not allow the villagers and their rude punishment shape his life, but transformed his life to give new meaning. Biblical Passage And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.100 Biblical Principles There is no written code In the story, there was literally a visible destiny sealed on these boys forehead. One believed it was true, final, unalterable and permanent, so he decided to end his life. There are some who believe in fatalism - i.e. life is destined in a rigid foreordained course and human beings do not have power to alter it. In this belief they think there is a written but unseen destiny or code for each person. When one believes in fatalism, that person loses the will or desire to change his/her own circumstances or life. There is no written fate, DNA or genetic code that is destined as personal history. One who believes in fatalism resigns himself to fate. You need not be boxed When a person sets limits or parameters by himself, or allows circumstances to set parameters, or beliefs to set boundary, then that person is boxed or limited or chained. Poverty in material life does not determine a persons future, but poverty in thinking does. During Tsunami relief work in a village near Chennai city, we discovered a young man with a postgraduate degree going out fishing with other fishermen. When we inquired why he did not go for a job in the city, he said, I am destined to be a fisherman. I also do not know whom to approach for help. He could not think outside the box a life of village fishermen. Sometimes myths also box in a person.
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Romans 8:28. Christ and New Generation Youth
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You write your destiny Life is full of choices. By choosing, you write your own destiny or personal history. Human beings do not live by instinct but by free will choices. Right choices lead to right destination of choice. You can choose what you can believe; you can choose what you can do. Someone may say, You are born in a poor family in a village, you cannot become an engineer. If you choose to believe this, you can never become an engineer. The Former President of India, Abdul Kalaam, was born in a poor family, but chose not to believe stereotypes, myths, and negative statements. He wrote his destiny to become a most loved scientist in India and then the President of the nation. Practice Accepting the status quo and refusing to believe in change will make a person paralyzed and unproductive. You should be agitated by the present status, believe in a better life, aspire and hope for that and strive with all your strength to achieve it. Some people adapt to a life of misery and start feeling comfortable there, without realizing their true potential. In a scientific experiment, a frog was kept in a kettle with water. The kettle was gradually heated; the frog slightly felt the heat but did not bother to climb out. As the temperature increased, the frog did not realize it but adapted to the situation. After some time, it was dead as it was boiled in that water. Make a list of things that you once agitated you, but now have adapted; things you are letting invade your life, without realizing you are being choked by them. Project Collect two stories similar to that of given in the beginning of this article from your life or your siblings or friends.
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Chapter 23:
Unique, Special and Precious

A candle is unique. Even the sun cannot replace it. Yes, only a candle can give light in night, while the sun cannot. Image of God God created the first man Adam in His own image. In the Creation story, it is pretty clear that God created human beings as special unique creatures. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.101 The sub-human beings - birds, fish, reptiles, insects and animals were created by His Word. But, God designed the human being, shaped him and breathed life into his nostrils. Special faculties like the will (i.e., decision-making power or choosing capacity), speaking specific languages, etc., are not for other species. Created in the image of God means to have certain traits of God, albeit in lesser degree or capacity. Creativity, thinking, speaking, emotions, planning, etc. are unique to human beings.
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Genesis 1:27 109
Custom designed in the womb It was not only the First Man Adam who was created specially by God, but each and every person born in this world is uniquely designed and created by God. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb.102 God determines the DNA of each persons life. The physical features of each person are custom designed by Him, so no two persons are alike in all aspects. The mental capacities, the emotional expressions, the temperaments, styles, mannerisms and thought patterns vary from person to person. Created with purpose Even before a person is formed in the womb, God knows that person. That means each person exists in the mind of God, even before his/her existence as physical being. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.103 That implies that human beings are not cosmic orphans created randomly by unknown forces of nature. God creates and sends a person into the world with a specific purpose. The purpose is special, as no one else could be the substitute to fulfill that purpose. Life has meaning when one realizes that each person is created by God and sent into the world with a definite purpose. Precious and significant for Son of God to die Each person in the world is precious in the sight of God. That means each person is valuable enough that God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world in human form. The purpose of sending His Son was to die for humanity so that He could forgive the sins of men and women, created in His image. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own
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Psalm 139:13. Jeremiah 1:5. Christ and New Generation Youth
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love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.104 Paul describes human beings as powerless, ungodly and sinners. Even though they do not deserve to be forgiven, God by His grace paved a costly way. The Way was the cross on which Jesus died and rose from the dead on the third day. Precious and significant to have personal relationship with God Each person is precious, because God creates each person uniquely with special purpose. It is possible for each person to have a personal relationship with God Himself. This privilege is given as a choice for human beings. And they have the power to reject this offer. Those who say yes to this offer become children of God. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.105 This relationship is precious to us as humans and created beings; we can have relationship with God who is the Creator. Precious and significant to be citizens of Heaven The life of man may end physically in this world. But beyond this life is eternal life that can be spent in Heaven or in Hell. The individual determines the choice. When a person accepts the Lord Jesus Christ, he/she chooses eternal life with God, i.e. to be in heaven after death. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.106 A disciple of Jesus Christ becomes a citizen of heaven and is eligible to spend eternity in His presence forever. Custom-made place for us People aspire to have their own homes. In spite of all planning and careful execution, no home is perfect. But God Himself provides custom-made homes for His children in heaven. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Fathers
Romans 5: 6-8. John 1:12. 106 Philippians 3:20.
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house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.107 Challenge Each and every individual is precious, unique and special in Gods eyes. It is the option of human beings to choose this relationship or lose it. Young people should choose life and excel in this God-given life.
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John 14: 1-3 Christ and New Generation Youth
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Chapter 24:
SLACKNESS VS. DILIGENCE

One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.108 This verse is an interesting but a powerful verse. The Bible declares a person who is slack is no better than a person who destroys. The word slack according to Advanced Learners dictionary is not putting enough care, attention or energy; not doing it well enough. In Gods perspective there are only two things possible, one is excellence and another is destruction. Christians are called for excellence and not for destruction. It is not just doing, but doing well. It is not just doing well, but doing the best. Not just completing a project, but completing it well or perfect. Christians are a called-out community with a mandate to transform the world. It is immaterial whether a person is in full-time Christian service or not. All Christians have a God ordained role in society. Christians cannot afford to be slack in their vocations. A curse on him who is lax in doing the Lords work.109 Jehoash and Elisha Elisha was ill and King Jehoash went to meet him. The interesting incident is recorded in II Kings 13:14-20. Elisha requests to open the
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Proverbs 18:9. Jeremiah 48:10. 113
east window and shoot. Jehoash shoots an arrow and Elisha declares that it is the arrow of victory. Again, he asks Jehoash to take the arrows and strike the ground. He struck it three times and stopped. Elisha was angry and said, You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. Now you will defeat it only three times.110 Striking the ground was a symbolic and insignificant act yet it was an act of faith. But the king failed because he was slack, and lost his victory over Syria. God is not slack God has created man in His own image. The Bible teaches us that God is not slack in His promises.111 The creation of God is a wonderful demonstration of His work. The creation is perfect, and scientists down the centuries have failed the fathom the depth of the mysteries in creation. The work of redemption is perfect and complete. If God is slack even for a moment, the whole universe will plunge into chaos. He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.112 God is not slack even for moment. 1. Do Not Procrastinate Slackness leads to procrastination. Things that ought to be done today should not be postponed for tomorrow. The Bible teaches the importance of the present. Today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow can be too late. As Christians we have to develop a discipline of making optimum use of our resources each and every day. 2. Wrong Priorities Christians can be sucked into non-essential issues. Non-essential issues can drain us of our energy, time and knowledge. Paul warns youngsters Timothy and Titus against this. The believers of that time
II Kings 13:19. II Peter 3:9. 112 Psalm 121:4.
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were attracted to genealogies,113 myths114 and tales. Nehemiah is a good example.115 He refused to get involved in trifle matters. David fell in sin because he was slack in going to the war. 3. Under-performance Many times our performance does not match our potentials, talents or gifts. Scientists believe that even the best intellectual uses only 11% of the capacity of his/her brain. Under-performance is slackness. We need to measure up to our full potential, strength and resources. How to overcome slackness There are three things from Pauls life that can help us to overcome slackness. First is motivation. What motivates us in our ministry? Paul declares that the love of God compels him for ministry.116 Second is the consistent orientation towards the vision God has given us.117 Paul says that he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision and he continuously pursued that vision. Third, there is a need for passion.118 Paul says that he was obligated, eager and ready to preach the gospel.
I Timothy 1:4. I Timothy 4:7, Titus 1:14. 115 Nehemiah 6: 1-4. 116 II Corinthian 5:14. 117 Acts 26:19. 118 Romans 1:14.
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SECTION III
UNDERSTANDING MINISTRY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE
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Chapter 25:
CHANGING WORLD OF YOUNG PEOPLE

Every generation has its own context of nurture for young people. The context defines their mindset, attitude, behavior and lifestyle. The context of youth in India has drastically changed. Children born after 1985 inherited a new India as they could see economic reforms of the1990s decisively changing India. These changes have created a new environment where the young people have grown which has clash of values with their parents and previous generations. To understand the present young people, it is essential to observe and interpret the changes that have happened. To relate with them meaningfully, leaders should start thinking in the same wavelength. Education Education had premium value in olden times. The certificates had value for obtaining jobs. Now in the private sector, certificates are not valued but rather skills. Even youngsters with educational qualifications should obtain training in skills termed soft skills. Certified trainings that provide specific skills have become common. A person with twelve years of schooling and English proficiency can get a job while a graduate without English proficiency cannot get a job. Education does not give employability. A person in the older generation who completed a bachelor degree from a college never
bothers to study any further. But, retraining, retooling and upgrading skills are buzzwords. Continuous education has become the norm. A person has to study and equip continuously to stay relevant. Job The jobs for the previous generation were lifelong permanent jobs. A person would complete their college education, join an institution or company or factory or office and serve for thirty-forty years and retire. Changing jobs was almost not possible and it was not preferred. In the present context, jobs are not seen as permanent. It is said if a person works in the same place for more than four years, he or she is not competent. Frequent change of jobs creates instability in the thinking of young people. Social life The older generations had plenty of time to have a social life. In villages, the common radio brought all men together for a time of relaxation, hearing information, sharing ideas and debating. Now with television in each home the social life in the village has gone through great changes. The habit of going to cinema (movie theatre) or exhibition as family and friends strengthened social life of people. For young people, social life is in virtual reality through social networking websites and mobile phone networks. Religion The present generation is becoming more religious. The atheistic ideological climate is fading. The influence of Charles Darwin and Carl Marx on this generation is declining fast. The modern world was confident that science and technology was the solution for all world ills. But science and technology became destructive with nuclear arsenals, wars, violence, etc. The younger generation is disillusioned about science and adopted religiosity or new-age spirituality. They cannot face the world as they lack confidence, so they need help from outside and search for spiritual experiences.
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Economy The previous generation lived in a socialistic regime where economy was strictly controlled and monitored. Becoming rich was considered sin and industrialists were looked on with suspicion. The previous generation experienced long queues to get their basics need met, a long waiting period to buy a scooter or car or telephone connection. The new generation young people can get all these over the counter in a single day. The older generation believed in saving and then buying the things they needed. But, the younger generation use EMI or credits to buy things. They spend their future income today. Sex The present generation could be termed as visual generation. With television, the Internet and wireless revolution, youngsters are bombarded with all kinds of visual images. The films, television channels, Internet websites with pornography content, video games with sex themes and MMS with suggestive pictures are some of the visual media attacks on the minds of young people. It is important to understand how cheerleaders in T20 IPL matches in India (2008) were dressed. There were very suggestive dresses and dances. But, the cheerleaders during T20 World Cup (2009) in England were moderately dressed. Indian young people are exposed to more vulgarity by the Indian media itself. The concept of the sacredness of sex within marriage has been simply ignored. Now, sex is considered as a physical activity, like any other activity, similar sport or dance by two people. So, pre-marital sex, extra-marital sex, etc. have become acceptable and is done without any guilt. Technology Technology has become part and parcel of the lifestyle of young people. Mobile phones are used mostly by young people. The Internet is also used by young people. When older people use such technology, they use it with a purpose of business or sharing information. But, young people use these technologies to be in relationship, i.e., to stay in touch. One mobile phone company
provides 2000 short messaging service (SMS) messages free every month for loyal subscribers. Only young people are capable of using such an offer. The Internet virtual community websites like Orkut, Facebook are for young people. They are comfortable with and adaptable to modern technology. In fact, children and young people become tutors for parents to wisely use modern gadgets. Politics The passion for Freedom of Independence generation and passion for nation building of the Post-Independence generation is lacking in the present generation. They are upset with the politicians but do not want to clean up the system by entering into politics. In the 2009 general elections there were a few young people who got elected and have promised to do something. Many young people are involved in development and empowerment with Non-Government Organizations, which is a welcome sign. Media Media also has changed in the last three or four decades. The visual media has begun to dominate the minds of people. The audio media without visuals helped children and young people to develop vivid imagination skills. Now, they need more observation skills rather than imagination skills. With the explosion of media technologies, life for young people has changed. Previous generation young people would go in groups to watch movies in the theatre. But today, young people download movies from the Internet. To go to a theatre is expensive; to download a movie may be free, provided they have broadband Internet at home. The community life and value of friendship have diminished drastically. Individualism has begun to dominate the lives of young people. Challenge The world of young people has drastically and dramatically changed. The lifestyle of young people also is keeping pace with the external changes. Coping with rapid changes and also satisfying the parents who are from previous era becomes great challenge for youngsters. Peer pressure and Parental pressure shatters many young people.
Chapter 26:
UNDERSTANDING POSTMODERNISM
Introduction The social historians like Alvin Toffler consider the world had four eras: Primitive Era, Pre-modern Era, Modern Era and Post Modern era. Post modernism is the new emerging intellectual environment in the globalized world. This new philosophy is being embraced by young people with great enthusiasm and eagerness. Stanley Grenz writes, Postmodernism refers to the intellectual mood and cultural expressions that are becoming increasingly dominant in contemporary society.119 There is a general consensus that postmodernism first appeared in the 1930s.120 It apparently seems to be skepticism but embraces a wide range of faiths without critical analysis. Dominic Crossan captures the postmodern predicament in the following lines: There is no lighthouse keeper, There is no lighthouse,
Stanley J. Grenz, A Primer on Postmodernism (Grand Rapids: William Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1996), p.13 120 Ibid. p.15.
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There is no dry land, There is only people living on rafts made from their own imaginations. And there is the sea.121 Understanding social history Hunter Era: This period is from the Garden of Eden to approximately 1650 B.C. At that time human beings were dependent on meat from hunting animals and fruits. They hunted with crude weapons like stones. The animals were consumed by the family and some stored for the future. There was not much trading except for the barter system. Excess meat could be traded for salt. They used nature as fuel, like wind and water. The method of transport was mainly walking and some domesticated animals. The families lived jointly in caves. The education system was apprenticeship. The parents taught all they knew by oral tradition and practical skills. The intellectual climate could be termed primitive. Their religious life was a kind of mixture of superstition and folk religion. Agricultural Era: From 1650 B.C. humanity discovered agriculture. They burnt patches of forest and started cultivating lands. Also, they settled as communities in villages. Many people shifted from being hunters and became farmers. Gradually, the majority became farmers and only a minority were hunters. The farmers grew for their own consumption and only paid levy or tax to the king. The barter system was practiced, though coins made of copper, silver and gold began to be circulated. The kings generally issued the coins. The domesticated animals were used for cultivation, like plowing, drawing water, etc. Bull and horse driven carts were invented and used for transport. The family system was the joint family. Pigeons were trained to take letters from one place to another. The education system was still apprenticeship. The intellectual climate could be termed as premodern.
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Eddie Gibbs, LeadershipNext: Changing Leaders in a Changing Culture (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2005), p.62. Christ and New Generation Youth
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The religious life was full of traditions. The religious leaders were considered as authority. Pre-modernism is the intellectual climate that prevailed in medieval times when religious authority reigned supreme, like that of Catholic Church in Europe and other religious leaders in the other parts of the world. The individual had no freedom but was governed by strong traditional values. In India also the community oneness felt by the caste groups and rigid traditional social norms governed all aspects of the life of people. For many, history was considered cyclical as opposed to being linear. Industrial Era: Until 1600 AD, agriculture was the dominating factor, especially in the West. Industrialization brought drastic changes in the lives of people. While developing countries still had majority of people practicing agriculture, in the western world a majority started working in industries. Automobiles and steam engines were invented. Transportation became faster. Many scientific inventions brought confidence to humanity. Science and technology were exalted to the level of religion. Reason was considered supreme. Charles Darwin introduced the evolution theory. Carl Marx introduced a political ideology based on atheism. Sigmund Freud introduced psychological theory and absolved human responsibility. Atheism also gained ground. The concept of mass production became a reality. To sell those products, markets came into existence. To trade in the market, currency and a banking system were introduced. Standard times were set. Publications, like newspapers, became common. Radio was the mass media. Education system like schools and colleges came into existence. Many new educational institutions emerged around the world. Gas, coal and electricity were the fuels used. Postal and telecommunications came into existence. The family life began to change. It was not joined family in one physical place, but extended family in more than one physical place. One brother may be a farmer and another an industrial worker. They would meet as often as possible. But individualism became more important than communal life.
In modernism, tradition and authority was challenged and rejected. Reason, rationalism and scientific authenticity dominated the intellectual environment. The basic presupposition was that each individual has a rational mind and capacity to find truth. Moderns believed that history is linear and the progress and move towards a utopian society was a reality in their modernistic world view. Information Era: Officially in the US the number of white collar workers exceeded blue collar workers. And thus began the Information Era. Transportation became even faster. This era conquered geographical distance and time. With technological innovations, the Internet became a powerful communication tool. Trade also became easier with plastic currency and also electronic transfers. Educational institutions could deliver lessons through the Internet. The convergence of media happened in the Internet as print, audio, video and interactive media became one. Family life changed, with nuclear families becoming the norm. There were other family types with single moms, and homosexual marriages. Globalization became an irreversible process. Mass production gave way to customized production. Nuclear power was used in the developed countries. Air travel also became common. Postmodernism is rejection of the autonomous individual. There is skepticism about reason and self-confidence of men to attain utopia. Its emphasis is upon anarchic collective, anonymous experience; it celebrates plurality and diversity; and knowledge is not just through reason, it could be from other authentic sources like intuition.
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Table:
HUNTER AGE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIAL INFORMATION
YEAR
Beginning to 1650 BC Water, wind,
1650 BC to 1600 AD Live batteries - human beings, animals Coins Domesticated animal carts, Catamarans, boats Own consumption and taxes Joint
1600 AD1955 AD Gas, Coal, Electricity
1955 till date
FUEL
ECONOMY
Barter Walk
Cash Steam engine, motor cars, ships
Plastic money Flight
TRANSPORT
PRODUCTION
Own consumption Joint
Mass production Nuclear
Customized production Nuclear, single parent family Institutions and Virtual learning Wireless
FAMILY
Apprentice
EDUCATION
Apprentice
Institutions
Physical
COMMUNICATIONS
Doves
Postal service/ Telecommuni cations Modern
INTELLECT
Primitive
Pre-modern
Post-modern
Traits of postmodernism Postmodernism has some traits that are significant and have implications on missions. Some of the traits are listed here.
The objectivity of knowledge is denied. Knowledge need not be only objective, as modernistic worldview tended to conclude, but also subjective. The subjective and objective derivations or interpretations of truth could be contradictory, but both are valid and equally true. In modernism, according to scientific approach, all whole things were divided into parts. For them, the parts compromise the whole. For the postmodernist, the whole is more than the parts. This integration need not be logical and is unreasonable for modernist. Two unrelated ideas or functions could be easily combined. A Christian believer could follow Christ and also believe in karma, a tenet of Hinduism. Postmodern innovation is a combination of mobile phones and cameras. Two or more unrelated functions could be easily integrated. Postmodernism, in rejecting grand narratives, favors mininarratives, stories that explain small practices, local events, rather than large-scale universal or global concepts. Postmodern mininarratives are always situational, provisional, contingent, and temporary, making no claim to universality, truth, reason, or stability. So-called metanarratives, which in the past were accepted as authoritative, are now being seriously called into question and also dismissed. The significant characteristic of postmodernity is known as the intellectual supermarket or supermarket of ideas. In olden times cultural, historical and religious knowledge were controlled effectively by the intellectual, political and religious elite. Parents controlled their children, teachers controlled their students, clergy controlled their parishioners, and politicians controlled the citizens, and so on. Knowledge was power, and therefore the diffusion of knowledge was strictly controlled. With postmodernity, no longer can the intellectual and political elite effectively control cultural and religious knowledge and value. Satellite television networks, computers, fax machines, mobile phones, E-mails, the Internet and worldwide web have made both censorship and control obsolete. The convergence and wiring of all these communication technologies into vast networks including
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telephones, Internets, MP3s, VCDs, FMs and DVDs only serve to enhance the significance of this marketplace. Postmoderns believe in tolerance. The argument for better acceptance of a religion or criticism of another religion is considered offensive. The spiritual life or light springs from within, and so we look within oneself for light. Postmoderns also believe in diversity of morals and lifestyle. So, homosexuals are considered people with an alternative lifestyle rather than deviant and unwarranted behavior. So are bi-sexuals. Desire for spirituality is another aspect of postmodernism. Young people throng to places offering spiritual experience. Modern corporate houses measure spritual quotient of a person while recruiting or hiring a person for a job. Spiritual experiences like art of living, meditation, yoga, or belief in charms like that offered by Vastu or Feng Shu is gaining wider acceptance. Being fed up with the individualistic worldview of modernism, postmoderns desire for community is great. They wish to stay together by being connected. Being connected has been enhanced by the modern communication methods of e-mails, mobile phones, SMS and MMS. The virtual community that is possible in the cyber world has gained wide acceptance. Challenge Postmodernism is capturing the minds of urban young people in India. To reach them we need tools to reach them. Apologetics was an appropriate tool to reach modern young people, but we need new tools to reach Postmodern young people.
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Chapter 27:
Understanding Urban Young People

