Are our teens looking for heroes? Interview w/Dan Darling, author, youth columnist (GIVEAWAY!)

Daniel Darling believes that teens are looking for heroes--people their own age to look up to and to relate with. Dan found many of these heroes -- teens -- in the Bible which led to a book and a popular devotional on Crosswalk for teens called Now and Then. Dan dropped by to talk about the teens found in Scripture and how they can relate to your teen and the issues they face today.

Suzie: I didn’t know there were that many teens in the Bible. Are there really that many?

Dan: Surprisingly, yes! I include 29 teens in Teen People. What’s surprising is how integral teens were to the story of the Bible. There were teen kings and prophets and leaders.

Suzie: It seems teens, even good Christian teens, have a difficult time getting into a daily habit of Bible reading. In fact, its hard for adults—how can we expect teens to do it?

Dan: It is difficult—and parents struggle with how to engage their kids in the Bible. I remember growing up in a Christian context and yet still finding it difficult to relate to the Bible. I had this idea that somehow the Bible only spoke to old men with gray beards. What’s fascinating is that the Bible actually does speak to teens. Its speaks to them in a powerful way and into situations that they face everyday—relationship issues, parental problems, sexual temptation, etc.

Suzie: Many people, even Christian leaders, feel as though its asking a lot to expect teens to have a relationship with God in their teen years. Is this right?

Dan: Absolutely not. But for a while I believe it too. I thought that it was asking too much for young people to get really excited about their faith. However, the narratives in the Bible tell a different story. In fact, the people often most excited about their faith were the young people. And I’m seeing that today. There are some outstanding teens spreading the message in a bold and fresh way.

Suzie: What was your favorite teen in the Bible and why?

Dan: It’s a tough decision. But I suppose its Daniel—my namesake. He was ruthlessly snatched from his homeland and thrust into a completely foreign culture. And yet he had the courage and faith to succeed. He spoke truth to power. He actually became a trusted advisor to many of the monarchs who ruled in that day. It’s a fascinating rags to riches story. Imagine a refugee who gets forced from his homeland and rising to become a political leader in his adopted homeland. Other favorites are Mary—the teenage mother of Jesus and Joash, whose very existence is a miracle.

Suzie: What in the world would teens in the Bible have to do with teens in the 21st century?

Dan: Its funny. Even though teens in the Bible didn’t cary iPods, didn’t play Xbox or WII, and didn’t “friend” people in Facebook—they had remarkably similar lives. They struggled with the same issues. Peer pressure. Sex. Relationship problems. Poverty. Racism. Jealousy. That’s why I’m convinced that the Bible speaks to teens today.

Suzie: We sort of have this idea that all the characters in the Bible were perfect. Is this true?

Dan: Yeah, we do. But it doesn’t take long to figure out that God put real-life stories in the pages of Scripture. In fact, the raw humanity of Bible—70% of which is narrative—tells me that it must have been divinely inspired. If it was merely the work of men, we would have airbrushed out quite a bit. The characters in the Bible are portrayed in all of their humanity. Warts and all. That’s why I’m glad I live I this century, because I’m not sure I’d want my life spilled out like that.

Suzie: What message do the teens in the Bible have for the teens of today?

Dan: I think the most powerful message from teens of the Bible to teens of today is this: Don’t wait to start living out your God-given potential. Don’t buy the myth that teens can’t impact and change their worlds. They can and they should.

Suzie: What kinds of things can parents do to encourage teens to read the Scriptures?

Dan: I think books like Teen People of the Bible are a good start. That’s the main reason I wrote it—to serve as a bridge to the Bible. I often give teens the 100-day challenge which challenges the them to read all 100 devos for 100 days straight.

I also think parents have to try and strike the proper balance between pushing them to read Scripture and allowing them to discover the benefits of it themselves. Sometimes parents push so hard and teens resist just to resist.

Suzie: You’re a pastor now—what are some of the problems you’re seeing with teens and how can the Scriptures address them?

Dan: I work with several youth right now and what I’m seeing is that there is a whole generation of young people looking, searching, grasping for truth. I’m finding that they are less convinced by arguments and more impacted by authentic faith lived out consistently and humbly.

Suzie: Show us a day in your life. Other than writing, what do you love to do?

Dan: Well, I’m a father of two and a busy pastor. So I spend much of my time counseling and much of my time preparing messages and also running the day-to-day operations of our church.

I love to read—novels, history, all of it. I also enjoy watching sports, though the Chicago Cubs gave me a huge letdown! I play golf. I’m a big-time coffee connoisseur. I have a weakness for small-town coffee shops. My wife and I love to watch old episodes of Murder She Wrote and other murder mysteries, though she usually figures out who did it before I do. I just enjoy time at home with my wife and young family.

Suzie: Check out Daniel Darling and his book, Teen People of the Bible, at his website.

Also, one lucky person who comments on this post will receive a personally-autographed copy of Teen People of the Bible for their teen! A pretty amazing Christmas gift, don't you think?

One lucky winner will be drawn from the comments a week from this Friday, November 7!