On Sheep, or Why We Need Boundaries in Youth Ministry

For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly (Proverbs 5:23 NIV).

First, check out the following video of sheep on a cliff (warning: the video contains brief language)

Did you see all the green grass on that hill? Tons of it! Yet where do the sheep decide to head? Straight for the dangerous cliff with a scarce amount of grass. But that grass looked gooooood. There's nothing to stop the sheep from heading to that tiny patch of green in the midst of the sharp rocks (apart from common sense). They are free to choose, and they inevitably choose self-destruction.

Sheep are foolish. Scripture often refers to human beings as sheep, and it's not a kind metaphor. Sheep ignore the surrounding pastures and choose to pursue false ideals, ultimately leading to self-destruction. When they experience the natural consequences of ignoring green pastures, they are quite surprised that this could happen to them.

If we in youth ministry are called to be shepherds of God's flock, then we need to guide and protect our flock, both from internal and external dangers. We need to offer healthy boundaries, guidelines, and exhortations so that our flock may run in freedom and safety without the danger of self-destruction or leading others away.

We need boundaries. You know what would have helped that sheep on the cliff? A fence. 

Now, I don't know too many people who are fond of rules. No one is requesting, "could I please have some more rules and restrictions in my life?" Christianity has never been about rules; it's about grace and faith and love and relationships. Yet there are still disciplines and boundaries that Christ has called us to obey, commands He has given in order to lead us towards life and away from death. This is why a community of fellow sheep holding each other accountable to the beautiful truths of Scripture is necessary. With our wandering, we need some fences in our lives to limit our self-destructing ability to jump off the cliff. Setting healthy boundaries for ourselves and our students can lead them closer to life and away from the temptation towards destruction.

If I'm honest with myself, I have sheep-like tendencies. We all do. We wander. We go with the crowd. We stray near the edge of spiritual and moral cliffs. Thankfully, we have a Good Shepherd who graciously guides us into greener pastures and gives us clear boundaries and disciplines.

What boundaries are you setting for the young people in your life? What boundaries do you have for yourself in order to keep yourself from wandering off a cliff?

Joel Mayward is a pastor, writer, husband, and father living in Langley, British Columbia. He’s been serving in youth ministry since 2003, and is currently the Pastor of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at North Langley Community Church. A writer for numerous youth ministry publications and author of Leading Up: Finding Influence in the Church Beyond Role and Experience, Joel writes about youth ministry, film, theology, and leadership at his blog, joelmayward.blogspot.ca.