The importance of young people is evident in the whole Bible. God chose and used young people like Joseph, Daniel, David, Jeremiah and others. The band of apostles Jesus Christ chose was also young people. Gunter Krallmann writes that Simon Peter was the only married person among the disciples, the Jewish age of marriage being 18. Jesus himself addressed his disciples as lads (John 21:5).122 The Church began as a youth movement of disciples. India is considered the youngest nation in the world. The number of Indians below the age of 15 is currently 336 million, another 121 million are between the ages of 15 and 19 and those in the age group of 20-34 add up to 271 million. In short, the number of Indians below the age of 34 is an unprecedented 728 million, almost 70 percent of the population.123 The total teen population of India is 163 million. Nearly half of Indias population of one billion is under the age of 20. By 2015, the under 20 crowd will make up 55 percent of all Indians.124 Out of 145 million urban women, 42 million are in the age
Gunter Krallmann, Mentoring for Mission: A Handbook on Leadership Principles Exemplified by Jesus Christ (Waynesboro, GA: Authentic Media, 2002), p.52. 123 India Today 31 January 2005 did a detailed survey of young people in India. 124 Teen Population: Business Today, 22 April 2007, p.30.
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group 18-30.125 This huge population is a real challenge for those involved in contemporary missions. Editor Aroon Purie of India Today writes that generations past defined themselves in relation to events like great wars, the depression and the freedom struggle. This generation is defining themselves by their lifestyle. With television and the Internet, they have begun to follow global lifestyles. India Today calls them the Luckie Generation.126 The Week called them GenerationBest127 and now calls them GenerationNow.128 On one side there are globalized, educated, city-bred, postmodern urban young people living in urban centers. In the same cities are the uneducated, unemployed or under-employed young people living in slums who do not have the privilege of college education. There are village youngsters, many illiterate, trying to survive in this world. The media generally focuses on the urban youth, while others are neglected or overlooked. Youth in Transition The generation that grew up during independence had a different fire in them; they wanted to build India from scratch into a model country. The 1970s had a cynical, depressed generation that fled the country in droves. The post liberalization generation has more choice, more access to information, more money and more opportunities. Life has much more to offer, and the possibilities seem to be endless. Five thousand four hundred eight five young people were surveyed across 15 cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Patna, Pune, Indore, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Kochi. Half the young people are willing to work at a job that is boring if they earn enough money.129 The psychologists term accelerated adolescence means a state where children reach adulthood sooner than expected, achieving their
Cover Story, Living the Dream: India Today, 16 April 2007, p. 34-64. Aroon Purie, editorial (India Today, 2 July 2002), p. 3. 127 The Week 31 December 2000, P.13. 128 Deepti Kapoor, The Week 20 November 2005, p. 32-44. 129 Cover story, Businessworld 6 November 2006 p.28-73.
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developmental milestones before the appropriate age.130 Preadolescents fast-forward into adolescence. Now 8-11 year olds behave exactly like 12-24 year olds. They are insisting on being seen and asking to be heard. Pre-adolescents are behaving like adolescents and adolescents are behaving like adults. Emotionally, children are being exposed to a variety of synthetic situations on television, ranging from stand-offs between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to wars between girlfriend and wife. Media makes children better informed than their predecessors a decade ago. Some childrens mothers refer to children as our window to the world.131 Token activism apart, urban society, what with its changing fabric and lack of communication in the family, is ill-equipped to guide the child through his transition from childhood to adulthood. The result is early initiation into sex, drugs and alcohol abuse and depression leading to suicide. Sociologists, psychologists and behavioral analysts unanimously blame parent and school for this fallout. Overprotection and pampering by parents diminishes the childs ability to face reality. Parents offer expensive gadgets to children. They might know the cost of an object, but not its value. Early puberty also contributes to this malaise.132 Higher Education There are 17,625 colleges and 342 universities involving about 10.5 million students in India.133 Three million one hundred thousand graduates are produced in India every year and the number is expected to double by 2010. The number of engineering colleges is expected to increase to 1,600 during this period--a growth of 50 percent.134 Today, there are 1,208 engineering degree colleges with a total sanctioned intake of over 0.36 million students. Further, there are 1,006 Master of Computer Applications (MCA) and 930 Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree institutions, with an intake
Deepti Kapoor, The Week (20 November 2005), p.32-44. Kaveree Bamzal & Vanita Singh, Growing Older Younger (India Today 8th August 2005), p. 58-60. Synovate study done among 958 between the ages of 8-24. 132 K. Sinil Thomas, Adolescent Generation (The Week 13 November 2005), p. 16-22. 133 Raj Chengappa, India Today, 5 June 2006 p. 38. 134 The Week 18 January 2005, p.6.
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of about 53,000 and 64,000 students respectively.135 India will need 1,500 universities to attain a gross enrollment ratio of at least 15 percent by 2015. This is a key observation made by the National Knowledge Commission (NKC) in its note to the Prime Minister on higher education. Stating that opportunities for higher education are simply not enough in relation to our needs, the NKC has called for a massive expansion of opportunities. As of today, there are about 350 universities.136 The government has invested more in higher education than in primary education. It takes 1.7 crore to produce a single MBBS doctor at All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences. For every 10,000 Indians, there is one doctor. In contrast, Australia has 249 doctors for every 10,000 people, Canada has 209, UK has 166 and US has 548.137 A whopping 81% students enrolled in universities in the last two years and, interestingly, female students constituted one-fourth of it. Enrollment of girl students nearly doubled during the academic years 2006-07 and 2007-08. These are some of the findings of Universities of India 2008 survey conducted by Dun & Bradstreet India in association with Mindlogicx Infotech Limited. During the same period, students enrolled in various undergraduate and post-graduate programs also increased by 22%.138 With this comes the challenge of reaching young women in campuses. Christians are fare ahead of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs when it comes to gross enrollment ratios (GER) in undergraduate courses. Even Christian Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are far ahead of Hindu SCs/STs, Muslim OBCs and Sikh SCs when it comes to higher education. Among Christians, women have a better enrollment percentage than men. Two separate studies by Ravi S. Srivastava and S. Sinha for UGC based on NSSO data of the 61st
Frontline 26 March 2004, p.105-109. Number of varsities not enough The Hindu, 2 January 2007, p.1. 137 Kounteya Sinha, AIIMS spends Rs 1.7 crore on producing one doctor http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/AIIMS_spends_Rs_17_crore_on_producing_one_doctor /articleshow/3948369.cms accessed on 8 January 2009. 138 Shruthi Balakrishna, Girl Students Enrolment Doubles http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Girl_students_enrolment_doubles/articleshow/402 4208.cms accessed on 24 January 2009.
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round (2004-2005) shows that Christians with GER of 20% are far ahead of Hindus at 13%. Sikhs have a GER of 12.69%, followed by Muslims with GER of 7.7%. Incidentally, the category of others, presumably consisting of atheists and those not following institutionalized religion have a GER of 17.7%. When the GER figures are fine tuned, it was found that among rural Christians, enrollment of male Christian STs is 3.62% and females 6.69%. In the case of Christians SCs in rural areas, the GER for males is 4.81% and females 33.8%. GER of non-ST/SC Christians in rural areas is far more--23.03% for males and 16.86% for females.139 This puts the onus on the local churches to educate, motivate and train Christian young people to be witnesses in their schools, colleges and other institutions. Values: Lowered general and moral values The young people seem to have lopsided priorities. The Week survey reveals that for 38% of those surveyed, success is equivalent to fame; for 15%, it is earning sacks full and for a significant 38%, it is about being satisfied with what one does. Twenty-five percent said that premarital sex is acceptable.140 Young people are sucked into a system where success, fame and gratification (self-satisfaction) are measured as ultimate. These external motivation factors have lowered the value system of young people. An increasing number of Mumbai city girls are selling their eggs to invitro fertilization clinics to make fast money that ranges from Rs. 20 000 to Rs. 25 000.141 These girls do that to have quick money to raise their standard of affluence or luxury. There are no moral or ethical qualms in their minds.
Higher Education: Christians way ahead in enrolmen,t Sunday Times of India 4 January 2009, p.7 140 What Youth Want (The Week 14 August 2005), p.36-40. Survey done in Chandigarh, Delhi, Lucknow, Patna, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Cochin among 2948 youths between the age of 18 and 25. 141 Anjou Giri and Debjani Sengupta, Donation is new golden egg for city girls, http://asianage.com accessed on 15 June 2005.
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Young people live by convenience rather than convictions as the survey shows. Some India Today survey results: 64% state that corruption is the major ill that affects India, but 34% will pay a bribe to get the job done (strangely, only 37% blame the individual while 62% blame the system). 25% think it is okay to receive dowry while 18% favor extravagant weddings. 22% like to have a live-in relationship with someone prior to marriage. 39% suggest that prostitution should be legalized. 60% do not favor using sex appeal at the work places. 49% visit a place of worship once a week while 22% do so daily. 66% are religious and fast for religious reasons. 52% wanted the government to bring down illegally constructed places of worship. 34% watch pornographic films. National Crime Records Bureau gives the statistic that 41% of crimes are committed by youth in the age group of 18-30.142 Getting a bribe is wrong, but many dont mind giving it for a job. While dowry is illegal, 25% would not mind taking the illegal booty. Though they are religious or spiritual, they are not righteous. Hedonism A first year engineering student of a college in Chennai committed suicide after he was humiliated by his seniors by allegedly making him bathe in his own urine.143 Ragging and violence in college campuses is a matter of concern. Young people are becoming hedonistic, taking pleasure in anothers discomfort. A 16-year old school boy, who stabbed his mother to death, was unnerved by oozing blood, fled his home and went to cinema house to watch a movie was later arrested. On investigation the boy said that he was highly influenced by the film Vaastav where the hero plays a gangster.144 Parental authority is defied, and young people may go to the extreme of killing their own parents. St. Paul writes that in the last days
Youth Power, India Today 31 January 2005. 2059 young people between 18-35 were interviewed. 143http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20041221220941&Page=T&Title=So uthern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0&CHENNAI:~A~first~year~engineering~student ~committed~suicide~on~Sunday~evening~after~he~was~humiliated~by~his~seniors,~wh o~allegedly~made~him~bathe~in~his~own~urine accessed on 22 December 2004. 144 Boy watches movie after killing mom The Times of India 29 May 2004 p. 8.
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children would be disobedient to parents.145 A separate section on Youth and Violence is added in this book, which gives more insights into the culture of violence among the youth. Addictions Gutkha is a dry preparation containing arecanut, slaked lime, catechu, powdered tobacco and condiments. Children from 13 to 15 years are most prone to gutkha addiction. Random studies in Uttar Pradesh, the northeast and Bihar suggest that 20 to 56 percent of students use one form of chewing tobacco or another. Some doctors say that larger hospitals in Delhi receive 80 to 100 oral cancer cases a month, many of them in the 18-35 age group addicted to gutkha.146 Boys always smoked their first cigarette in their teens, but now schoolgirls are doing it too. Words like normal, no big deal, cool and hot come up so often in the context of booze, cigarettes, sex and porn that it is indicative of how morality and values are perceived differently by children, as opposed to what most parents assume they have taught them. In Mumbai, counselors are getting used to 14-15 year old girls who smoke. Doing hard drugs like cocaine or heroin may be restricted to a minority, but getting stoned with EraseX, the inkerasing whitener, gets more nods. Drug addiction, alcoholism, rebellion, and sexual affairs are common among children in government schools too.147 Suicide Young people are not seeing hope, unable to handle pressures, and find no meaning in life. This has led to suicides around the world. A World Health Organization study reveals that Bangalore has the highest rate of suicides. As many as 1800 people commit suicide each year in the city. A majority of attempted suicides are among people between the age of 20 and 24. Family conflicts, domestic violence, academic failures and unfulfilled romantic ideals, claim
II Timothy 3:2. K.P. Naryana Kumar, (The Week 6 February 2005) p. 26-27. 147 Shefalee Vasudev, The Secret Life of School Kids, (India Today 24 January 2005), p.58-66.
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sociologists, are a driving factor in suicides. Psychologists attribute the rise in suicides to the wide gap between peoples aspirations and actual capabilities. Researchers call it the cumulative effect of various problems unemployment, economic privation, disharmony in the family and in some cases alcoholism.148 Other cities are not immune to this problem. In 2006, 5,857 students or 16 a day committed suicide across India due to exam stress. And these are just the official figures. Incidents of children committing suicide because of examination stress often did not get reported as traumatized parents wanted to keep the issue under wraps. Scores of youngsters seek counseling before and after the exam season and have to be put on medication. It is not just board exams that get stress levels soaring in students. Entrance tests to professional courses that require extra coaching also have the same effect. It is the combination of entrance tests and board exams that some students are finding it difficult to handle. Students have often held their teachers solely responsible for suicide. I will come back as a ghost and harass my teacher, the suicide note left behind by a student from a prestigious Bangalore school said. Some students have discovered other mechanisms to deal with the pressure, like running away from home or simply refusing to appear for exams.149 Being a teenager has never been easy. India tops the world in teen suicides. Depression, anxiety, stress and suicides among teenagers are mounting across the country. More adolescents die of suicide than AIDS, cancer, heart disease, obesity, birth defects and lung disease. While the global teen suicide rate is 14.5 per 100,000, a 2004 study by Christian Medical College, Vellore, reported 148 for girls and 58 for boys in India. In India it is at number one in some areas and is the third largest killer across the country. Teenagers have growing pains: 35% of youngsters complain that they have too many things to do every day; 33% feel lonely; 33% are irritated at the frequent scolding from parents and teachers; 31% fear major exams,
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Raziqueh Hussai, (Deccan Chronicle 4 October 2005), p.8. (Anahita Mukherji, Around 6,000 students committed suicide in 2006 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Around_6000_students_killed_self_in_06/articleshow/28 72298.cms accessed on 17th March 2008) Christ and New Generation Youth
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while 26% complain about frequent tests at school; 29% get irked at the constant reminders from parents to study and 21% get anxious over school work and problems with teachers. But 60% of parents ignore signs of stress and tend to consult doctors for failing grades; 82% teens wish to talk about themselves, but 76% parents discuss only career issues.150 Career is supreme Todays young people value career more than relationships. One such casualty seems to be marriage and family. A 28-year-old woman decided to end her marriage after her husband refused to allow her to work as a lecturer in a city college and subjected her to torture. The woman returned the thaali and other wedding gifts from her husband, even a handkerchief he gave her after their marriage five months before, and signed the divorce papers to unshackle her of a wedding that was nowhere near the bliss that she had dreamed of. Baskar (34) did not allow Priya (both names changed) to work though she pleaded with him several times. She accused him of abusing her physically and mentally over three months. Unable to bear the torture, she petitioned the State Womens Commission in September 2008 for help to obtain a divorce so that she could continue with her job. In this case, the couple did not want to live together even after two counseling sessions. Both returned their gifts and Priya did not want any compensation from Baskar. Priya has joined a city engineering college as a lecturer and desires to marry someone who will allow her to work.151 Sex and Teenage pregnancy Indian youngsters including teenagers are bombarded with explicit messages of sex from the media. Ignorantly or innocently they are becoming victims. Two Class XI students had sex on their school premises and photographed it with a mobile phone enabled with
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Damayanti Datta, Teen Suicides, India Today, 28 April 2008, p. 40-50. Woman prefers job to husband http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennaichronicle/City/CityNews.asp#Woman%20prefers %20job%20to%20husband accessed on 9th November 2008. 139
multimedia messaging service, or MMS.152 Sleaze through cell phones is in and it is catching on fast in Chennai city also.153 According to a recent survey conducted by abortion centers across in Mumbai city, a minimum of 120 teenagers undergo abortions every month.154 According to WHO, 10 percent of all abortions in India every year, or about five million a year, are among girls between 15 and 19 years of age. At least half the women seeking abortions are adolescents and a disturbing number are below 15 years of age, according to one leader of an NGO.155 Premarital sex and extramarital sex are not concerns for many. The survey among schoolgoing students in Delhi reveals that over sixty percent of adolescents were okay with pre-marital sex. Only 46% of the girls and 36% of the boys in the Capital said they would prefer sex only after marriage. Seventy-one percent of Delhi boys and 54% of girls find holding hands, kissing and casual touching normal.156 Deepti Kapoor writes: A decade ago, having premarital sex was a decision. Now the decision is not if, but when. Premarital sex has become normal. Now children just want to chill, and it is Just Chill generation. Teenagers relationships begin when they are as young as 13 or 14 years. Now people indulge in sex freely just when they are six to 10 months into a relationship. Even smaller towns are feeling the pressure of living in the Net culture where tens of thousands of porn images are just a link away. Twenty-one percent claim premarital sex is desirable. Over 24 % polled in the survey claimed to be sexually active. Psychologists point out a lot of social factors for the increased sexualization of the teen population. In fact, the experience of a teenager from Delhi or Gurgaon is more akin to someone from New York. Testifying to the direct influence of the media on behavioral
Ayswaria Venugopal http://www.telegraphindia.com/1041127/asp/frontpage/story_4055884.asp accessed on 27th November 2004. 153http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20041017121128&Title=Southern+N ews+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&rLink=0 accessed on 18 October 2004. 154 Debjani Sengupta, http://www.asianage.com accessed on 19 August 2005) 155 Shefalee Vasudev, The Secret Life of School Kids, (India Today 24 January 2005), p.58-66. 156 (Satyen Mohapatra, Premarital sex: Okay says young Delhi http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1423185,000600010001.htm accessed on 8 July 2005) Survey done among 12-19 years old school going children.
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patterns, 52 percent felt exposure to sex-related matters in the media encouraged them to experiment with sex. Values, belief systems and behavior patterns are also related to issues of class and income.157 For a peek into the mind of Indian teenagers the movers and shakers of New India in the 15-19 age group, THE WEEK commissioned market research agency CVoter. GenNow is caught between the two worlds of tradition and modernity. While 61 percent of 1004 participants across ten cities do not regret losing their virginity, and 22 percent claim to have done so by class 12, traditions continue to influence young minds, too; 63 percent think virginity is sacrosanct. For many youngsters marriage has nothing to do with virginity; only 17 percent of those who participated in the survey would wait till the marriage vows. Experts who study social trends point to a rise in premarital sex in urban, rural and mofussil areas.158 An Indian Council of Medical Research study found that 17 percent of the 1.4 million teenage abortions that take place every year in the developing countries happen in India. More specifically, of the approximately 2.45 lakh teenage abortions reported in India every year, 36,700 happen in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore. Unconfirmed reports depict that at least 1500 teenage abortions take place in Delhi every month. Some estimates suggest that in 1991, against the 25 million recorded births in the country there were close to 11 million abortions and notably a large number of them were done by quacks. Another survey in Mumbai concluded that even without the dreaded sex education, 64 percent of boys in the age group of 14-19 had one or more sexual encounters. Out of them, 43 percent had visited homes of disrepute to fulfill their desires.159
Deepti Kapoor, End of Innoncence (The Week 20 November 2005), p. 32-44. The Week-TNS survey was conducted in 10 Indian cities Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Kochi and Lucknow, surveyed 1014 respondents from the age group of 12-18. 158 Rekha Borgohain Dixit, The Virginity Test, The Week, 16 September 2007, p. 32-41. 159 Aarti, Teenage Sex-Handle Adolescence with care, Indian Currents, 30 July-5 August 2007, p. 26-28,
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Sex moral values fall The survey by India Today-AC Nielsen Org Marg survey reveals that urban young singles are shaking off years of conservatism and asserting their sexuality with growing confidence. Thirty-three percent of single women across urban India are open to having a sexual relationship with a person even if they are not in love with them. Sixteen percent felt that extra marital sex is all right. Fortyfour percent of the women surveyed say that they have no problems with premarital sex but almost an equal number, 46%, say it is wrong. Twenty-eight percent think it is all right for two people who are not married to live together.160 Pre-marital sex has become acceptable to the urban elite and live-in relationships also have become common in many cities. Mumbais youth may not indulge in pre-marital sex but neither do they find anything wrong with it. In fact, a good 86% approve of it. Similarly, they may not be involved in extra-marital relationships but accept that they exist. These are some of the findings of a survey carried out by the research agency IMRS on DNAs third anniversary to measure youth attitudes in Mumbai. They approve of public display of affection (81%) and think that sex education is a must in school. They believe that a pre-marriage HIV test is important. But when it comes to sex-related problems, theyd rather talk to a friend or a doctor then a parent or a spouse.161 Sex Extra-marital sex For a significant section of Indias corporate sector, romancing a colleague, or even the boss, is all in a days work, according to a survey, Romance at Workplace, conducted by staffing company TeamLease Services. A third of those surveyed also saw no harm in romancing a married colleague, while 44% said an affair was often a strategic move to climb the corporate ladder. The first in a series of surveys aimed at understanding the countrys new corporate world,
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Sex and Single, (India Today 26 September 2005), p. 32-78. Pre-marital sex? Bindaas says citys GenX http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1180389 accessed on 29 July 2008. Christ and New Generation Youth
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the study covered 402 men and women from leading companies in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Pune, Chandigarh and Hyderabad. Fifty-nine percent of executives felt that women often initiated affairs and were equal partners in office romances. Kolkata led the list, with eight out of 10 people saying that women took the lead. Asked why an employee would have a relationship with the boss, 59% of Delhiites interviewed said it would be for quick promotions or a higher salary. A majority of respondents (56%), however, felt that organizations should not intervene in workplace romances. An equal number also felt that such affairs took a toll on the quality and speed of work. The general opinion said that long working hours in close proximity with the opposite sex led to workplace romances. Younger employees and a higher ratio of women in the boom sectors, like BPOs, consulting and finance, have made workplace affairs a common talking point. Overall, 16% of those surveyed said theyve been romantically involved with a colleague.162 An online survey of 6,559 respondents reveals that office romance is on rise with more women joining the workforce, and closer interaction and a more liberal culture adding new highs to balancing work and life. Fifteen years of liberalization has changed the way office-goers interact, date and mate with their colleagues. The deepening influence of a global culture, a more open and intense work environment, a blurring line between work and home and growing permissiveness in society is altering attitudes and changing rules about moral propriety and social more at the workplace in India. Of the 6,559 respondents polled, a high 35% (or 2,321) admitted to currently having or being open to an office romance. What stands out in the survey is that 51% of those open to romance were married executives. Also 55% of them would do it just to spice up their long and stressful work hours. Sixty-six percent said their love interest was, or was likely to be, their colleague. In a relatively more open corporate culture and amid changing social norms, the instances of
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Veenu Sandhu, Bed and board(room)? Its no big deal, say execs http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=03023405-4c32-4efa-a16e00ed67dcc3af&&Headline=Bed+%26amp%3b+board(room)%3f+no+big+deal%2c+say+e xecs accessed on 30 January 2008. 143
casual dating and experimentation with multiple partners before tying the knot are becoming more popular. Married executives are more willing to explore relationships outside marriage. Understandably, the rising number of women in the workforce has helped. In sectors like IT and BPO, today it is as high as 40%. Women today are far more liberated and are no longer restricted to fringe, low-profile jobs of secretaries and call center clones. Sixty-three percent of the respondents said their company did not mind them having an office romance. And at least six percent felt that their companies actually encouraged office relationships.163 The WEEK AC Nielsen survey met 2817 youth in their teens to mid 20s- in 12 cities from Srinagar to Kochi and Mumbai to Guwahati. Twelve percent of married couples below 30 years of age indulge in extramarital affairs. The onset of adolescence has been preponed and the age for marriage has been postponed. As a natural fallout, promiscuity has increased. Young people are now coping with several other issues such as multiple relationships and physical intimacy.164 Sex in computer games Theres a sexual revolution happening in computer games. Porn games and sex toys are flooding the market. These games also take care of parental control. If someone walks in while you are at it, there is a panic button. Press it; the game pauses and some other document opens up. So you are saved. Maria and Sexual Fantasy are chartbusters in the 10-18 age group. These games give the players a feeling of virtual sex with the help of superb sound effects and detailed body parts. And theres something for everyone - spanking, bondage, rape, hentai, gay, lesbians, underwater, super models and several of types of girls like Asian, American, African and Australian. Games like Kamasutra, Larry Sexy game, Pamela Anderson and Strip
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Malini Goyal, Cubicle Crush, India Today 27 February 2006 p. 44-46. The age of smarities, The Week 19 February 2006 p. 34-67. Christ and New Generation Youth
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Poker are the rage. The famous Tetris game is already out with an avatar carrying a downloadable nude picture of a supermodel. 165 Sex Male prostitutes Male prostitutes make anywhere between Rs. 5000 and Rs. 20000 a night. They are the Indian gigolos. Young men sell themselves to support a fantasized lifestyle. Their customers are women who find neither sex nor intimacy in marriages. Aunty is a Mumbai term for loaded women who shop for sex. Boys who dont get enough business rape and rob their clients and often land in jail. Some women are caught by their husbands and messy chapters begin in their marriages.166 Gym instructors, call center workers and direct sales agents are among thousands of professional men moonlighting as sex workers in the city to supplement incomes they feel are too meager to give them a decent life in Mumbai. Unlike female sex workers, these men do not walk the streets but operate entirely through social networking websites, according to a study funded by the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation, dedicated to AIDS research, and executed by the Humsafar Trust, a non-profit focusing on gay and transgender sexual health. The six-year study, which will be completed in March, estimates that Mumbai has 6,000 male sex workers. This is a fairly significant number - almost a third of the 20,000 female sex workers that civic bodys Mumbai District AIDS Control Society estimates operate in the city.167
165(Vivek
Seal, Sex games kids play, http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=front%5Fpage&file_name=stor y3%2Etxt&counter_img=3?headline=Sex~games~kids~play accessed on 14 August 2005) 166 Shefalee Vasudev, Male Prostitution Aunty lovers (Outlook 20 September 2005), p.54-58. 167 Aditya Ghosh, Male professionals double as sex workers for extra income http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id =79f7b1bf-8c60-4a41-934ee17dcc2c8253&&Headline=Male+professionals+double+as+sex+workers+for+extra+inco me accessed on 3 February 2009 Christ and New Generation Youth 145
Marriage and divorce Marriage in India was generally arranged and it was also an alliance of two families. Now with education, empowerment and economic independence, women demand the right to have their choices, preferences and demands addressed. With less social stigma for the divorced, divorce has become common and is becoming epidemic. Divorce a demand from either partner seems to be the order of the day with working couples in Bangalore city. But of late, marriage has merely become a social contract between the two sexes. The changing lifestyle of couples who each earn above Rs 20,000 has led to more divorces as they work under severe stress. Loss of sexual interest is a reason for seeking a divorce. Managing money, accepting reality and avoiding loneliness by developing religious and spiritual activities are also very essential to a successful married life.168 New lifestyles and attitudes are pushing young divorces. But at the end of this sad tale is a new beginningless stigma, more social tolerance. Sixty to seventy percent of divorces filed in the past few years involve couples between 25 and 35 years of age. As many as 5,475 such cases were filed in Delhi in 2004, an average of 25 divorce petitions filed every day, while 2,550 cases were filed in Mumbai in 2004. For every five weddings registered in Mumbai and Thane since 2002, family courts have received two applications for divorce. Exactly 104,287 marriages were registered in Mumbai and Thane between January 2002 and October 2007. During the same period, the family courts in the two districts received 44,922 applications for divorce. Figures for 2007 bear out the trend. Mumbai and Thane registered 17,221 marriages between January and October last year. There were 7,813 applications for divorce within the same time span. The statistics have alarmed psychiatrists and sociologists. Mumbai, say sociologists, is increasingly time-stressed,
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N.B. Hombal, Divorces Increasing in Bangalore http://asianage.com Accessed on 29 April 2005. Christ and New Generation Youth
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with many couples doing about 80 km of commuting every day in addition to jobs demanding eight- to ten-hour days.169 In Bangalore, the number increased threefold from 653 in 1988 to 1861in 2002. Between January and June 2009, as many as 1,400 couples in the city have decided they cannot live with each other and have filed for divorce in family courts. The trend is new, as the year 2008 saw only 5,000 cases. When the family court was set up in 1984 because divorce cases in civil courts were taking too long, there were 800 pending cases. Today, say family court officials, there are an average 25 cases of matrimonial discord being filed every day.170 In Kolkata the number has gone up from 1,633 in 1996 to 2,388 in 2003. Changing undercurrents in relationships have altered the surface tension in marriages. Divorce with mutual consent has also become common. Family court counselors say that amicable separation within the first year of marriage has increased by 30 percent since 2000. A new vocabulary now vocalizes marital break up: sexual incompatibility, insensitivity, inequality, temperamental difference and psychological tiredness. Temperamental and sexual incompatibilities were behind 75% of young divorces. Significantly, more women are initiating divorce. The coming out of homosexuals in forced heterosexual marriages is another factor. So is the acceptance of sexual fulfillment as a real need. Careers at the cost of family, independence instead of domestic harmony, inability to adjust with joint families and extramarital relationships have made many marriages fragile. In the past, divorce was the extreme recourse taken only if there was unbearable cruelty, dowry harassment, physical abuse, desertion, mental illness, impotence, infertility and bigamy. It is, in many ways, a generational issue. Work, stress, changing mores, ambitions, the fast pace of life and assertion of freedom and individual space have created an untried marriage matrix for people in their 30s and 40s. One lawyer comments that most of the young
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divorces for every 5 marriages in Mumbai: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2_divorces_for_every_5_marriages_in_Mumbai/articles how/2729438.cms accessed on 25th January 2008 170 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Bangalore-25-divorce-cases-fileddaily/articleshow/4618574.cms accessed on 5 June 2009. Christ and New Generation Youth 147
divorces are violent ego clashes more than anything else. Earlier, women were considered victims of desertion; women are now the partners-in-a-hurry to get out of a bad marriage. Now women want to end captivity--physically and ideologically. Manu Smiriti between her doli (Palanquin) and her arthi (bier) her husbands home was her only destination.171 The Week survey among single women, the 20-and 30-somethings, unmarried by choice or default, are the product of an age when middle-class parents pushed their female children into pursuing careers and being independent. Thirty-three percent did not meet the right person, hence not married. Seventeen percent fear marriage will come in the way of career. Living together, a rather rare phenomenon in the early 90s, is becoming more common. Large cities offer anonymity and often, for practical reasons, living together becomes the simplest, most cost-effective arrangement. But that is not to say that the relationship has to evolve into marriage. Singles are not against marriage, but they are not obsessed with it either.172 Speed dating is also coming into Indian cities.173 Many young people have adopted a new life style: Live in relationship. With lot of legal issues cropping among the live-in relationships couples, the Supreme Court has held that the Dowry Prohibition Act will apply to live-in relationships also. The object of the Act was to prevent harassment of a woman who enters into a marital relationship with a person and later on, becomes a victim of the greed for money. Can a person who enters into a marital arrangement be allowed to take shelter behind a smokescreen to contend that since there was no valid marriage the question of dowry
Shefalee Vasudev and Anjali Doshi, Young Divorces , (India Today 28 February 2005), p. 64-72. 172 Deepti Kapoor, Single and Swinging (The Week 27 February 2005), p.40-48. The survey was done in Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore. 173 Speed Dating Comes to Mumbai http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?slug=Speed+Dating+comes+to+Mum bai&id=68466 accessed on 14 February 2005.
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does not arise? Such legalistic niceties would destroy the purpose of the provisions.174 In the west it is already a norm to sign a pre-nuptial agreement, and it is catching on with Indian couples as well. A pre-nuptial agreement is a contract between a couple before they get married. It states how property and other assets are to be divided in case of a divorce. Some 12% of Indian couples signed pre-nuptial bonds in 2006 and Delhi topped the list. But the legal standing of a pre-nuptial agreement in India is not clear. It has not really been tested in a court of law, though there have been a few judgments based on such agreements. Couples who have had messy divorces are, of course, all for prenuptial agreements.175 Alternate lifestyles Guilt-ridden homosexuals or lesbians are images of the past. Now more have become bold to demonstrate their sinful life in public with pride. The Chandigarh police had to tackle a novel case of elopement of two women aged 25 and 22 from Amristsar.176 Samesex partners in India exhibit signs of a collective struggle and make bolder demands for social acceptance like never before in history. A pride march was held in 1999 in which only 19 gay people turned up in Kolkata. In 2003, there were about 150.177 Fifty cases of sodomy involving children are reported in Delhi every year.178 Lesbians have become active in Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi officially and Chennai unofficially.179 Two married middle-class women with children have
J. Venkatesan. Court: dowry law will apply to live-in relationships also: http://www.hinduonnet.com/2009/05/03/stories/2009050356461800.htm accessed on 3rd May 2009 175 Prerna Suri, Pre-nuptial contract on the rise in India, http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070036920&ch=12/26/20 07%209:02:00%20AM accessed on 26th December 2007. 176 Women in Love http://www.telegraphindia.com/1041210/asp/opinion/story_4107264.asp accessed on 10 December 2004. 177 India Today 2 August 2004 p. 48-52. 178 The Week 30 October 2005, p.4. 179 Divya Subramanian, (Deccan Chronicle 15 November 2005), p.21.
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sent shock waves across their conservative neighborhood in Erode by choosing to live together after walking out on their families.180 Two married women, who allegedly shared a lesbian relationship, committed suicide by setting themselves ablaze after their families tried to separate them. 181 Seventy million is the estimated number of gays, lesbians and transgender individuals living in India.182 Connected virtual relationships Todays young people have more virtual relationships than real social relationships. Young people like to stay connected and the mobile (cell phone) has become an appropriate tool to be in touch. The Internet also helps them to chat and stay in touch. The young people in Urban India look at the technology as relationship tools, while the older generation uses them as tools for information exchange. The young adult population is a growing market for cellular phone companies, and so is not so-affluent India. Ten percent of the users are in the age group 12-19; 34% in 20-29 years; 30% in 30-39 years; 15% in 40-49 years and 11% above 50 years of age.183 Chennai city has over 2.2 million mobile phones. Youth (defined as those between 20 and 29) constitute 25 to 33% of all subscribers. With the increasing popularity of short message service (SMS), most service providers today provide attractive packages for students to avail unlimited SMS.184 Cyber world According to the I-Cube 2008, a joint annual survey of Internet users conducted by IMRB International and Internet and Mobile Association of India [IAMAI], more than 50% of Internet users in urban India belong to the age group 18-25 years. This group is
Deccan Chronicle 2 September 2005, p.5. Harassed lesbian couple ends life: Sunday Times, 18 May 2008, p.1. 182 India Today 3 July 2006, p.12. 183 Business Today 17 July 2005 p.24. 184 Sudhish Kamath, http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/11/17/stories/2005111717780300.htm accessed on 17 November 2005.
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comprised of two categories college-going students and young men. Accordingly to the survey, the primary reasons for the increase in the youth category are two-fold: Internet content and application are primarily geared to the youth, especially the sticky applications like user-generated contents like social networking, gaming and online entertainment. There is also a rise in Internet search for academic purposes. The pattern of Internet usage is in transition among the younger generation (between 18 to 35 years). Youths are increasingly adopting the Internet, not as a technology, but as another medium to indulge in their important wide-ranging daily activities like listening to music, making friends, promoting themselves and conducting business or exercising their occupation. Specifically, online gaming is emerging as a major growth area attracting investments by content developers and distributors.185 The number of cyber cafes in India is 250,000.186 Cyber world - crimes The technology also has led to new cyber crimes. The number of cyber crimes here has increased by over five times between 2005 and 2008 in the city of Mumbai. According to Mumbai police statistics, the number of cyber cases abruptly rose from 142 in 2005 to 775 cases in 2008. Credit card frauds, vulgar content, identity theft, hacking and lottery scams are among the other practices being used to cheat Mumbaikars. A total of 159 and 344 cyber crime cases were registered in the year 2006 and 2007 respectively. Of the 775 cases in 2008, 164 were complaints pertaining to fake profiling, defamation and obscene content. The police have already received 155 complaints of cyber crimes this year. Of this, 39 cases have been registered for allegedly hacking and tampering of source code.187
57% of Internet users between 18-35 years of age http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20090081019 accessed on 23 January 2009. 186 Cyber cafes Business Today, 7 September 2008, p.41. 187 Cyber crimes on rise in Mumbai:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Cyber-crimeson-rise-in-Mumbai/articleshow/4271890.cms accessed on 16th March 2009)
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Spirituality Blind faith in superstition drove a young man to sever his right hand under the wheels of a running train in West Bengal.188 A youth in Orissa cut off his tongue with a sharp weapon and offered it to a deity in the hope that it would help him get a beautiful wife and also a job.189 The police arrested a youth for murdering his four-year-old daughter after an astrologer predicted that she might bring him bad luck.190 Other spiritual expressions are belief in Vaastu, charms, Feng Shu, numerology, yoga, meditation, etc. The modern young people are redefining spirituality. THE WEEK/CVoter exclusive survey on youth and religion done in 24 cities with 2,167 respondents between the age of 18 and 24, found that 68% of the youth have had doubts about their faith and the religion they practiced. Only 30% claimed to be traditional in their religious outlook. In matters of the heart, 47% said they would not consider a partners religion before falling in love. But no, dont call them licentious, 53% firmly say that live-in relationships are antireligious; 74% believe in God and 16% do not; 47% claimed that they pray daily while 23% weekly and 30% occasionally; 29% take part in a religious activity daily, 28% weekly and 43% occasionally; 48% have gone on pilgrimage and 19% plan to go soon; 54% consider religion relevant for the 21st century while 26%do not; 41% consider religion a hindrance for the creation of modern India, while 38% did not agree; 54% consider themselves as tolerant to other religions while 27% are not; 60% said that they celebrate festivals of other faiths and 29% will not participate; 47% believe that Indian young people are returning to traditional faith; 35% said that they were attracted to other faiths, while 45% were not; 71% had friends from other faiths; 37% would love a person from other faith, while another 33% would do so if their family agrees; 45% would obey parents by not marrying a person from other religion; 26% are willing to convert
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189(http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20050117034738&Page=O&Title=
This+is+India&Topic=0& accessed on 17 January 2005)

