Much of that is unbiblical. Not necesarily bad – once in a while kids hanging out with other kids who are their own age can be ok, but this should not be the norm for learning, but we the church have followed the culture. The idea of segregating kids into age groups for instruction comes from the culture, and not from the word, yet we do it. I get the impression that kids who hang out with older kids become more mature, and kids who hang out with younger kids learn how to be leaders. Kids who hang out with kids their own age learn to goof off.

So I am pretty much in agreement with your response. The church is supposed to be directing kids to their parents for instruction. THAT is the precedent for youth ministry. But with the parents and fathers in particularly so anemic scripturally, that would typically amount to an epic Phail. Thus, instead, we pay a youth pastor to teach our kids for us. Sad state of affairs. How do we fix it?

“Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.” (Proverbs 13:24)

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” (Deuteronomy 11:18-19)

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

Ministry is about discipleship and that is exactly what all parents are commanded to do in raising their children. When I teach my daughter who she is supposed to be and who God is I am performing youth ministry, which is simply ministry to young people. The most direct responsibility to minister to young people are parents to children and God has given the responsibility to them. If parents are not ministering to their own children then any sort of “youth ministry” is at best handicapped, and at worst harmful. This is not to say that the church has no part in the discipleship of young people however, for we are commanded…

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.” (Titus 2:3-6)

The older Christians train the younger in how they should live, this is not against parents but alongside them and supporting them. This also does not stop at adulthood, for it is not “the adults teach the kids” it is simply the “older teach the younger” and where you fall on that spectrum should dictate your position. The short summary of my view is, parents have the primary responsibility to minister to their own children in discipleship and the church must also come along side them to train the younger by the older. Hope that clarifies a bit, and I welcome any feedback.

Is there even a Biblical precident for youth ministry? If you find one, I’d wager it is very different from the perspective that you describe the church currently engaging in, but surprisingly, it differs from your attestation as well (though i agree more or less).