Archive for the ‘Youth Culture’ Category
Adam Lambert’s Performance: I’m Not Surprised
I read yesterday about Adam Lambert’s performance at the AMA’s. Apparently it was very sexually provocative and ended with him kissing another male on stage. And of course there is a controversy over whether he went too far.
I guess I’m not surprised. It used to shock me every time somebody pushed the line morally on TV or in the movies. I would be amazed at how far this “Christian nation” has fallen. But I’m just not surprised anymore.
Romans 1 discribes what happens when a people turn their back against God.
“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened… Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” (Romans 1:21, 24-25)
Sadly, very sadly, that is a perfect description of what is happening in our culture today. More and more, people are openly turning their backs on the Creator God and worshiping created things. We are just seeing the signs of this over and over as man’s sinful desires are openly displayed on the airwaves for all to see.
My heart is grieved. It saddens me to see people living so far from the loving truth of the Gospel. Even though Christ’s arms are open wide, so many willfully turn their back on Him.
This also lights a fire under me. I don’t just want to protect the students in my life from this trash. I want to show them what it really is–trash–and help them see that there is so much more in knowing God that the world can never compete with!
And that starts with me, my personal walk with God, my lifestyle that I lead others with, and the prayers I am praying for students.
So no, I’m not surprised. I do, however, find myself praying even more for this generation.
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Slapstick Prayer to Satan on MTV
Last month, on MTV’s music video awards show, Jack Black led millions of people in a supposed prayer to Satan.
I actually hadn’t even heard about it until just recently. It’s surprising that this didn’t grab more attention from conservative Christian talk show hosts and news outlets.
The prayer was definitely slapstick and playful in the way it was carried out. When he finished, Jack asked, “How’d I do?” But it is still quite freightening.
In today’s culture, it’s okay to joke about spiritual things. It’s okay to playfully pray to Satan and ask for his blessing. It’s especially okay to poke fun at Christianity along the way.
What message does this send to our children and our students? “Don’t take religion to seriously. Especially when it comes to Christianity, because you can have a lot more fun dabbling in other stuff.”
Even more important, what’s happening spiritually? “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
These are scary times my friends. Let us pray, and pray urgently for the Lord to protect and work in the hearts of this generation!
You can watch the “prayer” on YouTube here. Whoever uploaded the video added their own commentary as well.
Did Miley Miss the Mark?
I really enjoyed this article from Dare 2 Share on Miley Cyrus’s racy performance at the Teen Chocie Awards last week.
I thought that Dare 2 Share’s take on the incident was very appropriate because it focuses on what many of us tend to trip over at a time like this. The article also keeps its focused on what’s important without giving a play-by-play of the racey performance.
Take a minuite to check it out.
Please also continue to pray for Miley and the many other celebrities that influence this generation. Pray that they would know the Lord and grow in Him, and that their influence would be used for the glory of God.
http://www.dare2share.org/students/did-miley-miss-the-mark/
Tags: Looking back: Words of regret from NARAL founder
Someone shared this video with me a while ago. It’s a video from one of the founders of NARAL, Dr. Bernard Nathanson.
NARAL is a large pro-abortion organization. Dr. Nathanson was also the director of one of the largest abortion clinics in the Western world. But now he’s come to regret so much of what he has done.
Teens in America: Class Picture
We have the honor of working with one of the most diverse groups of teens ever to grow up in America.
Check out this photo book of teens in America:
Time - Teens in America: Class Pictures
The Effects of a Postmodern Culture
My brother sent me an interesting message by Jerram Barrs last week about postmodernism and apologetics. I’m not one to sit back and listen to an entire sermon unless I’m running or biking (I get stir crazy!), but this one came with a transcript so I could just read through that.
He said something that really hit the nail on the head regarding what postmodernism is, and how it plays out in people’s lives.
This is my attempt to enlighten you with two great illustrations of postmodernism from Jerram, and then apply them to the crazy world of youth ministry.
Postmodernism is the Denial of Any Standards
- The band ”2 Live Crew” was on trial several years ago for obscene lyrics. Jerram wouldn’t event quote some of the lyrics “because in the most graphic language possible the lyrics in question were encouraging men to sexually, brutally assault women.” Terrible, terrible stuff. But the charges against them were acquitted.