190http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20050208234357&Title=Southern+News+
%2D+Tamil+Nadu&rLink=0 accessed on 9 February 2005) 152 Christ and New Generation Youth
for the sake of marriage; 56% learn faith from their homes; 52% felt that religion is good while 25 % feel it is bad; 47% are attracted to modern day gurus. The current generation tries to achieve both material gains and spiritual gains. Spirituality is perhaps a means to cope with the baggage that comes with ambition. The baggage is mostly in the form of stress physical, emotional, mental, and at times, even spiritual. Youth today are anxious and need an anchor; religion provides them an anchor as well as identity. Past generations considered religion as part of life, but youngsters are experimenting with faith and belief. Todays young people are trying to amalgamate spirituality or religion with scientific advancement. Earlier, people were busy trying to put two square meals on the table, but now with more time on hand young people can pursue spiritual ambitions. Yoga, meditation, and listening to discourses can help youngsters to control their emotions better and lead a better life. Religion has been considered the worlds psychiatrist throughout the centuries. A significant trend is the youth brigade trying to examine their religious beliefs rather than swallow what is dished out to them.191 It is surprising to see one survey indicates the top five spiritual idols of modern young people as Vinayaka, Shiva, Krishna, Sai Baba and Jesus.192 Affluence and consumerism The Indian youth want money, called Vitamin M, more and more of it. If a pensionable job or a steady business was the ambition of the last generation, todays racy 20- and 30-year olds opt for jobs which pay more, switch jobs and are impatient with the snail-paced increment mode, preferring the instant rewards system. Earlier generations used the bulk of their income for food and long-term savings; today it goes for food, housing and entertainment. White goods, like a refrigerator or a car, were once durables that were handed down to the next generation. Now a 10-year old car heads for
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(Prerna Uppal, The Divine Young The Week (6 July 2008, p. 36-44) The Age of Smarities, The Week 19 February 2006, p. 34-67. 153
the scrap yard. The younger generation picks up consumer durables like we buy vegetables. As much as 73% polled said they would give up personal time to earn more; three-fourths said money was an important measure of success, not a designation or a big office. And when it comes to a career, money drives decisions. Loyalty is the casualty. As the Indian economy expands, the youth are simply rocking--spending, saving and investing. They are even giving to charity, the way they opened their purse strings for the tsunami victims. Millions are reaching the summit on a diet of vitamin M.193 Cosmetics sections in malls are no longer for women only. Men are getting more conscious about their looks and they are willing to splurge on various products that will help them look good. According to a recent survey conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), this emerging trend among men has boosted their expenditure by 20%. The survey, which interviewed 5,000 consumers, found that compared to less than Rs 1,000 in the year 2000, men are now spending over Rs 2,500 per month in more than half of Indias families.194 The new wave of consumerism in the State of Orissa has its kinky side also, causing a moral churning in an otherwise conservative society. Male residents of Bhubaneswar are flocking to so-called beauty parlors, which have mushroomed in the city where the definition of blow-dry is more to do with carnal pleasure than hair treatment. In just two years, over 1000 beauty parlors have opened up in this city.195 Affluence Pocket money Middle class parents are providing pocket money for teen-age children, unheard of before. A survey finds that the pocket money of urban Indian kids aged 10-17 years has gone up more than four times
Sachindananda Murthy, Indias Young Earn More and Spend More, (The Week 20 February 2005), P.32-43. Survey was done in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Indore, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Kota and Coimbatore among 1306 respondents in age group of 20-36 with income 5000-30000. 194 Tenzin Dechen, Mens beauty costs on the rise http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/supplements/mumbai-age/mensbeauty-costs-on-the-rise.aspx accessed on 9th March 2008 195 Farzand Ahmed, Sex and the city, India Today 5 March 2007.
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in the past 10 years, and children in Delhi lead the pack with a princely average of Rs 1,800 to spend in a month. No wonder even the spending pattern of children in this age group is changing fast - it now typically includes investments on DVDs, mobile phones and multiple outings. According to the survey Trends of pocket money in urban areas commissioned by industry chamber, Assocham, the average monthly allowance of urban children in this age group was Rs 300 in 1998. It has now shot up to Rs 1,300. Kids in Bangalore are the richest after Delhi, with an average pocket money of Rs 1,600, followed by young Mumbaikars who get to blow Rs 1,500. Children in Chennai follow close behind at Rs 1,450 per month while Kolkata kids seem to be poor cousins in comparison - they get just Rs 1,200. The survey was done through interviews with 2,500 children across the country.196 Diaspora The United States attracted 80,466 students197 in the academic year 2005-2006, China attracted 5000 students198 while other countries like Italy and the UK are also attracting students.199 Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Switzerland, Belarus, Russia, Armenia, and the Philippines are attracting students from India. Do these students have opportunity to hear the gospel? On 7 June 2009, students from India demonstrated in various cities in Australia demanding protection after several attacks on students. It is estimated that there are 90,000 students studying in Australia.
(Abantika Ghosh Delhi kids pocket Rs 1,800 per month http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Delhi_kids_pocket_Rs_1800_per_month/articlesh ow/2962852.cms accessed on 19 April 2008.) 197 Kritinath Jha, http://dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=CITY&file_name=city3%2Etxt&counter _img=3 accessed on 16 November 2005) 198 (Saibal Dasgupta, Now Indian docs are made in China, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1298428.cms accessed on 17 November 2005) 199 Italy, Britain woo Indian students: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1017453.cms accessed on 11 February 2005.
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There are 4.66 million Indian workers working in different part of the world. And 3.5 million are from South India.200 Most of these workers are young. All these emigrants to various countries strive to raise their standard of life and support families back home. Nonresident Indians send $21.7 billion a year, which is four times the Foreign Direct Investment. Another 50% may be sent by informal channels.201 It has increased to $27 billion.202 Insecurity and Unemployment In few sunrise sectors, and for the creamy layer, over 2 50 000 jobs were created in 2003. It is projected that 1 00 000 jobs in Information Technology and Software, 1 50 000 in BPO, 30 000 in Banking and financial services, 30 000-35 000 in Telecom sector and 40 000 in organized sector would be created in 2004. Elsewhere, the number of jobless has grown to 27 million people, or 7.32 percent of the work force. In the past ten years, rural families have withdrawn eight million children from the fields and sent them to school. The first of the graduates have just begun to emerge and they do not want to be farm laborers. The figure will rise to 40 million by 2007 according to a study done by Planning Commission. Every year 1 million Indians join the jobseekers roll In todays India a new breed of youngsters working in cafes take home Rs. 5000 as pocket money, while lack of work forces poor women to offer a days work for ten rupees. Since 1997, the public sector has shed about 15 percent of its workforce four and a half million. The private sector has grown in some areas, but it has also shed a million jobs or so.203 62.8 percent of postgraduates in science are unemployed in India.204 D. Viswanathan, Vice-Chancellor of Anna University said, Only a fifth of the 75,000 students who pass out of our colleges each year are
Job BluesDeccan Chronicle 30 April 2005 p.4. Chidanand Rajghatta, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1299847.cms accessed on 18th November 2005. 202 Arjavi Indraneesh, Welcome to the flip-side, Outlook 9 March 2009, p.22-23. 203 Outlook 12 February 2004, p. 24, 44-52. 204 The Week 16 October 2005 p. 6.
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employable.205 According to Mahbub ul Haq Human Development Centre, Human Development in South Asia 2003: During 1997, youth accounted for 53 percent in India. In the case of urban India, in 1997, it was found that 41 percent of those with higher secondary education were unemployed.206 Insecurity and Terrorism Young Indian professionals have a new entry on their shopping list terrorism insurance. In the past few months, the spate of bombings has led thousands in the 25-35 age group, usually uninterested in life insurance, to buy policies offering special benefits to terror victims, insurance officials say. Agents claim they are being flooded by inquiries about terrorism coverage, mostly from people in their 20s and 30s. Two companies, realizing terror sells, joined up in July to launch a stand-alone one-year policy, offering a Rs 1 lakh benefit for death from an officially declared act of terror. Optima Insurance Brokers Private Limited and New India Assurance say they had 1,000 takers in 48 hours after the Delhi blasts. Other companies like Tata AIG, Aviva Life Insurance, ICICI, ING Vyasa, Reliance and the LIC are dangling life insurance policies with a double accident benefit scheme, which raises the benefit fourfold in case of unnatural death. This option, for which one pays an extra premium, always covered terrorism but hardly anyone knew or cared, insurance agents say. Now it has become the selling point.207 Challenge The challenge of reaching urban young people in India is a huge challenge. With multiple influences in their lives, the young people seem to be rudderless. They are searching in unlikely places for
http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/10/10/stories/2005101015710300.htm accessed on 10th October 2005 206 The Challenge of Unemployment, (Frontline 9 April 2004) p. 78-79. 207 Ananya Sengupta, Young rush for terror cover - Serial bombings prompt professionals to go for special insurance schemes http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081110/jsp/nation/story_10088974.jsp accessed on 10th November 2008.
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meaning in life; they think short term only and lose their life purpose; they indulge in addiction and lose their life potential. Offering hope to this generation with the gospel should be priority.
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Chapter 28:
UNDERSTANDING MARGINALIZED YOUNG PEOPLE

