I'm currently reading a book entitled The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth by Alexandra Robbins. It provides interesting insight into the world of teenagers today and the things they have to deal with in their lives.
One of the most troubling things I am coming across in this book for far is the idea labels. Now, to be fair, people have been labeled throughout history. But, there seems to something more severe, more intense about much of the labeling today. Today's teenagers are the loneliest generation in history, even thought they are the most connected. The adult world has often abandoned them, so an underground sub-culture has develop that is unlike anything I knew as a teenager.
In the midst of that development, labels seem to have become more powerful than ever. In a world where students can communicate 24/7 via texting, Facebook, and other technological tools, drama can unfold in ways that we could never even have dreamed of 20 years ago. Something you said in a private conversation at lunch could be broadcast for hundreds of students to read before dinner time. One comment could change the social landscape for a student.
Labels have become more powerful, dangerous, and damaging. Another reason for this is the increased absence of adults from adolescents lives. With the hectic pace of today's society and the ever-present ability to communicate with virtually anyone, we are losing the safe haven of home and the ability of students to escape from the adolescent world. When I was a teenager, I could come home, sit with my parents, and have time away from the drama that was high school. Many of today's students don't have that luxury. Text messages and Facebook posts keep things going all through the evening and even into the night.
Don't get me wrong. I love technology. And there are a lot of benefits that this technology offers. But there is also a dangerous side. And even if a particular student decides to avoid the world of texting and Facebook, the actions of other students who do use them can still have an impact.
In addition, the pressure seems to be greater than ever to succeed. While GPAs and ACT scores have been important for a long time, I don't think we fully understand the high level of stress today's students feel to get their GPA up from a 3.4 to a 3.5, or that push to get their ACT score up one more point. It could mean a difference of thousands of dollars in scholarship money.
So what does all of this have to do with labels? When students feel alone and abandoned, labels before even more powerful. When a student's value is based on how well they perform, labels become more defining. Labels can cause pain. Labels can change social status. Labels can impact the entire adolescent experience.
It's true that at some level, labels are unavoidable. You will have circles of friends you hang out with. People will use adjectives to describe your personality. But labels that put up walls, tear down people, and divide us are wrong. We are all unique, but none of us deserve to be labeled.
The apostle said, "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28 NIV)
In the Kingdom of God, there should not be any labels, except one. "Child of God."
We cannot change how the world acts, but if we are citizens of God's Kingdom, we live by a different standard. We should be a people who embrace all, regardless of the labels the world has placed on someone. We are different, or at least we should be. If there is anywhere that labels like that need to be removed, it is in the body of Christ. Otherwise, we have missed a key element of what it means to be people of God.
shine!
Jason
Showing posts with label Teen culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teen culture. Show all posts
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
The pastor and intimacy
In class on Monday afternoon, we talked about the importance of creating intimacy as a key role for the pastor. The fact that most people hear intimacy and usually think only - or mainly - about sexual activity reveals an underlying struggle in the battle to foster intimacy with those to whom we minister.
We live in a world where intimacy has been redefined to the point where many people struggle to understand what intimacy is really supposed to look like. Over the last 100 years, our society has changed significantly, both for the better and the worse. While I acknowledge many benefits from our "advancements" over the last century, I want to focus in this post on some of the things that have been lost.
The advancements in technology have significantly changed the way we communicate. A little over 100 years ago, you basically had two ways to communicate. You could talk face to face with someone or send them a letter. Today, we can call, Skype, text, email, and use a variety of other methods of communication. With social media websites like Facebook, we are able to maintain "friendships" with thousands of people. While there are benefits to these changes, there is a significant downside that we often fail to recognize, or at least acknowledge. One of the casualties resulting from this myriad of communication options is the lack of depth in most relationships. While many people have a lot more "friends" thanks to Facebook, few - if any - of those relationships develop to the point of real intimacy. I may know what musicians hundreds of people like. I may get to see their pictures from a sporting event or read a catchy quote from the book they are reading. But do I really know them?
Study after study shows that while this generation of young people is the most connected in history, this same generation experiences levels of loneliness, depression, and abandonment that have never been seen before. We know more (people), but we know less. Our relationships have become much more shallow. When friends communicate mostly though texting and messages, they lose the ability to see one another's expressions, read body language, and build the level of intimacy that only comes through spending time in one another's presence.
Is it any wonder that more and more people feel disconnected from God and have a hard time developing a deeper relationship with God? The Bible is not a catalogue of text messages. The Holy Spirit seeks more than an occasional status update on how your life is going. The Father does not just want to get an occasional call from his children. God desires deep, significant intimacy. And in a world where we seem to be moving 100 miles an hour and multi-tasking, developing that kind of intimate relationship is extremely challenging, if not impossible.
In addition, the saturation of marketing as a part of our society has created an environment where almost everything is measured on a surface level. Magazines spend hours perfecting their cover photo. People pay thousands of dollars to have surgery so they can look a few years younger. The label on clothing seems to be more important that the person inside the clothes. We are told over and over again that our value is determined by what car we drive, what pants we wear, what we drink, and a variety of other products that will make us the best person possible.
