“A quick browse through the music and youth sections in a large evangelical bookstore will reveal that many in the church today advocate that immaturity be taught to and embraced by our teenagers.”
 -A Critique of Modern Youth Ministry by Christopher Schlect

“Evangelical churches have honored divisions that have existed in our culture for less than a century—divisions which have no basis in either Scripture or common sense. These divisions breed immaturity because they hinder younger people from associating with and learning from their elders. Rather than admonishing our young people with Paul's mandate, "flee youthful lusts" (2 Tim. 2:22), we provide a forum for youthful lusts to be pursued.”
 -A Critique of Modern Youth Ministry by Christopher Schlect

“Regress in maturity happens in the church when we ignore the mandates in Scripture which implore the young and old to interact with one another. With age comes wisdom—wisdom that must be passed on to young people. Older people must be eager to share it, and younger people must be eager to receive it. The so-called "generation gap" (a twentieth-century invention) has been used as an excuse for age segregation, but Scripture speaks of no such thing. Our Lord prohibits our perpetuating immaturity in His church by leaving the younger generation to itself.”
 -A Critique of Modern Youth Ministry by Christopher Schlect

“When young people are allowed to set their own standards as they interact with one another, a "herd mentality" develops: they follow in the footsteps of one another rather than in those of adults. The fundamental problem is not peer interaction, but irresponsible adult—especially parental—leadership. It is negligent parenting that prompts youth to form herds. Though peer interaction is often profitable, it is only so when it promotes maturity. From their birth, children should see themselves as adults-to-be, growing into an adult world. They must never be trained by the herd (that is, by one another) to think that perpetual youth is life's aim.”
 -A Critique of Modern Youth Ministry by Christopher Schlect

“The church ought to be wary of what some call an "ideal" youth ministry. They pull teens away from their elders, bring them together and encourage them to revel in their youth. Even worse, children are drawn away from home in order to keep church commitments. I have seen youth ministries where the "deeply committed" kids are at the church four nights a week! This should not be so.”
 -A Critique of Modern Youth Ministry by Christopher Schlect

“Responsible youth ministry in the church, though perhaps difficult to execute, is simple to understand: it involves teaching and exhorting parents to raise their children biblically.”
 -A Critique of Modern Youth Ministry by Christopher Schlect

“Effective youth ministry is the father's task; he has the responsibility to establish a godly atmosphere in the home. Fathers must be leaders in worship, prayer, reading and studying the Bible, and in fellowship with other saints. Moses demanded that fathers in Israel rear their children in such an environment that the majesty of God was plainly manifest to them everywhere they turned (Deut. 6:6-9). This standard remains, and fathers today must meet it. If children do not come face to face with Almighty God in every aspect of their lives, their fathers, through abdication, are bringing them up in practical atheism.”
 -A Critique of Modern Youth Ministry by Christopher Schlect

“Children must associate instruction with parental authority.”
 -A Critique of Modern Youth Ministry by Christopher Schlect

“Ministering to children of unbelievers need not be as difficult as it seems. These children should be drawn to associate with Christian families rather than Christian youth ministries. Invite them over to dinner when they can participate as a guest in the family's regular worship. Bring them to Sunday worship after obtaining their parents' permission, and pray for more opportunities to minister to the guest's entire family. Encourage the child to seek the counsel of his unbelieving parents even in spiritual matters. He should write his parents letters of respect. He should seek ways to honor them publicly. I have known entire households to come to Christ in this manner when faithful children begin to honor and submit to their ungodly fathers and mothers as God has called them to (cf. Eph. 6:1-3).”
 -A Critique of Modern Youth Ministry by Christopher Schlect