When we consider the youth of India, we have to consider youth at various levels of economic life. Most of the media consider only the urban rich youth and ignore other youth. Even in the cities there are young people living in slums, and there are poor youth living in rural and tribal areas. In fact, the marginalized youth in India are a majority. So, it is necessary to understand the large section of youth. They are different in many ways. Their context, struggles, aspirations and needs are entirely different from that of youth in the cities. Caste Caste is a reality in rural India. The Dalits, the most oppressed group of castes, are ill-treated and harassed in the villages. They do not have freedom to draw water from common sources, walk in certain streets, cremate the dead in common burial ground, etc. A dalit youth was murdered by a group of backward caste attackers for attending a kirtan in Budha Barthana, in Uttar Pradeshs Ferozabad district.208 Discrimination, oppression, rejection and violence are part and parcel of these young people. They lose dignity, their sense of self-worth,
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Dalit Youth killed for attending kirtan http://asianage.com accessed on 15 June 2006 159
along with a purpose in life and zeal to live in this world. Only a few are able to swim upstream and run away to the cities to carve a different life. Some use education as vehicle for upward mobility. Bonded labor Parents who are poor sometimes give their children and young sons to the rich as laborers in lieu of money. This they do out of desperation. With the regular banking system not providing loans, they go to private moneylenders. These lenders exploit the situation. One reason could be a medical emergency that forced these people to get loans. Therefore, many young people are obliged to pay a huge amount, which may be for a lifetime. The Reserve Bank of Indias Handbook of Statistics on the Indian Economy (2006-07) shows there were 30,639 rural branches of SCBs in 2007. That is 4,750 less than the number in 1993. In other words, an average of 26 bank branches shut down each month, or one every working day. [However, branches in metros shot up from 5,753 to 11,826 in the same period. In other urban centers, the number climbed from 8,562 to 12,792 in this period, while also going up in semi-urban locations from 11,356 to 16,214.] Bankers and RBI officials argue that the reduction of rural branches is not all due to closures, but consolidation or mergers or the creation of satellite offices. The fact remains, though, that there were 4,750 rural branches less in 2007 than at the start of the reforms period. The rapid decline of rural bank branches has pushed more farmers towards moneylenders. If you merge a couple of banks 200 kilometers apart, how does this make life easier for villagers already traveling far to their banks? It just rules them out.209 Health The tribal young people are already affected as infants. Generally, parents take their infants to the fields. To make the children sleep,
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P. Sainath, 4,750 rural bank branches closed down in 15 years http://www.hinduonnet.com/2008/03/28/stories/2008032857540100.htm accessed on 28th March 2008. Christ and New Generation Youth
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they use native sedatives so they can do their work. That affects the brain. So, tribal youngsters are slow to respond. Malnutrition is another issue. The poor children do not get enough food and nutrients. As they grow, they are weak and unable to be like other normal youngsters. Often they grow with deformities. Without proper safe drinking water, sewer systems, and healthy environment, children are raised in the slums. They are prone to many diseases. Some die young due to diseases like tuberculosis. Education In rural areas and in slum areas the childrens access to school is not favorable. If they are from lower castes, they are discriminated. Many schools do not function properly. It could be described as Schools without teachers; schools without teaching; and schools without black boards. Children who complete schooling in such schools may not have even minimum proficiency and are branded as failures. With minimum reading skills and no other skills they end up as manual laborers. Employment The rural young people have no option but to work in the fields. These jobs are not regular but seasonal. The wages are meager and do not meet the needs of them or their family. Many may migrate to towns and cities nearby. The young people in slums, if they have some skills, work in the unorganized sector. They may be rickshaw pullers or auto rickshaw drivers, taxis drivers, tailors, carpenters, etc. Some become street vendors. They are in the vicious cycle of poverty and their children also end up similarly. Family The family life among youth in slums and rural areas is not glorious. Domestic violence is very common. Women are oppressed and suppressed. In a brazen act of violence, a man kicked and stomped
his wife because she was dressed as a man. Adding insult to injury, the police promptly dispatched the battered woman, who suffered the ignominy in full public glare, to her in-laws house, calling it a family matter. No case was filed. The shameful episode was played out in the Dabwali market when a 23-year-old jean-clad girl accompanied her parents on a shopping expedition. She was accosted by her livid husband and beaten for bringing a bad name to the family. He kept screaming at her, Is this the way women from respectable families dress? a shopkeeper, who witnessed the incident and helped rescue the girl, said. A PCR van, which reached the spot, took the couple to the police station, he added. We summoned the boys father and his relatives from nearby Bading Khera village and let them take the couple home on an assurance that there would be no more beatings. Besides, it is a family dispute and can be resolved by counseling the husband-wife duo who are graduates, Joginder Singh, SHO, city police station at Dabwali, told TOI. Jagmati Sangwan, state president of All India Democratic Womens Association, said, The police ought to have booked the husband for assault and under the Domestic Violence Act.210 Technology in rural areas There were 3.3 million active Internet users in Indias hinterland in March 2008, according to an ongoing survey by I-Cube 2008 (jointly undertaken by IMRB International, Internet and Mobile Association of India). Thats not all. As many as 5.5 million people claimed that they had used the Internet at some point in time. The rural literate population is 368 million, rural English speaking population is 63 million, rural computer literates 15.1 million, rural claimed Internet users 5.5 million and rural active Internet users 3.3 million.211 But the technology revolution in rural areas is helping only the rich people in rural areas.
Swati Sethi, Man assaults jeans-clad wife for dressing up like men http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Man_assaults_jeansclad_wife_for_dressing_up_like_men/articleshow/4072709.cms accessed on 4 February 2009 211 Rishi Joshi, New Rural India Business Today 8 February 2009, p. 18
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Rural economy The rural economy is dependent on agriculture. In many places the agriculture is dependent on monsoon rains. If the monsoon fails, there is no yield and the farmers go into debt. Most of the small farmers own a small patch of land that is not profitable to use with modern technology. The rich farmers who own larger areas are able to use modern technology and irrigate the land. The poorer people could produce vegetables and fruits but could not store them for any length of time. Since they are perishable goods, they are forced to sell at prices that are not profitable. Only the middleman, who can store them, gets all the profit. The lack of infrastructure such as good roads, electricity, water supply and market has hampered the growth of the rural economy. The youngsters who grow up in such an environment are frustrated and want to move to cities, seeking greener pastures. Urban poverty The Planning Commission estimates the urban poor at 80 million. The rural poor are estimated to be 120 million. Two studies - by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank had fixed the required minimum daily earning as $1.25 for rural areas and $1.35 in urban areas. The Planning Commission defines poverty not just by income alone. It was also noted that place of residence alone does not automatically qualify someone as poor. Occupation, nature of employment, whether casual or self-employed, wages, health all have to be factored in.212 The young people living in slums work in unorganized sectors. Those who do not have any skills and education end up doing menial jobs. Generally, they are dirty jobs, dangerous jobs and difficult jobs. Those who have little skill do some jobs but they do not bring in a permanent income. Sometimes they do not have the equipment in order to use their skills, and they have to pay a huge rental or hire charge to use that equipment.
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Anuradha Raman, Dignity in Cities Outlook 15 June 2009, p.14. 163
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Chapter 29:
YOUTH AND VIOLENCE

