What does the Bible say about youth in Asia?

Among all the continents of the world, there may be no greater variation in situation and lifestyle than that which is experienced by youth in Asia. Some youth in Mongolia tend to work at their family businesses or farms, but youth in the cities are enamored with a fashion style that combines hip-hop, K-pop, and their own native culture. In India, over 600 million are under the age of 25, and the lack of sufficient jobs leads many to less-than-reputable work such as creating click-bait articles. Until recently, a "youth" in Indonesia was anyone between the ages of 15 and 40; now a youth must be under 30. The youth of Japan have had a wider influence on the west, and in Japanese anime young teens are both the solution and cause of every important problem in a story. Conversely, K-Pop groups such as BTS and Monsta X generate more confused, embarrassed looks than controversy.

Scripture makes veiled references to youth in Asia. However, such things were not a major topic in the ancient world. Paul says he despairs of life in 2 Corinthians 1:8, during a discourse which also touches on youth in Asia. Perhaps the most positive reference is to Timothy, who was both young and from Lystra, in modern-day Turkey (2 Timothy 3:11). Paul commanded youth in Asia, like Timothy, to be serious students of the Bible (1 Timothy 4:12).

Ultimately, youth in Asia are no different from youth anywhere else in the world. They struggle with moral questions over sexuality, spirituality, and culture, and wonder what to think about issues such as euthanasia and assisted suicide, just as youth in Africa, youth in Europe, or youth in America.

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