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Opinion

ChatGPT Weighs In On Christian ‘Youth Pastors’

A simple and fun exercise that will BBQ some sacred cows

Here’s a fun exercise. Ask ChatGPT if “there is such a thing as a youth pastor in the Bible?” Meaning, is there “someone who only preaches to the youth.”

Here’s what ChatGPT spat back at me …

No—not in the modern sense. The Bible never identifies an office called “youth pastor,” nor does it describe a pastor whose ministry is exclusively preaching to teenagers.

The New Testament recognizes offices such as elders/pastors/overseers (Acts 20:17, 28; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9) and deacons (1 Timothy 3:8–13). But there is no separate biblical office specifically for youth.

Young people were certainly taught and discipled:

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 — parents are commanded to teach God’s Word diligently to their children.

Ephesians 6:4 — fathers are specifically charged to raise their children in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Titus 2:3–6 — older believers are expected to instruct and model godliness for younger believers.

2 Timothy 3:14–15 — Timothy had known the Scriptures “from childhood.”

So, a church may employ someone to specialize in discipling young people, but “youth pastor” as a separate, age-segregated biblical office is a modern church structure—not something explicitly established in Scripture.

And the Bible places the primary responsibility for discipling children on their parents, with the broader church helping equip and reinforce that discipleship.

Lionhearted: Making Young Christian Males Rowdy Biblical Men

Dear young Christian male, this book you’re about to read is meant to challenge you to your very core. Its intent is not to make you feel warm and fuzzy. Some of the chapters will upset you greatly, especially if you’re a dandy who was raised with kid gloves by a helicopter mommy.

That said, in addition to the holy introspection contained herein, this book will also shoot adrenaline into your soul. It’ll push you to be a Godly risk taker and earth shaker. A veritable Rebel With A Cause just like the Captain of Our Salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you want a feel-good book that tickles your ears and morphs you into a little Christian popinjay, this tome ain’t for you. You should put this book down and walk away from it immediately. However, if, young man, if … your motto is to give God your utmost for His highest, and you wanna live a life worthy of Christ’s death, then this book will be grist for your mill.

Get your copy of Lionhearted: Making Young Christian Males Rowdy Biblical Men TODAY!

Doug Giles

Doug Giles is Pastor of Liberty Fellowship in Wimberley, TX, and is the founder of ClashDaily.com (290M+ page views). Giles is also the author of the NEW book, The Wildman Devotional: A 50 Day Devotional For Men. Follow Doug on Instagram and Truth Social at @thegilesway and on Twitter @TheArtOfDoug.