I Introduction
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India is one of the most youthful nations in the world. When we look at the demographic profile of India, it is startling a nation with great human resources potential, if not handled well, could become a great human misery and tragedy. About 65% of the Indian population is below 35 years of age. Youth below 20 years of age make up 35% of the population. In addition, the projected population in India in the year 2020 would make India the youngest nation in the world. In 2020 India is projected to have an additional 47 million workers, almost equal to the total world shortfall. The average Indian will be only 29 years old, compared with the average age of 37 in China and the United States, 45 in Western Europe and 48 in Japan.214 Psychographic study is the use of demographics to study and measure attitudes, values, lifestyles, and opinions, as for marketing purposes. If applied to missions, the psychographic study reveals the mindset of postmodern youngsters, which startles us. It seems the young are the missions New Frontier.
This paper was presented in the CMS consultation in Union Biblical Seminary, 12-15 January 2009. 214 Nandan Nilekani, Outlook Excerpts: Imagining India: Ideas For The New Century (Allen Lane Publishers, 2008), p.23.
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There are several ways of categorizing young people in India. But, for convenience sake the youngsters in India could be categorized in this manner. Age cohorts:215 1. Young below 20 years liberalization children (35%) 2. Parents of liberalization children midnights children (1940-1970) (26%) 3. Midway children (1970-1985) (30%) 4. Pre-Independence generation. (10%) India is also not an island nor is it isolated from the process of rapid globalization. The result is large-scale migration from rural areas and urbanization of the nation. Once, India was known to live in villages but today, the demography has drastically, dramatically and decisively changed. It is now estimated that 40 to 50 percent of Indian population live in urban centers. The satellite television showing the urban lifestyle has influenced the whole country. The young people of the whole nation aspire for a new popular culture offered by television channels, which is a materialistic, consumer culture. Violence is exertion of force that results in injury or abuse. Violence is also violating some other persons dignity. Martin Luther King Jr. said, Violence is anything that denies human integrity and leads to hopelessness and helplessness.216 Violence is illegal and an infringement on the rights and privileges of others. The term culture of violence is used in this paper to indicate a subculture among urban young people in India. The youth culture is always dynamic and keeps changing in each generation. This generation of youth may be identified as a me-only generation and violent generation when a historical study is done in the future. For this generation, violence is not a tool for justice, as it was for the nationalistic generation of the Post Independence era, but very
Rama Bijapurkar, We Are Like That Only: Understanding The Logic Of Consumer India (Delhi: Penguin, 2007), p.144. 216 http://issues.takingitglobal.org/violence?gclid=CJ37z-zwqZcCFU0upAodvzd7jQ accessed on 5th December 2008.
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much a lifestyle. Crimes committed by children are on the rise. The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), which collects data from police stations across the country, highlights an annual increase of 11% to 15% in crimes committed by children. The NCRB data shows a marked increase in juvenile crimes. Rape has gone up by 11.9%; death due to negligence has shown a 150% jump while robbery attempts by teenagers have increased by 39.8%. If this was not bad enough, attempts to murder have gone up by 30.7%, preparation and assembly for dacoity by 27.6%, auto theft by 18.6% and murder by 15.9%. The NCRB attributes this increase partly to the new definition of juveniles in which the age limit of children has been increased from 16 to 18 years. But NGOs working with children feel this increase in crime by adolescents and younger children is a reflection of the growing violence in society. The NGO Haqs Still Out of Focus - State of Indias Children Report 2008 highlights that not only are more children being sucked into the whirlpool of crime but that there has also been a 27 % jump in crimes against children from 2005 to 2006. Using NCRB data, the report states that 19,000 cases of crime against children were reported in 2006 (the last year for which data has been collated) as against around 15,000 cases in 2005. Conviction rates for serious crimes hovered around 35.7%. Enakshi Ganguly, heading Haq, feels that growing industrialization, liberalization, urban bias, inter-state and rural-urban migration, poverty, breakdown of family, community values and support systems have led to children becoming the most marginalized and vulnerable victims. Ms Ganguly added, Cases reported in police thanas (stations) are the tip of the iceberg. A large number of cases of crimes by children and against children continue to remain undetected.217 Young people believe and indulge in violence, because they perceive only violence gains attention; concerned people in authority and responsibility listen, who otherwise seem to be deaf; and violence provides prime time television coverage, with so many television channels wanting to manufacture exclusive news out of non-news.
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Rashme Sehgal, More Rape, Murder, Dacoity by children http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/top-story/more-rape,-murder,dacoity-by-children.aspx accessed on 23 January 2009. 167
When a grievance-addressing mechanism is not in place or is not functional, violence becomes one option for young people; sometimes the youth perceive it as the only option. In addition, many times violence brings a quick response from government authorities or management. This adds to the reasoning for using violence. That indicates that young people are not able to trust the traditional mechanisms for addressing their grievances. There are three main theories of how aggression develops:218 1. Deputies of the impulse drive-and instinct theories believe that humans have a natural drive- that motivates them to attack other humans. Sigmund Freud and Konrad Lorenz stated that in every human being there is an aggression-drive that builds the source for many aggressive and non-aggressive behaviors. 2. Deputies of the learning theories believe that aggressive behavior is learned by positive motivation, learned by seeing, learned by trial and error and by stimulus-reaction. 3. The third theory says that aggression is developed by frustration hindrance. All the three theories may be partially correct. Young people who adopt violence could be proving one of the above theories. Several fault lines create conflicts in India. Naturally, these fault lines also create ripples of violence. The five major axis of conflicts India faces are:219 1. Caste 2. Language 3. Religion 4. Class 5. Gender
http://www.rzuser.uniheidelberg.de/~el6/presentations/pres_c2_ymv/CausesForViolence.html accessed on 23rd December 2008. 219 Ramachandra Guha, India After Gandhi: The History of the worlds Largest Democracy (London: Pan Macmillan, 2007), P.xix-xx.
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Apart from these, other factors shape the thinking of the young people that has resulted in unprecedented violent behaviors. II Ten Factors I attempt to list here about ten major causes that motivate young people to adopt a violent lifestyle. These causes could be individually responsible for violent behavior or they could be a combination of more than one factor. 2.1. Religion India is multi-cultural, multi-religious, and multi-linguistic country. Since the dominating majority community is Hindu, the culture of the nation is Hindu in flavor and color more than any other religion. There are many essential doctrines of Hinduism. Some doctrines like karma and reincarnation have influenced the whole culture and national fabric of India. This is not only reflected in national traits and social practices, but also in the governance of the nation. One of the important doctrines of Hinduism is ignorance, not sin, which is relative. There is no notion of ultimate sin in Hinduism. Any action is justified in certain contexts, and gods are routinely bribed. Corruption has grown endemically because it is not really considered wrong, so long as it yields the desired results.220 In that light, violence becomes legitimate in certain contexts for certain people. The Hindu gods are benevolent, infinitely forgiving, easily mollified, and eminently bribable. In fact, traditional Hindu society had no real concept of moral problems. Any action considered wrong in a certain context is condoned and even lauded in a different context.221 Since violence could be justified, citing the context, there is no guilt in perpetuating violence. There is a false propaganda that Hindus are not violent and nonviolence is their sacred duty and motto. Mahatma Gandhi became the showpiece of this attitude. However, it is contrary to actual belief and practice of Hinduism. First, many gods in Hindu pantheon are
Pavan K. Varma, Being Indian: The truth about why the twenty-first century will be Indias (New Delhi: Viking, 2004), p.8. 221 Ibid. p.31.
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warriors, including the much revered Ram. Second, they understand the limits of violence. Hindus are not so much non-violent as they are practical in understanding the limits of violence. They are willing to eschew violence for the more important goal of ensuring survival. They are hesitant to be violent against a superior force, preferring insular coexistence to suicidal annihilation.222 Therefore, violence is practiced where the opponent is a minority or infirmed or threatened or oppressed. Religious authority in the form of caste hierarchy is used with impunity to oppress lower castes. Gandhis system of passive resistance, which allowed a militarily superior outsider to be opposed without fatally risking life and limb, or without risking the system in one cataclysmic confrontation, was in tune with their temperament. Revolutionary movements like those led by Bhagat Singh, which wanted to throw out the British through violence, were over-praised but under-subscribed. They remained on the fringe, unable to dislodge a pragmatic mindset that paid homage to martyrs but considered them cannon fodder. The Indian emphasis has always been on tenacious survival, not glorious martyrdom.223 But modern Hindutva movement is a political movement cloaked in a religious garment, to impose majority will over the people of India and keep the oppressive caste hierarchy at status quo. For that, young people are indoctrinated and motivated to be involved in hatred and violence. The fundamentalist forces trigger riots and communal clashes in India by spreading rumors. The role of rumor was critical here, with the original incident being magnified in each retelling until a simple clash between two individuals had become a holy war between two simultaneously violated religions.224 The Hindutva movement ultimate goal is a theocratic state based on Brahminical Hinduism with Akand Bharat as geographical boundaries. Akand Bharat includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, parts of Myanmar, Afghanistan, etc. For achieving the goal of Akand Bharat, Dharam Yudh, a Hindu version of Jihad, is legitimate. In this war, enemies have to be eliminated or killed. Enemies are
Ibid. p.8. Ibid. p.167. 224 Ramachandra Guha, Op. Cit. P.564.
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generally the minorities, who are also branded as traitors and from among Hindus who betray the religion by taking liberal stands that support human rights of all people, including the minorities. This kind of Hindutva seeks to exploit Hindu insecurities. It suggests that all Muslims are potential terrorists and that even those who are not actually terrorists secretly support the militants.225 Hindu-Muslim clashes that have taken place in several districts all over the country show the Hindus believe it is religious and legitimate to use violence to achieve their agenda. Distributing trishuls (weapons) to youngsters by Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of Sangh Parivar is one example of violent practices. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad organized a trishul diksha program in the coastal town of Nimapara in Orissas Puri district where tridents were distributed to about 500 youths.226 Similar programs to distribute weapons in order to instigate violence and demonstrate hatred were conducted in several parts of the nation. Islam has a concept called jihad, which is holy war, that has been politically interpreted, and youngsters are indoctrinated to become militant Muslims. Hatred breeds hatred and violence breeds more violence. Islam fundamentalism breeds Hindu fundamentalism. Ladenism comes from an unexpected source of communalism that has no progressive agenda of its own. It is here that one can see a similarity between Ladenist and RSS communalism. All communalisms have a tendency of ending in terrorism.227 The violence used by Hindu youngsters against Christians in several parts of India shows the ideology of hatred is blind to reason. With the slogan, Hinduism is in danger, young people are called to serve Hinduism and even protect Hinduism by attacking all perceived threats. The persecution of the Christians by the Hindu
Vir Sanghvi Two kinds of Hindutva (The Hindustan Times 22 December 2002) VHP starts a trishul spree in Orissa, http://deccan.com/Nation/NationalNews.asp#VHP%20starts%20a%20trishul%20spree%2 0in%20Orissa accessed on 23 May 2005. 227 Kancha Ilaiah, Buffalo Nationalism: A Critique of Spiritual Fascism (Kolkata: Samya, 2004), p.25.
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fundamentalists only means that they suffer from an inferiority complex.228 It is not correct to think that of the terrorists, indoctrinated with fundamentalism of respective religion, as misguided or a deviation from the norm. In fact, they have strong convictions about their religion and are assured of respectability and heaven in the after-life. My thesis is that its a mistake to think of terrorists as deranged or pathological. Like many of us, they have a high ethical sense and are driven by an acute sense of injustice. For these crimes to become attractive, they are transformed into moral acts. They think of themselves as moral exemplars to be emulated. It is also a mistake to think of terrorism as specific to a particular religious or political doctrine. It moves easily across religions and politics.229 2.2. Social Structure There is hierarchy in every culture. Class hierarchy is common in the Western world. Clan classification is common in African countries. Caste system is unique to Hinduism and is rigorously practiced in India. The caste system began several thousand years ago as a functional categorization, but over the years it degenerated to become one of the most inflexible and institutionalized tyrannies of any society.230 A person is eternally locked in the caste system where there is no possibility of vertical or horizontal mobility. Whenever a person or a caste tries to move up the vertical scale by economic upward mobility, it would be violently suppressed. They are expected to follow the caste professions; any horizontal mobility of changing the profession will not be tolerated. A cobbler cannot become a barber or dhobi. But the violence that Indians exhibit in society against the hierarchically inferior or vulnerable, which is easier to inflict and often has social sanction, turns into an inexplicable form of pacifism in dealing with an external enemy.231
Gurcharan Das, The Elephant Paradigm: India Wrestles With Change (New Delhi: Penguin Publications India, 2002), p.135. 229 Philosopher SN Balagangadhara to Shoma Chaudhury in an interview published under title Crimes are transformed into moral acts in Tehelka, 13 December 2008, p. 63. 230 Pavan K. Varma, Op. Cit. p.21. 231 Ibid. p.166.
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Sadly, this social practice of discrimination and oppression has a religious and theological basis. Therefore, those who practice this do not have sense of guilt or regret. The practice of Hinduism is tainted by a great degree of intolerance. The violence and bigotry traditionally inflicted by higher caste Hindus against members of their own faith, the Shudras, has no parallel in any other religion.232 This has also become the culture and lifestyle of high caste people. Ambedkar described the caste system as an ascending scale of hatred and a descending scale of contempt.233 Incidentally, the Government Law College in Chennai is named after Ambedkar who framed the Constitution of India. He is from an oppressed caste called Mahar. The other caste students do not like the college named after Ambedkar and so they just call or write it as Government Law College. Dalit students resent it. It led to violent clashes on the college campus. Two groups of armed students clashed in the campus of Dr. Ambedkar Law College in Chennai.234 The Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) students at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) face the worst forms of discrimination. These students allege they are physically tortured, segregated and subjected to other forms of discrimination in the hostels, mess and classrooms at the countrys premier medical institute.235 There are only a handful of Dalit students and faculty members at the elite institute, but they face widespread discrimination and harassment. Even though there is a mandatory 22.5% quota for students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, only 11.9% of the students belong to this category, according to the institutes deputy registrar.236 Caste-based violence against lower castes is considered as religiously correct, legally tenable and morally upright. The society allows that
Ibid. p.176-177. Edward Luce, In Spite of the Gods: The strange Rise of Modern India (London: Little Brown, 2006), p.14. 234 A. Subramani, Two groups of armed students clash The Times of India, 13 November 2008, p.3. 235 Namrata Biji Ahuja, AIIMS dalits are treated as untouchables, http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/top-story/aiims-dalits-aretreated-as-untouchables.aspx accessed on 11th May 2007. 236 P.C. Vinoj Kumar, Dalits not welcome in IIT Madras Tehelka, 16 June 2007, p.8-9.
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to happen with impunity as evidenced in the excellent institutions like Indian Institute of Technology and All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Young people from the upper castes have a mindset that they are divinely ordained to rule and have the right to oppress, discipline and subjugate the rebels among the lower castes. There is another sad development of caste alliances indulging in violence. The backward castes come together to attack the scheduled castes. Sometimes, it is a war between Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes. A society that has hierarchical divisions on the basis of caste, animosity in their mindset, and violence in their relationships, creates a culture of violence. 2.3. Economics The New Economic Policy that integrated India with global economy was introduced in the 1990s. India made a transition from the Socialistic model of economy to Market driven economy. Children born after 1985 grew up in an emerging India, where consumerism and materialism began dominating their thinking and lifestyle. Ideals and ideology were given a decent burial. There is neither concept of ideology or commitment to an ideology or noble cause. The young have only one ideology worth following which is consumerism as promoted by Market economy exponents. The young in India are aspiring to get ahead and make more money. Their drive will push the economy to grow. But, do they have compassion for those left behind? And cynically accepting corruption as a way of life, do they care about what rules they break in their drive to succeed?237 The divide between the rich and poor has widened. The poor who do not have access to school or English skills or electricity or health are deprived of the fruit of New Economic Policy. There is a large pool of unemployed young people. With the governments lopsided policy of investing in higher education and neglecting primary education,
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Aurn Maira, How the Youth will shape India, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Guest_Writer/How_the_youth_will_shape_In dia_/articleshow/3104568.cms accessed on 10th December 2008. Christ and New Generation Youth
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many youngsters are illiterate. Even those who have opportunity to go to schools do not have the necessary employable skills like English to be gainfully employed in the Market driven economy. As a result, these unemployed young people could choose from three directions that would be detrimental to the economic growth of the nation. The first direction is ideological left orientation. In the undeveloped regions, the Naxalites have gained ground and many youngsters become their cadres. They believe in violence against the upper classes (rich), who are considered as oppressors of the poor. The second direction is not just ideological right, but identity that comes by way of religion. The Sangh Parivar indoctrinates such young people and makes them their foot soldiers for the cause of Hindutva. They were indoctrinated and used to demolish Babri Masjid in Ayodya, Gujarat riots against Muslims and persecution of Christians in Orissa. These young people assume they have power to destroy others, intimidate others and also they receive financial gain as they are paid to do these violent evil acts. The unemployed and poor youngsters are wooed to execute political and religious atrocities against soft targets. The third direction is crime; a good example is the underworld of Mumbai. Key players in Bombays underworld, for instance, were people belonging to discriminated groups and the impoverished underclass. Chhota Rajan was the son of a Dalit sweeper; Abu Salems mother rolled beedis (cigarettes) for a living; Chhota Shakeel grew up in a Bombay slum; and Arun Gawlis father was a textile worker laid off during the mill strikes of the 1970s. While these circumstances do not exonerate their actions in the least, these are signs of how economic bitterness can create high social costs.238 The Bible warns against turning to evil in preference to affliction. Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.239 Young people who do not have moral grounding and environment prefer evil when they are afflicted by poverty and inner turmoil.
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Nandan Nilekani, Op. Cit. p. 28-29. Job 36:21. 175
It does not mean the rich youngsters are immune to crime and violence. Recent crime cases that have hit the headlines robbery, kidnap and extortion have a common thread: involvement of young and educated youth. There has been a rapid increase in the number of affluent youth taking to crime in order to fund their extravagant lifestyles, the latest being that of techies robbing members of their fraternity. Turning to crimes such as kidnapping and extortion in order to make a fast buck is no more taboo among educated youth, who were earlier found involved in only white-collar crimes. The bastion of rustic, semi-educated criminals from downmarket areas is now being stormed by savvy, well-bred youngsters. A recently arrested six-member gang, involved in a currency racket, had three techies and two gold medalists in printing technology among them. Similarly, two MBA students were arrested for breaking into a mobile shop and stealing 30 handsets. They were caught while selling the booty in the BDA complex at BSK II Stage. These are not isolated cases. When the city police cracked the Ashoka Hotel murder case in 2002, one of the accused was highly educated Basak. His qualifications and knowledge stunned the police. Since then, there has been a spate of educated people getting into crime, especially the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit currency. Even the police are piqued by this situation. DCP (Crime) N D Mulla says even the handsome salary these criminals earn isnt enough to meet their expenses, pushed up by rampant consumerism in society. There are a lot of attractions around luxury goods, discotheques and the youths need a lot of money to maintain a lifestyle similar to that of their peers. Those with weak convictions take to such crime, he says. Earlier, such people used to indulge in bank fraud. However, financial institutions have streamlined their system and now it is very difficult to raise loans through fake documents. If a person defaults with one bank, all the others find out about it. Now, they cannot vanish after cheating a bank. Another reason is the shift in the citys demographics. Many professionals, especially those who have migrated from other parts of the country, are mild in nature. They earn well, but are easily scared. They are
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sitting ducks for these criminals, as it is easy to threaten and extort money from them.240 Business competitions are becoming murkier in the new market economy. Killing or eliminating rivals in the business has increased in recent years. Business competition has become a rat race. To win is the motive. The rules of the game are not there; a code of conduct is not there; so everyone sets his own rules and strives to dominate the market. As a result, violence to settle scores is the way taken by young business professionals. Economic development brings prosperity to the upper crust and penury to the lower crust of the population. This results in antagonism, hatred and violence. If the economic development is not inclusive, just and fair, more young people will be disillusioned and begin to destroy the society in the name of reforms or revolution. 2.4. Politics Democracy is an alien concept for India, but introduced by the British. Power can be acquired or enhanced, Kautilya argues, by four principal methods or upayas. These are: sama (conciliation by negotiation), dama (gift or blandishment), bheda (sowing dissension in the enemys camp), and danda (punishment or use of superior force).241 The Indian philosophy of politics has superior force as a legitimate tool to rule or govern. All political parties in India are guilt of indulging in violence. Shiv Senas foot soldiers indulge in violence and bring Mumbai to a standstill. The communist cadres indulge in violence in states like Kerala and West Bengal. Hindutva forces indulge in violence, riots and pogrom. Narendra Modi seems to have realized that only the weapon of violence--not sacrifice--can make an individual a hero and that the social value of dharma is assigned to the victorious, not the
Rich kids turning criminals http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Bangalore_Rich_kids_turning_criminals/articlesho w/3112253.cms accessed on 9 June 2008 241 Pavan K. Varma, Op. Cit. p.26.
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sufferer.242 Engineering the Gujarat Pogrom in 2002, he came to power. Regional parties like Assam Gana Parishad, Dravida Munnetra Kalagham, Pattali Makkal Katchi, Forward Bloc, Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, etc. have routinely indulged in violence. These political leaders inspire, encourage and motivate youngsters to also indulge in violence. Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on 23 December 2008 said he would welcome emergence of Hindu terrorists.243 Generally, the political parties indulge in violence when they are not the ruling party. Nevertheless, in some cases, the ruling party allows violence to happen through their cadres. That has been dealt with in the section of Government sponsored violence. The vicious battle between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-Bharatiya Janata Party (RSSBJP) has ravaged this region in north Kerala for nearly 30 years now, leaving many living martyrs to the cause. Like in the Vadakkan Pattu (medieval ballads where revenge killings are always lauded) legends, most of the martyrs in this belt known for its traditional martial art Kalari Payattu, live on the walls. Faded and framed, only their wailing mothers and sisters remain to tell the story of their savage killings. The worst sufferers of the violence, they plead for an end to the vicious cycle, but their voices are lost on the advocates of an-eye-for-an-eye politics. A teacher killed before his students, a son hacked to death in front of his parents, an old man dragged out of his house and murdered in cold blood just to equal the score such viciousness is not new in these parts. The red-saffron politics of violence has claimed more than 140 lives in the last two decades, and crippled hundreds. More than 4,000 clashes have taken place in the past ten years in the worst-affected Thalassery, Panoor and Kuttuparambha areas. It is as if the CPI(M) and RSS, both cadre-based parties, are in a race to create martyrs and build colorful columns over their bodies. Look around and youll see innumerable concrete sickles, oms and lotuses everywhere. Note also the many youngsters in Thalassery and Panoor blind or without their palms the result of the crude bombs they were making which went off in
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Kancha Ilaiah, Op. Cit. p.13. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/i-welcome-emergence-of-hindu-terroriststhackeray/402024/ accessed on 24 December 2008. Christ and New Generation Youth
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their hands. Bomb-making is almost a cottage industry in party villages in the area. For the activists, loyalty to the party comes before blood relations. So deep-set is the fear, injured activists prefer to get admitted in hospitals guarded by their parties, fearing another attack. It doesnt take much to set off a battle a missing flag, a defaced party wall or a damaged bus shelter named after a martyr. Often, no one knows the exact cause of the killings. But once they begin, the violence ends only after the tally has been equalized. A close look at the religious and caste profile of the victims shows that most of them are from the backward Thiyas (Ezhavas) community. Indeed, sociologists say that the root of the conflict is the desire to have political supremacy over the Thiyas, the dominant caste and once the backbone of the Marxist movement in north Malabar. In the early 60s, the RSS, with the blessings of the Mangalore business lobby, started sneaking into the Communist bastion. The business lobby needed the RSS to check the Koyas, influential Muslim traders. The uneasy co-existence between the two took a bloody turn in 1968 when the Marxists killed an RSS activist, Vadikkal Ramakrishnan. Since then, the two groups have locked horns in a bloody battle for supremacy, competing to appropriate villages from which opponents are kept out, even as the leaders stir up trouble to keep their flock together. The results are there for all to see. Potential investors have kept well away from this economically backward area. In some of the party villages, girls remain unmarried because outsiders are afraid to enter. In late December 2008 and early January 2009, the area has seen three factories shut down. What is more disconcerting, the Kannur model is spreading to other areas.244 2.5. Education The court was appalled in a case where one class 12 student grievously injured his friend over as trivial a matter as a game of volleyball, in which some differences cropped up between the two, leading to a quarrel and ending in near tragedy. The victim suffered
244 Ramesh Babu, The Devil in Gods own country http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=India&id=46073e 68-d645-4d54-9ba4bfa301168236&&Headline=The+Devil+in+God%e2%80%99s+own+country accessed on 25 January 2009. Christ and New Generation Youth 179
three deep wounds including one on his chest, following which his angry father lodged an FIR in Dabri police station. Nowadays teenagers are indulging in mindless violence, which is a cause of concern to society, noted justice Gaur, going on to diagnose the reason for this malady as either a lack of parental control or the educational institution where such teenagers study, lack in their duties towards the society.245 Fifty-two cases of ragging, and six suicides were reported between May and September 2007 according to CURE (Coalition for Uprooting Ragging from Education).246 A first-year engineering student of a college in Chennai committed suicide after he was humiliated by his seniors, who allegedly made him bathe in his own urine.247 Ragging and violence in college campuses is a matter of concern. Young people are becoming hedonistic, taking pleasure in others discomfort. A 16-year old school boy, who stabbed his mother to death, was unnerved by oozing blood, fled his home and went to cinema house to watch a movie was later arrested. On investigation the boy said that he was highly influenced by the film Vaastav where the hero plays a gangster.248 Parental authority is defied, and young people could go to the extreme of killing their own parents. Gurdeep Singh, 20, a BA-1 student of Government College, Phase VI, had to pay the price for staring at some of his college colleagues as he was brutally thrashed outside the campus gate on Wednesday, landing him in GMCH, Sector 32. Three college students named Gurpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh and Gurcahran Singh, along with their accomplices beat Gurdeep with iron rods. Police ruled out any old rivalry between the accused and Gurdeep, stating that heated arguments led to the fight. Cops said the right leg of Gurdeep was hit
245 Abhinav Garg, Teen violence: HC blames parents and schools http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi/Teen_violence_HC_blames_parents_and_schools/a rticleshow/3641097.cms accessed on 5th December 2008. 246 http://www.noragging.com/ accessed on 5th December 2008. 247http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20041221220941&Page=T&Title=So uthern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0&CHENNAI:~A~first~year~engineering~student ~committed~suicide~on~Sunday~evening~after~he~was~humiliated~by~his~seniors,~wh o~allegedly~made~him~bathe~in~his~own~urine accessed on 22 December 2004. 248 Boy watches movie after killing mom The Times of India 29 May 2004 p. 8. 180 Christ and New Generation Youth
so badly that he could not walk and had to be taken to GMCH for treatment. The accused have been absconding. A case under sections 323, 341, 148, 149 was registered against 15 students among those identified and an inquiry has been initiated.249 A young life bubbling with energy and dreams was cut short by his peers whose hands, instead of shaping a bright future for themselves, held fast to deadly weapons. Adding to the dangerously rising incidents of violence among youth and deaths resulting from it, a student of Government College in Sector 1, Panchkula, was brutally done to death by a group of boys from the same college. While Raipurani resident Khushal Sharma, studying in the final year of BA, died of grievous wounds after the attack with sharp-edged weapons near the college main gate, his friends Arun and Sunny were also badly injured in the assault.250 Educational institutions have become a breeding ground for young people to indulge in violence. Instead of developing values, right attitude, knowledge base and skills for good career and future, youngsters are indulging in mindless violence. Violence in education institutions are varied from ragging to caste clashes. The social, economic, political and regional divides give shape to groupism and mindless violence in college campuses. The Supreme Court directed educational institutions to put down ragging with an iron hand and suspend/expel students indulging this activity.251 Expressing its anguish, the Bench said that seniors under the garb of introduction ragged freshers forcing some to leave the institutions. Some more either attempted or committed suicide. Ragging has become synonymous with teasing, terror, harassment,
Mohali college student thrashed for staring http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mohali_student_thrashed_for_staring/articleshow/ 3790487.cms accessed on 4th December 2008. 250 Student killed by peers outside college http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Panchkula_student_killed_by_peers/articleshow/3 535620.cms accessed on 28 September 2008. 251 J. Venkatesan, Put Down Ragging With An Iron Hand, Court Tells Educational Institutions http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/12/stories/2009021254771300.htm accessed on 12 February 2009
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cruelty, fear and physical and mental torture. If it comes to the notice of the university or the controlling body that an educational institution is trying to shield errant students, they shall be free to reduce grants in aid and, in serious cases, deny grants in aid. In yet another incident of teenage violence, two 13-year-old boys stabbed their cousin to death with a kitchen knife at Chand Hut village in Faridabad following an argument that erupted while playing cricket. The victim and the accused are class VIII students at a government school. The police said that the accused killed the boy while a group of 14-15 boys were playing cricket. The victim and the two accused had a heated argument. The accused could not tolerate the verbal assault by the victim and rushed back home, returning with a kitchen knife and stabbed the victim on his chest.252 A Class VIII student, Aakash, of a boarding school in Gurgaon shot his classmate dead in the school premises on Tuesday. Police have identified the victim as 13-year-old Abhishek Tyagi, a student of Euro International School in Gurgaons Sector 45, and the son of a citybased property dealer. According to police, the cause of the shooting was enmity between Tyagi and two of his classmates, Vikas and Aakash. Vikas told the police Tyagi had been harassing him and Aakash for a long time. Gurgaon Police Commissioner Mahender Lal says the gun belonged to Akashs father, also a property dealer. This is the second such incident reported in 2007.253 Abhinav, a student, was shot at and seriously injured allegedly by another student over an incident of eve-teasing (sexual harassment) at Lajpat Rai Post Graduate College in Shahibabad. The incident happened after his sister Rashmi, a student of Lajpat Rai College, called Abhinav and complained that she was harassed by some students of another college. Abhinav came with some of his friends and a clash erupted between the two groups and in the melee he was
Teens stab cousin to death in Faridabad, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Teens_stab_cousin_to_death_in_Faridabad/articl eshow/2929873.cms accessed on 6th April 2008. 253 Class 8 student shoots classmate dead in school, http://www.ibnlive.com/news/class-8student-shoots-classmate-dead-in-school/53983-3.html accessed on 12 December 2007.
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shot at allegedly by one Virender Singh. Singh was arrested and a case registered against two others, Gulbir and Jani. The revolver was recovered.254 In a fit of rage, a class X student in Lucknow reportedly shot his Mathematics teacher for scolding him for not wearing uniform. The teacher has been admitted in the hospital in critical state.255 Educational institutions do not exist merely to transfer knowledge into the minds of young people, but to create citizens of noble character, knowledge, wisdom and skills. With high competition in the education institutions, all values are being sacrificed to the altar of success or are a casualty in the highway towards the winning goal. Institutions strive to excel by producing the best results in academics and yet neglect all other aspects of life. We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.256 2.6. Media Bollywood is as huge or even larger as Hollywood in terms of films produced annually and its reach to the masses. Other language film industries are also equally large, such as Telegu and Tamil language film industries. Films reflect the social realities of respective times. Just make a list of Indian villains: you can write the socio-political history of India over the last 60 years through that list. In the 40s, the predominant villain was the zamindar; in the 50s, the capitalistindustrialist; in 60s, the urban underworld; in the 70s, the Establishment. Around this time, the urban gangster of the 60s became the hero. By the 80s, you realize the countrys most severe disillusion is with the police and political leaders. By the 90s, gradually a total indifference, a total cynicism settles in.257 In the cinematic theme history of Indian cinema, one thing remains constant-- that is the stunts apart from songs. Heroes are
Student Shot At Over Eve-teasing, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/NCR_Student_shot_at_over_eveteasing_/articleshow/4027094.cms accessed on 25th January 2009. 255 Lucknow: Angry Student Shoots Teacher, http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20090085123 accessed on 28 February 2009. 256 I Cor 8:1 257 Javed Akhtar, Barber from Bollywood, (Tehelka, 11 February 2006), p.50.
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supernaturals who fight and demolish the villains. Violent fights or stunts happen in almost all the movies. Pediatrician Jeeson C. Unni, while addressing the Indian Academy of Pediatricians, said that children may learn violent behavior from family, peers, neighborhoods and the community at large and have it reinforced by what they see on television, Internet, video games, movies, music videos, and what they hear in their music, newspapers and magazines.258 Media promotes violence. With competition for sensational reporting, the television channels showed terrorist violence on 26 November 2008 in the city of Mumbai in an awkward fashion. Many times the media deifies the villains and pays lip service to values. The seven star hotel was portrayed as the symbol of India where fewer people were killed than the Chatrpati Shivaji Terminal (CST), where more people were killed. The media focus was on the urban elite, and not the poor and rural migrants who frequent CST. The media also shows violence as way of life or even as a lifestyle. Law enforcing police are portrayed as a bunch of jokers, who always do comical things and do not responds professionally to crime. Therefore, children do not respect or fear police but perceive them as useless, ineffective and powerless. The fear of the law or law enforcer is not there in the minds of young people. Even video games have violent culture embedded in them. As children are exposed to such acts, they try to imitate these acts in their own situations. They also think violence is legitimate and that it is effective. When they understand violence gives them power over other people, their ego is boosted, so they indulge in violence. 2.7. Passion Fast track careers, insatiable ambition and sexual adventurism are stoking crimes of passion and rattling the foundations of the Indian society. In post-modern India, a new bharatiya nari is emerging, one who is unshackling the traditional stereotypes to pursue material,
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http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/28/stories/2008022851400200.htm accessed on 5th December 2008 Christ and New Generation Youth
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professional and sexual ambitious with equal gusto. For the new Indian woman, granting sexual favors for professional gains is like drinking coffee, claims one counselor attached to a large corporation. The same woman today can kill her husband or lover if he proves to be an inconvenient obstruction in the larger scheme of things. Not able to take no for an answer from their ambitious girlfriends, who are dumping small town boys for a glamorous life in Mumbai, thwarted boyfriends have resorted to an extreme measure, that of killing their girlfriends. While the late 1990s were characterized by spiraling divorce rates, thanks to the financial independence women found, the 21st century is seeing a disturbing trend of rising promiscuity and crimes related to uncontrolled passion. According to a survey done by the Special Cell for Women and Children, 38% cases of violence against women in Mumbai directly have to do with the suspicious nature of their husbands. In the past year, there have been 15 cases of killing in Marharashtra due to a love triangle. Data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau shows that love affairs and sexual causes were among the top three motives for all murders and culpable homicides committed in the country in 2006. In states like Punjab, Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh where there is a high degree of urbanization love affairs and sexual causes are the top cause for murders. If its not the unbridled desire for power and lust driving women to crime, then its the desire of men to bring women under their control that is driving men to murder crimes of passion, according to Punjab Police authorities, which have almost doubled in urban areas in the past five years. A 2007 study of violence against women in Punjab by the Institute of Development and Communication (IDC), a Chandigarh-based social policy thinktank, found that as many as 80% of husbands justified their use of force against their wives on the ground of her being sexually unfaithful. In urban areas, 15% of husbands justified wife-bashing, accusing her of loose-character. Highly literate and educated men are unable to handle empowered women and that causes tension within marriages or relationships. In this new India, highs come from diverse avenues like substance abuse, success, glamour and the quest for limitless sexual gratification.259
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Malini Bhupta, Crimes of Passion, India Today 23 June 2008, p.38-45. 185
Infidelity and suspicion have emerged as the prime reasons for the killing of a majority of women in the city of Chennai. Police officials are unsure how to battle this problem of suspicion-led murders. In the year 2007, 476 women in the age group of 18 and 50 were killed in Tamil Nadu. Nearly 80% of the murders of women have a suspicion angle to them. Psychologists say men are yet to reconcile the fact that women have gotten on the fast track life. Women, who hardly got to interact with men outside their homes in the earlier times are now meeting new people everyday. Sometimes, husbands are not able to handle this. Possessiveness in relationship is normal, but when it becomes jealousy, it becomes slightly abnormal and when it grows to morbid jealousy, things get out of hand. Besides murder, there were 7,811 crimes against women recorded in the state in 2007, with the city recording 907 of them.260 Acid throwing is another interesting Indian tradition. India may be moving into the twenty-first century, but, like many countries, its keen on retaining its most cherished traditions, including acid throwing.261 Three men threw acid on two female students on 10 December 2008 in Andhra Pradesh. The reason was one of the girls did not reciprocate the proposal for love and marriage of one of the college dropouts.262 Passion crimes, like acid throwing, injecting HIV/AIDS blood, maiming and murdering has become common occurrence. Passion is blind to reason. Amnon, son of David, loved or lusted Tamar, raped her and then hated her and threw her out of his home. Lust and revenge seem to be according to the changing moods of young people.263 It has been there since biblical times but has multiplied many times over in modern times.
K. Praveen Kumar, Police grapple with cases of suspicion men killing their wives, Sunday Times of India, 21 December 2008, p. 5. 261 Anita Jain, Marrying Anita (London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2008), p.259. 262 Venugopal Pillai, The Slow Burn The Outlook 29 December 2008, p.16. 263 II Samuel 13: 1-21
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2.8. Family The debate rages between love marriage and arranged marriage. According to statistics, the arranged marriages seem to be successful. Nevertheless, arranged marriage is based on inequality between bride and bridegroom; bride givers and bride takers. Therefore, the brides family has to be perpetually obliged to bridegrooms family. In addition, the woman does not have an identity of her own. I knew that arranged marriage certainly was no longer as entrenched in India as it was just a generation ago, losing its grip among a modern and urbanized segment of society. Outside of the major metropolitan cities, people still readily submitted to the practice. In cities like Delhi and Bombay, the vast majority of marriages were still arranged, but Id also heard that a culture of dating and sleeping around was gaining ground.264 Though technically illegal, the practice of a brides family giving a handsome dowry to the groom and his family still thrives in India, and the countrys newspapers are filled with reports of dowry related harassment, suicides and murders.265 Dowry deaths are the result of socially tolerated violence against women. Domestic violence against hapless women ranging from simple arguments to insufficient dowry is common in many homes. Children growing in such homes and as portrayed by media develop an attitude that women are either sex toys or whipping objects. This is the description of a joint family in a rural village. Every now and then they stop their work, because it is time to fight. This means throwing metal vessels at one another, or pulling each others hair, and then making up, by putting kisses on their palms and pressing them to the others cheeks. At night they sleep together, their legs falling one over the other, like one creature, a millipede.266 In the past divorce was the extreme recourse taken only if there was unbearable cruelty, dowry harassment, physical abuse, desertion,
Anita Jain,Op.Cit. p.51. Ibid. p.32-33. 266 Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger (New Delhi: HarperCollins Publishers India & India Today, 2008), p.21.
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mental illness, impotence, infertility and bigamy. It is, in many ways, a generational issue. Work, stress, changing mores, ambitions, and the fast pace of life and assertion of freedom and individual space have created an untried marriage matrix for people in their 30s and 40s. One lawyer comments that most of the young divorces are violent ego clashes more than anything else. Earlier women were considered victims of desertion; women are now the partners-in-ahurry to get out of a bad marriage. Now women want to end captivity-physically and ideologically-Manu Smriti; between her doli (Palanquin) and her arthi (bier) her husbands home was her only destination.267 Divorces have resulted in broken homes. Now, children are growing up with single parents or shuttling between parents. With both parents trying to pamper the child in competition with one another, the child learns to manipulate relationships and take advantage. As these children grow up as youngsters, they act violently in the society. 2.9. Government sponsored violence The Chattisgarh State Government, ruled by Bharatya Janata Party, has formed a civilian army to fight Naxalite forces. In a virtual disapproval of anti-Naxalite group Salwa Judum in Chhattisgarh, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said the Centre was not in favour of non-state actors taking the job of law enforcement in their hands.268 The Supreme Court also has disapproved this. The police violate human rights with impunity. Three students were shot dead in an encounter with the police, their crime being throwing acid on two female students. Police think they can provide justice without the judicial system. Criminal Gaddam Jadan was killed onm23 October 2008. Police kill three alleged kidnappers of a 11 year old girl. Her body was found in a well.269
Shefalee Vasudev and Anjali Doshi, Young Divorces, (India Today 28 February 2005), p. 64-72. 268 Chidambaram says Government disapproves of Salwa Judum http://www.indianexpress.com/news/chidambaram-says-govt-disapproves-of-salwajudum/399600/ accessed on 24 December 2008. 269 Venugopal Pillai, The Slow Burn The Outlook 29 December 2008, p.16.
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Cases alleging human rights abuse by Indias paramilitary forces have almost tripled over the past three years, data compiled by the home ministry show. The number of rights abuse-related cases against paramilitary personnel rose from 61 in 2004-05 to 180 in 2007-08. The data, shared by the home ministry with the National Human Rights Commission in response to queries, lend credibility to repeated claims of such abuses by activist groups. Paramilitary forces are deployed to curb rebel activities in vast swathes of insurgencystricken areas across the country from states in the Northeast to Chhattisgarh and Jammu and Kashmir. In the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir, the forces are mainly battling separatists, while in states like Chhattisgarh, their challenge is to contain Naxalites. Cases against the forces had declined in 2004-05 from 95 the previous year. But a surge in the cases, particularly related to allegations of fake encounters, death in arbitrary firing and abuse of power by the forces, has since taken the tally upwards. The year 2007-08 saw 10 cases of alleged fake encounters against just one, two or none at all in previous years. Cases of alleged abuse of power in 2007-08 numbered 33 compared with 13 in 2004-05. The home ministry has listed 21 cases of death by arbitrary firing in 2007-08 compared with six in 200405.270 It has been documented that police in Jammu and Kashmir have killed innocents and stated the killed were terrorists.271 These extra-judicial killings give impetus for more violence, especially for youngsters to choose terrorism. The society also loses faith in the rule of law. What is apparent is that the State is yet to accept human rights as fundamental to its citizens.272 The Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire begins with the hero Jamal (acted by Dev Patel) being tortured in the police station to confess a crime that he had never committed.
Force abuse cases rise http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090112/jsp/nation/story_10377349.jsp accessed on 12 January 2009. 271 Praveen Swami, Terror in Uniform Frontline http://www.flonnet.com/fl2403/stories/20070223002310900.htm 24 December 2008. 272 Shino P.S., State Sponsored Rights Violations Indian Currents 22-28 December 2008, p.22.
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Violation of human rights by the police that is not checked or condemned by the government is on the rise. Creating subversive cells or groups to counter terrorists or Naxalites by the police has resulted in violation of human rights by these extra-judicial units. 2.10. Terrorism The Ministry of Home Affairs is closely monitoring the activities of nearly 175 terror organizations spread across India and attempting to ascertain their links both within and outside the country. The list includes those suspected of, or indulging in terrorist, insurgent, extremist or fanatical activities. The majority of the outfits are centered in and active in the northeast, according to intelligence sources. Manipur tops the list with a whopping 39 organizations, followed by Assam with 36 organizations that are under the scanner of the state and central intelligence agencies. The next is the sensitive border state of Jammu and Kashmir with 32 such groups active, semiactive or dormant. In addition to these, there are at least four other independent groups that are not based in Kashmir but are coordinating or supporting terror groups in the state from across the border. The surprise inclusion here is Dukhtaran-e-Millat, an all-women organization that exerts community pressures to further social norms dictated by Islamic fundamental groups. Most of the groups named in the list are engaged in secessionist activities, mostly armed and violent, either independently or with support from across the border, mostly in regions neighboring Pakistan and China. Thirty groups belong to Tripura, followed by four in Meghalaya, three in Nagaland, two in Mizoram and one in Arunachal Pradesh. This makes a total of 115 groups in seven states in the sensitive northeast, including those bordering China. Punjab, which witnessed heavy terrorism in the 1980s, has at least 12 active or potentially dangerous terror groups in the state. Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare said there are around 8-10 frontline terror groups on which they keep tabs on a regular basis, but he declined to identify them. In addition, there are more than a couple of hundred other such groups of which we have knowledge. At times, new ones suddenly crop up, like the Hindu Garjana, which attacked communist party workers in Pune last fortnight. Then we do the needful investigations, Karkare told
IANS, but did not elaborate. In addition to these state-level groups, the agencies are keeping tabs on the activities of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Tamil Nadu Liberation Army, Tamil National Retrieval Troops, Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI - banned since September 2001), Deendar Anjuman, Asif Reza Commando Force, Kamatapur Liberation Organisation and the Ranvir Sena. Even some Nepalis in India have their own struggle group - the Akhil Bharat Nepali Ekta Samaj - fighting for different causes. Left-wing extremist groups that are under a close watch include the Communist Party of India-Maoist, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-Janashakti and Peoples Guerrilla Army. As far as Mumbai Police are concerned, they are quite pleased with the recent successful investigations that led to the nabbing of important terror operatives who were reportedly targeting sensitive installations and religious places in Mumbai. These include terror suspects caught from Goa, Karnataka and from Thane district, bordering Mumbai, in Maharashtra.273 The northeast, particularly Assam and Manipur, has turned into a veritable killing field with the region accounting for 1,057 deaths compared to 539 casualties in Kashmir in the past year. The impact of terror on the regions already beleaguered economy has doubled with investors shying away from setting up businesses in the state coupled with flight of capital.274 Terrorism again creates economic crisis that is detrimental to the young people of the region. The government seems to be ill-equipped to face the emerging threat. The Ministry of Home Affairs likes the State Governments to fill the 130,000 vacancies in the police forces in the country. The majority of the vacancies are in the rank of constables (113,779), who are considered the backbone of beat policing an area considered important not only for maintaining law and order but also for gathering human intelligence.275
Nearly 175 terror groups active in Indiahttp://www.ibnlive.com/news/nearly-175-terrorgroups-are-active-in-india/63211-3.html accessed on 13 April 2008 274 Subodh Varma, Terrorism kills more in Northeast Region The Times of India 7 January 2008, p. 12. 275 Gap in policing a worry: TN tops in cop vacancies The Times of India 6 January 2009, p.1.
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Terrorism is a global phenomenon and crisis. Triggered by a cocktail of religious, social, economic and political causes has extinguished the lives of thousands of young people, derailed the careers of thousands, maimed thousands and altered lifestyle of people in many cities. III Responding responsibly There are several aspects of life that shape the thinking of young people, orienting them towards violence. Some are bold enough to indulge in violence, some support violence clandestinely, by moral or financial, some keep silence fearing repercussions and thus support unconsciously, and only a few take a stand against violence. The culture of violence has to be fought at various levels. 3.1. Individual: Individuals learn from a variety of sources. They have to process information and formulate their own opinions, values and worldviews. If individuals lack the skill of interpreting information and forming their own opinions, then they could be swayed away by the various ideas they hear. They could be misled by peer pressure or influence of a religious idea or a bad role model. Some individual have the skill to interpret but do not have the courage to act according to convictions. They are afraid of others who may socially boycott them. Some individuals are attracted towards the money and prestige that comes with indulging in violence. It is necessary for each individual to learn without bias, understand things from broader perspective and interpret justly. This has to be facilitated by the family, education institutions, society and the nation. That means providing values and helping youngsters to take value based decisions is in the hands of the family and institutions. 3.2. Family: Family is the nurturing ground for developing values and convictions. But, all families are not ideal families. With increasing divorces,
single parents, domestic violence, and remarriages, the ideal families are a mirage in society. Children grow up among conflicting values. With bad role models of parents, children develop their ideals of manhood and womanhood. This results in violence in public sphere. The church has to fight to maintain the integrity of family against the onslaught of Satan. The church should take leadership in this area by helping Christian families to be role models in the society, teaching and training families in the community and society to have a stable loving family. Domestic violence in Christian families itself is a blot to the Christian community. If Christian families are not nurturing centers of children, what will happen to the children? 3.3. Church: The Church is the salt and light in the society. Surely, the Church is to be the preserver of values, a moral benchmark setting biblical standards, and a role model in society. The Church has the Godordained role to direct the world, especially the youth, in the right way that ushers the Kingdom of God on this earth. When the Church loses its prophetic role, self-appointed prophets like media personalities, psychologists, human right activists and civil activists usurp it. Strangely, the voice raised against the culture of violence is generally from self-appointed prophets, not the Church that has the mandate from God. 3.4. Society: The society has to preserve itself from anarchy and chaos. This is possible by self-regulating the lifestyle of the people. If the society fails to respond to the changing attitudes, then it allows itself to be deprived of authority. Societal values become corrupted. Such a society becomes sick and in is danger of chronic corruption. The civil society is allowing violence to take place against lower castes in prestigious institutions like IITs, AIMS, and IIMs. Egalitarian society is the need of the hour, and not hatred and rigid hierarchy that has religious sanction.
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3.5. Nation: The government of the country has the responsibility to guide the nation into righteousness, peace and prosperity. If the leadership is not concerned about righteousness but allows the wicked, evil, and violence to grow and dominate, then the nation will perish. The Church has to influence government decisions for the sake of the welfare of the nation. The laws of the land need amendments, new laws need to be passed, the laws should be implemented without partiality, and the nation should have a policy of zero tolerance for violence. IV Conclusion and challenge The culture of violence has emerged as one of the greatest challenge of the 21st century world. Young people are being sucked into this bottomless pit. There are leaders with vested interests to mislead these young people by indoctrination and so-called liberal ideas. Media plays a facilitator role, providing a platform for pseudo prophets, unmindful of the tragic consequences. The Church cannot and should not remain a silent spectator, but proactively confront the culture of violence inspired by Satan and his deceitful instruments. A few local churches have been victims of such mindless violence. The Church has to take responsibility to act against this global aggression of Satan that is based on hate and revenge with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ that is based on love. The weapon of Satan is hate and violence; the spiritual weapon of the Church is love and good deeds. The Church has to take the inspiration from the model of Lord Jesus Christ. He was victim of violence as he experienced the most violent death on the cross of Calvary. His response of love and forgiveness paved the New Way for the truth of the Gospel to be declared. The Church is not a victim of violence, but victors in spite of violence, by love and the power of the resurrection. The Church is the only institution that could inspire young people to love, sacrifice and stand for truth in the world. If the Church fails in its responsibility, there is no hope for this world.
Chapter 30:
MONEY AND WEALTH: GOD VS. MAMMON

