Negotiating double lives among Pentecostal youth: An Osmerian contribution to practical theology

Abstract

Background: Pentecostal youth face an ongoing challenge to remain true to their faith amid changing definitions of morality and society. Their faith may be apparent in their vibrant spiritual lives within the context of church worship, but many youth feel compelled to meet peer expectations and social norms and pressures placed on them outside the church environment. This creates a dichotomy or ‘double life’ between those two places, which raises questions and concerns about how faith is formed, about moral integrity and about the authenticity of youth ministry in a Pentecostal context.
Objectives: This study is intended to provide insight into what causes Pentecostal youth to divide their faith, exploring how pastoral practice can foster the authentic Christian identity of youth in modern social circumstances.
Methods: The authors conducted a desktop research methodology, which included using resources from books, journals published by peers and literature related to theology, among others. Richard Osmer’s four tasks of practical theology (Descriptive, Interpretive, Normative and Pragmatic) were employed as an analytical framework to study the phenomenon.
Results: The findings of this research show that young people feel pressure from the expectations of culture, society and the modern media to create conflict between their spiritual commitments and social identities. Despite many young people wanting to live faithfully, they do not have access to pastoral support or to a nurturing faith community that attends to their complex lived experiences.
Conclusion: Osmer’s framework provides an understanding of how Pentecostal youth struggle with the tension between faith and contemporary social life through a theologically and contextually based understanding. In addition, it offers appropriate methods for addressing the conflicts between faith and modern society.
Contribution: This research contributes to the practical theology community through the identification of the importance of intentionally developing holistic discipleship approaches to empower Pentecostal youth to develop authentic faith, moral integrity and resilient Christian Identity within and outside the church community.