We model irresponsible financial habits within our youth ministry, then wonder why our students are so affected by consumerism. Practical alternatives aren’t as hard as you think. In fact, they can be kind of fun.

When the topic turns to sex or violence, we youth leaders are a pretty outspoken bunch. Our bookshelves and lesson files are loaded with material aimed at counteracting the blitzkrieg of destructive messages our students receive on these subjects in film, television, music and magazines.

It’s a strange battle. Our objective is clear: to teach students the importance of sexual abstinence and Christian love. Yet we fight the battle as if the entertainment industry had the opposite objective: to promote teenage sex and violence. But few writers, musicians, filmmakers and network executives have such a sinister goal in mind. Their objective is simply to make money. Sex and violence sell.

It’s no wonder that the entertainment industry has conquered youth culture. While we’re preoccupied with reinforcing our students’ moral defenses, they’re attacking on economic ground. And we’ve left that field undefended. Except for the occasional sermon on giving, most youth leaders spend little time teaching students real money values. What’s worse, many of us model irresponsible money habits in our households and ministries.

Until we get serious about passing on wise and godly money values to our students, we will be fighting a lopsided battle for their moral health. Maybe it’s time to offer an alternative to the frenzied consumerism they see each day.

1. Rethink the Debt Thing

Lots of parents actually encourage their kids to go into debt. They figure that the pressure of making regular monthly payments for a car will teach responsibility and prepare teenagers for adulthood.

This idea of responsibility through indebtedness should be called Safe Debt. The message: Debt is unavoidable, so at least carry a cosigner.

There are many other methods for teaching responsibility. Students who support a child through a sponsorship program learn it. So do those who tithe their income or time to ministry or who work all year to pay for their summer mission trip. There are dozens of ways for students to demonstrate responsibility: stay in school, don’t have sex, drive sober, stick by your friends, stand up for God. Next to these, car payments teach nothing.

Debt’s great allure is that it permits us to have stuff now instead of having to wait until we can afford it. But there’s something not quite right about this principle. The person who goes into debt to buy “stuff” is like the absent award nominee who prerecords her acceptance speech, or the engaged couple who goes ahead with intercourse, or the person who sins because he knows God will forgive him. Each is collecting the prize before the race is won.