For some money is good, but some miss one o and it is god; for some money is close to being god, but not yet god. There are many who see money as evil or devil or equal to devil. But, all said and done, money is enigma for most of humanity. What is money and wealth? Money and wealth are considered as security by many. Having enough money will provide a secure future. In case of emergency, like sickness, this would help. (Some may have medical insurance.) Or a business loss could be offset if there is enough money. Wealth is money in different forms: shares or assets or real estate or gold. The values for these are expected to go up, so when converted to cash, the money is greater than the amount invested. In a way, surplus money is channeled into creating wealth. Sometimes people try to create future wealth by saving and investing. A few have surplus money, which they like to use for themselves. That is beyond their need, which could be termed as multiplying the comfort and taken to extreme level termed as luxury.
The paradox of money and wealth is difficult to fathom. Here are some of the ideas about money and wealth. In vs. Out Human beings do not bring anything material thing into the world. So, they do not bring money or wealth with them when they are born. Similarly, they cannot take anything with them. Naked you come into the world and naked you go away from the world. Job declares that he came naked from his mothers womb and would return naked, i.e., without any wealth from the earth.276 That means money and wealth can be used only while living on earth. Temporal vs. Eternal Is money temporal? Money or currency in one country may not be valid in another country. In that situation, how it could be valid in an eternal sense? Both Job 1:21 and Ecclesiastes 5:15 expound the principle that material things belong only to this world. These things do not have lasting value so are irrelevant in the eternal perspective. Contentment cannot spring, therefore, from material things. Money could be used in such a way that the rewards are eternal. Use wealth in such a way that it makes a difference in the lives of people. Earn with temporal things the eternal rewards. This is not a reward offered by airlines or retail chains. It could be money given to print a tract, and through that tract one person comes to the Lord. That means the money has earned eternal rewards. This is the meaning of showing treasure in heaven.277 Save vs. Spend Should money be saved or spent? Some economies are based on savings. The saved money is invested to create wealth or business. But in some economies, people spend their future income. That
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means they borrow and spend the money and pay back later. Which economy is healthy is matter of debate and speculation. The ant is shown as an example in Proverbs as one that saves for winter in summer.278 It is wise to save or invest for future. Creating wealth vs. Creating consumerism The parable of talents in the Bible teaches about creating wealth.279 The five talented person was expected to earn and he earned five more talents; so did the person with two talents. That means they invested and created wealth. Another extreme was the one talented man did not use it up or invest it, but instead buried it. It did not do well either for him or others. Another option was to eat up the one talent use it for selfish purposes. In a way that is the methodology of mindless consumerism. Gods expectation is that the talents are to be invested and multiplied. Earn vs. Extort Earning a profit is not sin. The parable of talents is a good example of Lord Jesus teachings that attest to the business of profit making. The profit should be reasonable, sustainable to continue the business, but not extorting the people for personal luxurious living. Content vs. Discontent Money inherently is not evil, but the attitude towards money can be evil. The Christian goal is a genuine relationship with God, our source of contentment, and a healthy detachment from material things. This gives a bonus of great gain.280
Proverbs 6:6. Matthew 25:14-30. 280 I Timothy 6:6.