- A few years later, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe was on trial for blatantly obscene photographs he included in an art exhibition in Cincinnati. Again, the charges were thrown out.
Why were these cases thrown out? Because society could not impose any standards on anyone. In a nutshell, the juries of both cases later said, “I personally thought those lyrics/photographs were obscene. I would never listen to/look at them and I don’t want my children exposed to them. But who am I to say that anybody else should think they are obscene?”
The Effects of Postmodernism
Jerram also shared about a conversation he had with a friend working with InterVarsity at a nearby university. This friend was bewildered by what he saw in the college students and in the local community. He came to Jerram begging for help understanding it.
You see, this friend had spent considerable time getting to know students at the college. These were incredibly bright students, very thoughtful, and very articulate. They were attending one of the top universities in the country.
This friend also spent time with students in the poorest part of town because they often hung around his church office in that area. Many of the students there were involved with gangs and dealing drugs.
Yet this friend saw the same things in both groups of students, and he simply couldn’t wrap his mind around it. He couldn’t help but notice that these students lacked idealism. They were reluctant to commit themselves. They were irreverent to anything sacred and disrespectful to all authority. And they were apathetic, skeptical, and bored.
Students Today
That is what we have in our youth groups today. From prosporous suburbia to the gang-infested inner city, the postmodern lack of standards of every kind has made our students apathetic, skeptical, and very, very bored.
Apathetic - Nothing is worth working for. There is nothing in life truly worth grasping or striving to achieve. Instead, they expect most things to simply be given to them. So our youth minsitry can’t just be a place to “have fun and learn.” We must create a new culture that inspires students’ active engagement in their faith.
Skeptical - Students are skeptical about everything, especially leaders. It’s no longer about showing students that you’re cool. You must first demonstrate that you are trustworthy, and that you aren’t in leadership to boost your own ego.
Bored - I wrote about this in another post, too. This again highlights the need for youth pastors (and parents, for that matter) to give students practical opportunities to practice their faith.
What do you think is the impact of postmodernism on your youth group? How should we respond to this reality of student ministry?
Most American Christians Do Not Believe that Satan or the Holy Spirit Exist
Another interesting and startling study from Barna.
According to them, a majority of people in America who call themselves “Christians” do not believe that Satan or the Holy Spirit exists.
In addition, about 22% have what Barna calls a view of God that is inconsistant with biblical teaching (i.e. everyone is god, god refers to the realization of human potential, etc.).
I wonder how these stats would look if we surveyed Christian students?
Sex and Middle School
I hate statistics like this. According to a recent study, one in ten 12 year olds are sexually experienced.
Yes, these trends are alarming. Yes, we need to do something about this. Let’s stop all the studies and reading, and get to work spending time with students, listening to their struggles and joys, and lovingly sharing the truth of Christ.
As If College Wasn’t Bad Enough Already
My perception of youth ministry is beginning to shift substantially. I still believe that it plays an important role in students’ lives right here and now.
But I am beginning to realize that we must also focus heavily on the challenges of faith, beliefs, character and integrity that students will face in the future–particularly when they take the plunge into the world we call “college”.
Why?
- College is a time when people get serious about spirituality, in whatever form.
- Secular colleges are dominated by secular worldviews. Christian values and beliefs are often shunned as childish and immature.
- There’s always news about, frankly, strange stuff happening on college campuses. Recently, students and professors at the University of Maryland rigorously defended their rights to publicly screen pornographic films and to discuss their educational qualities.
Top Stress Reliever: Music
How do students relieve stress? According to MTV’s global teen study, most start by turning up the tunes.
How youth around the world deal with stress:
- Listen to music
- Watch TV
- Talk with friends (not face to face)
- Sleep
- Prayer
All in all, 65% of students listen to music to relax. A good majority of them only have secular bands to turn to.
If you’re serious about getting your students into solid Christian music, don’t just “suggest” it. Teach the value of surrounding yourself with Truth, especially in the music you listen to.
The Lord uses music to minister to us. Make sure you are teaching your students to evaluate what worldviews they are allowing themselves to be ministered to by when they’re kicking back to relax.
