The Splendor of Youth

On the passing of Dick Clark


1Timothy 4:12

Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

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I remember when rock was young
Me and Suzie had so much fun

"Crocodile Rock" lyrics by Bernie Taupin, music by Elton John

Dick Clark, the "World's Oldest Teenager," has died. Clark wasn't the first to host American Bandstand, but in every way he was the most important. He took the show from a small Philly broadcast to national exposure. From national exposure he took the show to Los Angeles. From LA he took it to the world.

Something important happened after the move to LA, a conscious decision was made by Clark and the producers to fully desegregate the show. The talent on the show had been integrated for years, but only after moving to LA did black and white kids dance side by side. For much of the nation this was a big deal, but it didn't seem to be to the kids on the show. Hooray! The youth find something to congregate around, in this case the music, and they came together in ways adults couldn't.

It was a time when rock was young and fun. It was a time when there were riots in nearly every major American city. It was a time when blacks and whites danced together.

Paul encourages Timothy, let no one despise your youth. It's easy for the fuddy and the duddy to do things and believe things because that's the way it has always been. It's the nature of growing not more mature, but growing older. Paul reminds Timothy that he has a place in the church and in the world. It is a place where by his speech and conduct the world will see his love, faith, and purity.

There is no subterfuge in Timothy, there is only sincerity. There is no hidden agenda, there is only the gospel. Timothy lives seeing love and grace and peace in the way only the young who have not been injured by the world can live it. This is worth remembering. This is worth recapturing.

Suzie leaves the singer for some "foreign guy," but the Lord will never leave. Nostalgia for the good old days of "Crocodile Rock" has no place in the faith. Living into those days of God given innocence and potential, now that's worth the risk.

Paul says let no one despise your youth. By the grace of God, let us instead imitate his speech and conduct in love, in faith, and in purity..