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Need vs. Greed There is a vast difference between need and greed. God has promised to meet our needs but not our greed. Greed is the insatiable desire to have more. It drove Judas, one of the disciples of the Lord Jesus, to sell Him for 30 pieces of silver. He loved the money and betrayed his Lord. Then he hated the money and threw it in the temple.281 The wealth earned by greed could become bitterness to the soul. Legitimate vs. Illegitimate Wealth earned should be legitimate, according to the laws of the country. Using corrupt means, to usurp anothers wealth or inheritance is prohibited. King Ahab used unlawful means to obtain the vineyard from Naboth.282 Wealth vs. Worth There are some people who believe the worth of a person is determined by the wealth he or she possesses. Life does not consist in the abundance of riches.283 Challenge Money or assets or wealth are neutral things in the world. They can be used for the glory of God. If not, these possessions could become our only focus in the world. That results in slavery to riches. That means life without purpose or meaning.
Matthew 27:3. I Kings 21 283 Luke 12:15.

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Chapter 31:
JOB AND MEANING

A highly qualified engineer from India working in the US shoots his wife, two children and mother-in-law and shoots himself. The reason is that he lost his job and could not find anyone to take care of his family. There are several stories like this around the world confirming that the economic recession has triggered murder and suicide. The economic recession around the world has made millions of young people lose their jobs. As the recession impact gains momentum, there have been reports about young people becoming alcoholics, drug addicts, joining robber gangs, committing suicides, etc. Now, unemployment has become a global issue. This is not just an economic problem as media portrays, but it impacts all aspects of the life of a person. Loss of income I was travelling from Mumbai to Chennai at a time I lost my job and was looking for another one. A girl who was crying sat next to me, facing the plane window. I asked her, what was the matter? She was reluctant, but said that she lost her job and was going to her home. She was perplexed, shocked and confused. Her problem was, how will I break this news? For her younger siblings were dependent on
her for their education. Her parents, who were old, saw her income as a welcome relief. Her basic question was: What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? Where will we live? For her, the whole world was shattered and there was only a bleak future and no hope. The financial income that covered her familys basic needs disappeared suddenly. For similar circumstances like this, Jesus taught his disciples: Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.284 The Lord Jesus drew his disciples attention towards subhuman beings: birds and nature: lilies. The creator God is concerned about the sub-human beings and He makes provision for their food daily. They simply trust the Creator and search for food and they get it. When a person knows God as our Heavenly Father, and trusts His provision and care, he or she is delivered from economic bondage. Loss of identity and self worth When a person is without job, it also creates an inferiority complex in their minds. They do not feel that they are worthy to live, eat or enjoy. Sometimes, elders in the family criticize them as busybodies,
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worthless, useless, unproductive, parasite, etc. These words make them hurt and they feel condemned. In the modern global market economy, a persons worth is determined by a persons ability to buy and be a consumer of products and services. So, there is a rat race to earn more and more so that they could consume more and more -- in other words become a valuable consumer. Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.285 A persons job or profession provides the identity for a person in the market economy. When a person loses his/her job, for practical purposes his/her identity is lost. Without a professional or job or career identity, a person loses dignity and self-worth. No commercial mall would welcome a jobless person. Having an identity that is defined by temporal things like a job or a bank balance or an education or assets is like building a house on sinking sand. These extensions (or relationships) of any persons personality could be easily shaken or removed in a day. So, when a person loses a job, it seems the whole world has collapsed. The need is to have an identity that is permanent or eternal and not related to material things but to a person. The radical offer by the Lord Jesus Christ to have personal relationship with Him is eternal. The historical Christ is also the contemporary Christ. Then the identity of the person is a child of God, the God who created the Heaven and the earth and eternally rules over them. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God.286 Loss of sense of belonging A job also gives a person a sense of belonging. If the company or firm has a great reputation, then employees take great pride in identifying with their employers or institutions or companies or firms.
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Ecclesiastics 5:10. John 1:12. 201
When the job is lost, they feel alienated and lose the sense of belonging. Even in the work environment colleagues provide a sense of belonging. A peer group offers friendship. The friendship provides a kind of social support, emotional support and practical help. Job loss creates a vacuum which is a sense of loneliness. Being part of small prayer group or Bible study group or cell group provides a sense of belonging. The intimacy, shared love, prayers, and shared burden provide a sense of belonging to the small group. Loss of life purpose and social life A person without gainful employment does not have the sense of purpose or meaning in life. He thinks that he is not contributing to the welfare of society or family. In a way, s/he develops a guilty conscience. Life becomes monotonous, mechanical and without joy. It is necessary to love the job we choose. Some people choose a job not for meaning, but for money or other reasons. They will not be able to enjoy the work they are doing. So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?287 When a person is performing Gods plan in his life, God will enable him to see the fruit of his labor. Challenge The loss of job has a holistic effect on a person. It affects the core of the personality. But for a person in Christ, life is an adventure and exciting. A healthy identity for a person is in relationship with the living and loving Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. This sacred relationship assures of all basic needs being met by the Heavenly Father. The meaning in life is to know and do Gods will. When a person belongs to the family of God (Church), he could have a sense of belonging, which demonstrates Gods love in practice.
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Ecclesiastes 3:22. Christ and New Generation Youth
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Chapter 32:
INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES TO REACH THE YOUNG

Youth ministries in each generation have been a challenge. When youth ministries are innovative and successful in a generation, then there has been global impact on missions. Leaders like John Mott challenged and motivated young people of their generation, resulting in over 20,000 youngsters in North America going out as missionaries to Asia and Africa. When the cross cultural global missionary sending era virtually came to an end, Loren Cunningham fires up young people and makes Youth With A Mission a global movement. In a similar pattern, George Verwer makes Operation Mobilization a youth movement of global mission. Bill Bright challenges young people to light the world with the gospel, resulting in Campus Crusade ministries penetrating many educational institutions around the world. Reaching youth, challenging youth to reach the world is the most urgent task the Indian church should undertake. It is not going to be easy, but there is no other option. Thinking creatively, designing strategies innovatively and developing appropriate tools for ministry should be the priorities of the Indian church. There are several copycat strategies that fail in other places. There are old strategies, seen with nostalgia, considered as non-negotiable tradition and a
sacred process that should not altered. Certainly, these strategies were successful in the previous generation, but they may not be relevant for the present generation. Developing relevant strategy Throughout the history of the Church, it is evident that the strategies were developed based on the needs of the people. When the missionaries found that there was no health care or medical intervention, they introduced medical hospitals as mission strategy. In many places they figured out that there was no provision for education of children, so they started schools. Opening soup kitchens for urban poor in London was Salvation Armys strategy to reach them. When the individual or community or society needs are met, a mission strategy is developed. Today in India, understanding the needs of young people in various regions or cities or villages would help the local churches to develop appropriate strategy to reach them. Yes, there is a need for thousands of innovative strategies. Here are some models or indicators that could be considered. But, strategies should be developed according to the needs of the community of young people the local church seeks to reach. English as tool for evangelism Three hundred fifty million Indians speak English now, more than the 322 million native speakers in Britain, the US, Canada and the Antipodes combined.288 VETA trains 4 lakh people in spoken English and etiquette.289 Training in English for rural students who migrate to cities, and slum and rural children, could be a powerful tool for evangelism. English conversation is essential for young people to get jobs in cities. Even a taxi driver is required to speak English, so is a waiter in a hotel or receptionist in an office. Many young people do not get jobs because they lack English speaking
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Outlook 15 November 2004, P.16. Kavitha Muralidharan, Spoken English and Etiquette Classes (The Week 6 November 2005), p.60-61. Christ and New Generation Youth
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skills. Providing short term training for these young people would help them to get jobs. The training time would give opportunity to share the gospel and build relationship with young people. Curriculum could be developed in such a way that Bible verses also become a part of the English learning process. Community Colleges Community college that provides marketable skills in the modern economy could be started by churches, missions and student ministries to equip rural, poor, slum, and semi-literate young people. As now the Government of Indi considers community colleges as alternative to college education. Providing school drop-outs or those who cannot afford the luxury of college education in terms of time and finances a viable option is the aim of community colleges. A number of skills are taught to boys and girls would could get jobs easily or start small businesses easily and gain an honorable livelihood. Many young people who attend community colleges have come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Coffee talks/coffee houses As Kerygma ministries290 has pioneered coffee shop and coffee talks in colleges in Bangalore, more innovative ministries should be encouraged among youth. Coffee houses are hang-out places for young people. There are programs designed such as showing clips of movies and from there casual conversation with the viewers begins. This provides opportunities to present the claims of the Lord Jesus Christ. Coffee talks are casual lectures (pre-planned) given in college hostels with the permission of college management. It is not Bible study, as that is not permitted in many colleges. But, this is permitted and sometimes the person who gives lecture is paid for it. He not only gives a lecture, but answers questions raised by students. Sometimes s/he makes the whole thing a discussion. In the process, he develops
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IMA member mission based in Bangalore 205
a relationship and provides e-mail ID for further communication. The intention is to help such young people to discover the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Camps Camps could be a wonderful tool to reach young people. One growing church in Nagpur (the senior pastor is Vijay Mohod) use this as their strategy. There are many youngsters who have no place to go during vacations. This church has youth camps in nearby retreat center in Chikaldara. A bus is arranged to take the youngsters who want to go for a picnic and also learn a new way of life. The camps are designed in such a way that non-Christian youngsters feel comfortable and have an opportunity to hear the gospel. Many young people have received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior during such camps. Sports Another attraction for young people is sports. Christian Sports Fellowship has innovative strategies to reach young people. They organize sports events around major world events like football or cricket world cups or the Olympics, etc. Many local tournaments between churches and kids from slums or any neighborhood is organized. During such events, the gospel is presented creatively. Many sports persons have received the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior through these efforts. One local church in Bangalore (Senior Pastor Dayalan) started football coaching which drew a large number of young people. They also received the gospel and a few young people have become ardent disciples of Jesus Christ. Coaching Centers In India, competition to get admission in higher education, especially in the professional courses, is intense. Apart from doing the regular school curriculum, students are expected to prepare for entrance exams. So, students would go for coaching classes to crack these entrance exams. These coaching classes are very expensive and many
are able to afford them. One creative Christian started coaching courses for poor people with lower fees and high quality training. In that training, he has one subject, leadership development. This subject is taught by a Christian leader titled: Servant Model of Leadership. In this class, the Gospel is clearly presented. Many young people have come to Christ due to this course on leadership. Parenting skills seminars One survey indicates that 56% of the teenagers and 54% of the parents agree that the two are not able to truly communicate with each other.291 Parenting is becoming a increasingly difficult skill. With breaking of the joint family and nuclear families becoming functional, without the experience of grandparents and the cushioning effect of cousins, young couples find it difficult to be good parents. They look for right guidance, books or short training. So, conducting Parenting Seminars is another method that could be used to reach young parents. Reaching Diaspora students and sending student missionaries Vishwa Hindu Parishad trains children of Non-Resident Indians to recite slokas and even reading the Bhagwad Gita during their vacation. The children learn and practice Hindu values and Hindu philosophy here. They also learn skills like applying mehendi and tying a turban. Kabaddi and gulli-danda are the games they play. They are trained to perform Surya Namaskar, chant the Gayatri Mantra and the Hanuman Chalisa.292 Sending Christian students to international education centers as Student Missionary is a viable strategy for reaching Diaspora students. There are over 90,000 Indian students in Australia and about 80,000 students go to the US every year. Many go to other countries like Russia. Empowering Diaspora Christians to do effective ministry among their counterparts is another strategy that needs urgent attention.
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Soma Wadhwa Want to Look Inside His Head (Outlook 11 April 2005), p. 62-66. What VHP doing in US? Catching em young: http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=45237&headline=What's~VHP~doing~i n~US?~Catching~'em~young accessed on 21 April 2005. 207
Needed multiple strategies The strategies mentioned above are creative ideas that have become tools for evangelism to young people. There is a need for thousands of strategies to be developed locally, among each community of young people. There is no magic formula. Developing strategies happen by agonizing prayer, passion for the lost, and love for the Lord.
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Chapter 33:
EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE OF POSTMODERN GENERATION

I was in a consultation that was discussing about the recent Delhi High Court judgment that decriminalizes unnatural consensual sex. There were activists from Faith based organizations, liberal theologians, evangelical theologians, Bishops, Pastors, Christian professionals, Social Activists and others. The discussion was typically within postmodern paradigms. Modern generation emphasized on reason or thinking capacity of human being. But, postmodern generation is obsessed with feeling or emotional aspect of life. The whole advocacy movement for obtaining special rights for People of Different Sexual Orientation (they do not like to be termed as homosexuals or lesbians). And they have included transgenders into this category to become politically vocal and powerful. There are something like 7.5 million gay men and 3.5 million lesbians in America.293 And they are powerful vote bank and politicians like to get their votes to gain power.
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Mark J. Penn With E. Kinney Zalesne, Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrows Big Changes (New York: Twelve, 2007), p.4. 209
First couple Adam and Eve were the first human couple of humanity. God created them and placed them in the Garden of Eden. They had the freedom to eat all fruits except from one tree. But, the first couple made a choice to disobey Gods commandment. They rebelled against Gods commandment, chose to be independent of God and thus disobedient to Him. First Sin had holistic impact The First Sin was very costly for humanity and it had holistic impact on human beings. They were not only affected spiritually, they were affected emotionally, mentally, socially, economically, physicallyetc. That means the impact of sin was holistic embracing all aspects of human life. Emotional impact The emotional impact on the first couple was enormous. At least, these negative emotions overwhelmed them: Guilt, Shame, Fear and Rejection. The consequences of disobedience and rebellion were obvious. Even today, human beings suffer and struggle with these emotions. The root is disobedience; the fruits are: guilt, shame, fear and rejection. But, in the whole history of humanity, people tried to handle the negative emotions (fruit) without dealing with the disobedience and rebellion (root). And every generation failed, but generation after generation people do not like to deal the real issue. A good case study is regarding the homosexuals. Handling negative emotions 1. Guilt Adam and Eve were guilty of violating Gods commandment. How can this emotion be dealt? There are two ways: positive or negative. The positive way is to acknowledge they were guilty of rebellion and seek forgiveness. The negative way is to justify the action or blame somebody or something or some situations. Adam and Eve chose the
negative response. Adam blamed his wife, Eve blamed the Serpent. In fact, Adam was blaming God Himself for providing an incompetent wife. This game of life is played over and over again in the lives of individuals daily through out history. Human beings are not willing to acknowledge that they are sinners. The Postmodern generation likes to justify homosexuality as natural and rebels and questions, Who defines natural and unnatural? Each person desires right to define his/her experience as natural, best and valid. Instead of looking up to Gods standards, human beings want to create their own standards or bench mark. Another ploy of Postmodern to deny that there is guilt. For them experience is always valid way of arriving at truth. They forget the proverbial blind men who tried to experience elephant and failed. A homosexual experiences pleasure in that experience, and that becomes the yardstick for evaluating. So, it is not wrong or sin but relevant and good. In the similar way, a man feels he gets more pleasure with other women than his wife, his experience is valid and there is no sin or stigma in this. As Adam and Eve perceived that eating the fruit would mean good for them; but their perception and decision was a delusion that led to human misery. Repentance, which includes being sorrowful for sinfulness and sinful behavior and resolving to turn from it, is not in the vocabulary of post moderns. But, the bible demands repentance. 2. Shame Adam and Eve were ashamed when they committed sin. They could not tolerate one another. Shame is an emotion that emerged from sin and rebellion against God. This emotion drives people in many cultures crazy. Honour and shame culture has been merciless in honour killing. To retain the imagined or perceived honour of a community, individual deviants are murdered or lynched. Value judgment of every act is determined by the perception in the eyes of public, what it brings honour or shame for a particular community. .
Adam and Ever tried to solve this problem by covering themselves with leaves. They lost the divine glory or halo provided by God and had to opt for leaves as hiding material. The emotion of shame had kept people from becoming more wicked or weird. One of the strategies is to brazen out, if the public opinion is not favourable. At the same time, when there is some vocal support for such acts, they turn the shame in glory. The things that should happen in bed room, is done in public view. Female and male stripping is matter of pride and not shame for postmodern generation. So, Postmodern homosexuals and lesbians need not be ashamed but should be proud of it, celebrate it. And media is happy to declare them as celebrity. It is no wonder they organize Pride March in various cities around the world. 3. Fear Adam and Eve were afraid when they realized, they have rebelled against God. They went into hiding. They were not able to be in the presence of Holy God. The fear was reverential fear of God, and also fears of facing the consequences of sin. God had to summon them into His presence. The fear could be dispelled only with the knowledge and experience of Gods mercy and grace. They had to trust God that was based on Gods love and mercy. But, postmodern would prefer to remove the source of fear. Or redefine those sources. God is the source of fear for Adam and Eve. Now God would be redefined for postmodern as one who loves and never judges. They magnify his attribute of love and banish his attribute of justice. As he is loving god there is no need to fear him. Postmodern deny the moral laws or redefine and reinterpret the moral laws. "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters."294 Another source of fear is law of the land. These laws should be repealed. The other source of fear is people or traditional society. They should be intimidated to silence, by imposing hate crimes law.
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Psalm 2:3 Christ and New Generation Youth
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4. Rejection Adam and Eve were banished out of the Garden of Eden. The sense of being rejected by God and exiled from Eden overwhelmed them. It was painful for the couple to move out of familiar surroundings into unknown place. But, they had no other option and had to go. But, postmodern homosexuals and lesbians seek acceptance by law, government, and society as fight against rejection. They are unable to adjust to this rejection: morally, socially, physically, spiritually and mentally. Very diplomatically term this rejection as discrimination. They want to come into the society in their own terms. So, they make this as political issue by making alliance with transgenders (and other sexual minorities) and fighting for equal rights. Collective bargaining tactics is used to achieve this. Politicians who are power hungry are willing to give concessions and develop a loyal votebank, Challenge As the society becomes more and more individualistic, individuals are unable to see beyond themselves. Worshiping themselves as god seems to be the new lifestyle. The body is not the temple of Holy Spirit as Christians believe; but is both temple as well as deity for self serving postmodern. Instead of dealing with the core issue of sin and rebellion; postmodern tries to handle the just the fruit or consequence, i.e. Problem of emotions- disconnected from the central issue. Hence, it is not possible to find solution, but only complicate the existing problem. As Lord Jesus Christ taught, it is essential to acknowledge the sin, feel sorrow for sin, repent from the sin, forsake it and take refuge in Gods Presence, Provision and Protection.
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Epilogue:
RUN WITH POSITIVE PURPOSE

Thomas Friedman in his book, The World Is Flat writes about a wall hanging which says: Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesnt matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better start running.295 In this metaphor, young people are reduced to the level of sub human beings - animals. A young man could be like a lion that is in search of a victim-feast, or like a gazelle which could be the victim. The whole purpose of running is to survive, the lion to survive by finding food; the gazelle to survive by escaping from being killed. Is life really a purposeless race for survival? Life is like a race Paul uses the metaphor of an athlete running to get a prize for Christian life. An athlete has to concentrate, spend all energy, put in all efforts to compete in the race. It requires steady and intense progress. Distractions should not deviate the athlete. An athlete
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Thomas Friedman, The World is Flat: A Brief History of The Globalized World in the 21st Century (London: Allen Lane an imprint of Penguin Books, 2005), p.114. 215
should be able to keep his mind cool in times of stress. Doubleminded people cannot run the race and win. The winner is temperate in all things rigid self control. That means to abstain from various legitimate aspects in life. She/he cannot eat all food, and dress like others while running the race. A runner has to be disciplined in all areas of life. Even when the athlete is not running, s/he should be cautious. Many non-sinful things are weights simply because they are so time- and mind-consuming. Because we do not want to fail in accomplishing the highest purposes for which we were called, we must run light to endure the length of our course successfully. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.296 Run in the track allotted for each one Each athlete is allotted a track to run. If an athlete changes the track, s/he is disqualified. God has ordained a path for each one of us. That path is good and perfect. The Bible says, Then Jesus said to his disciples, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.297 Each disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ should bear the cross and follow Him. The cross is customdesigned to help the disciple to grow in faith, mature and become worthy of the heavenly calling. Run with a purpose Athletes who run do with definite purpose. The purpose could be varied. For some, it could be personal satisfaction. To be famous in the world could be some peoples purpose. To bring glory and honor to their nation could motivate others.
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Hebrews 12:1. Matthew 16:24. Christ and New Generation Youth
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In the race of life, the purpose is very clear. It is to bring glory to God. The purpose is to make eternal difference in personal life and in the lives of people around us. The purpose of life is beyond this life span of earthly life. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.298 Run to win In the race all runners have the desire to win. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.299 But all do not win. In the race as Christians, God has planned a course, and if we finish the course, we win the race. Run and do not imitate the spectators The athletes cannot envy the spectators, for they are of a different category. An athlete cannot enter the arena at any time, but a spectator can. When an athlete is in action, he has to follow the dress code, but a spectator can wear any dress. An athlete cannot eat whenever and whatever s/he likes; but a spectator could any food at any time. Preparation and rigorous training are essential for an athlete, while it is not needed for a spectator. Challenge Following the Lord Jesus Christ as a disciple is like a race. This race is not a sprint or short distance race. It is marathon, which is a long distance race. The norms and rules are different. The skills needed are also different. All Christians are called to run with focus, concentration and discipline the marathon race to bring glory to His name and receive the prize.
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I Cor. 9:26. I Cor. 9:24 217

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CHRIST AND NEW GENERATION YOUTH

TRANSFORMED YOUTH FOR TRANSFORMING THE WORLD

Rev. Dr. J. N. Manokaran

MISSION EDUCATIONAL BOOKS

Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

Price : Rs.150/- US $ 15/2 Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

Epilogue: Run To Win ________________________________215

Christ and New Generation Youth

BIBLICAL BASIS FOR YOUTH MINISTRIES

Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

ELIHU A YOUNG MAN SPEAKS

Christ and New Generation Youth

Job 32:6 Job 32:11, 12 5 Job 32:7

Christ and New Generation Youth

Job 32:8 Job 32:18, 19 8 Job 32:3

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Job 33:3 Christ and New Generation Youth

THE APOSTLES A BAND OF ASSORTED YOUNG MEN

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Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

A TEENAGE GIRL, THE VEHICLE FOR INCARNATION

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Luke 1:38. Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

LIGHT - BURNING AND SHINING

John 5:35. John 8:12. 22 Matthew 5:14.

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Christ and New Generation Youth

Ephesians 5:8 Philippians 2:15-16. 27

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Christ and New Generation Youth

THE VIRGIN AND THE LOST COIN

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Proverbs 24:16. Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

ESTHER, THE WINNER OF MISS PERSIA CONTEST

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Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

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Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

ANGER TO MURDER: THE STORY OF THE FIRST MURDERER

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Christ and New Generation Youth

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A RICH YOUNG MAN A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES

Christ and New Generation Youth

Mark 10:22. Matthew 13:22. 38 Ezekiel 16:49.

Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth

Christ and New Generation Youth