We have to be careful. This is the same attitude that led to things such as Hitler's campaigns of euthanasia and genocide. I am not saying that we are all headed for mass murder, but when we determine someone's worth based on their appearance, we are focusing on the wrong thing. The reality is that things haven't changed much, even after thousands of years. God told the prophet Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) While this has always been a struggle for people, our societies overwhelming focus on the surface has made it even harder to listen to and live according to the words spoken to Samuel.
The third leg of this stool is the immense sexualization of nearly everything. It's nearly impossible to watch TV, listen to music, or even walk down the hallways of a school and not be overwhelmed by the ways in which sexuality is shaping our society. A recent study determined that "92% of the 174 songs that made it into the Top Ten in 2009 contained one or more reproductive messages, with an average of 10.49 reproductive phrases per song." Sexuality is everywhere and almost nothing is off-limits anymore. I am not trying to be a prude, but this kind of exposure can be destructive emotional, socially, and spirituality.
Our society is teaching us to pursue immediate gratification. This onslaught of messages for cheap and easy intimacy is welcome news to a generation starving for attention, affection, and acceptance. Like a child raised on Cheetos and candy bars, this steady diet of a message that teaches short-term, immediate satisfaction develops a habit of "consuming" whatever brings happiness at the moment, regardless of the long-term "nutritional value." The very "solution" to loneliness that our society parades before us is actually making things worse.
So into the midst of this mess steps the pastor. She brings a message that is contrary to the one the world is screaming out. As voice after voice cries out in anguish, grasping whatever quick fix is available, the pastor seeks to share a message that brings true salvation, but also requires real intimacy.
People ask me all of the time why so many young people are leaving the church. I could probably list off dozens of reasons, but the scenario listed above would probably be at the top of the list. When we swim in water that is polluted with shallow relationships, surface assessments, and a sexualized view of most everything, we are sure to get sick.
So what does the pastor do?
Does he ignore everything around him and cluster his people in a bunker? No. We are called to be salt and light to the world. We cannot hide our light under a bushel.
Does she embrace the world and simply deliver the message of God by dressing it up in the clothing the society offers? No. What good is a salt that has lost it's saltiness?
The pastor must start by examining his own heart and mind. While he cannot dictate how everyone else should live, the pastor can dictate how he lives. He must set expectations and standards for himself that allow him to maintain his saltiness and shine his light. This will not look identical for every pastor, but the principles cannot be ignored.
Then the pastor must live her life in a way that reflects the light of Christ. She will not be perfect, but she must pursue perfection. Without judging others, she must present her life as a living sacrifice that embodies the character of God. When she does this, the light will expose the darkness in her midst, both in the lives of others and (here is the scariest part) herself.
This is not an easy journey or calling. Being a pastor is an immense blessing, but it also carries significant challenges. As I wrestle with all of the questions raised by the challenges above, I don't have all of the answers. But I will, in the words of Paul, "press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." (Philippians 3:12)
shine!
Jason
We live in a world where intimacy has been redefined to the point where many people struggle to understand what intimacy is really supposed to look like. Over the last 100 years, our society has changed significantly, both for the better and the worse. While I acknowledge many benefits from our "advancements" over the last century, I want to focus in this post on some of the things that have been lost.
The advancements in technology have significantly changed the way we communicate. A little over 100 years ago, you basically had two ways to communicate. You could talk face to face with someone or send them a letter. Today, we can call, Skype, text, email, and use a variety of other methods of communication. With social media websites like Facebook, we are able to maintain "friendships" with thousands of people. While there are benefits to these changes, there is a significant downside that we often fail to recognize, or at least acknowledge. One of the casualties resulting from this myriad of communication options is the lack of depth in most relationships. While many people have a lot more "friends" thanks to Facebook, few - if any - of those relationships develop to the point of real intimacy. I may know what musicians hundreds of people like. I may get to see their pictures from a sporting event or read a catchy quote from the book they are reading. But do I really know them?
Study after study shows that while this generation of young people is the most connected in history, this same generation experiences levels of loneliness, depression, and abandonment that have never been seen before. We know more (people), but we know less. Our relationships have become much more shallow. When friends communicate mostly though texting and messages, they lose the ability to see one another's expressions, read body language, and build the level of intimacy that only comes through spending time in one another's presence.
Is it any wonder that more and more people feel disconnected from God and have a hard time developing a deeper relationship with God? The Bible is not a catalogue of text messages. The Holy Spirit seeks more than an occasional status update on how your life is going. The Father does not just want to get an occasional call from his children. God desires deep, significant intimacy. And in a world where we seem to be moving 100 miles an hour and multi-tasking, developing that kind of intimate relationship is extremely challenging, if not impossible.
In addition, the saturation of marketing as a part of our society has created an environment where almost everything is measured on a surface level. Magazines spend hours perfecting their cover photo. People pay thousands of dollars to have surgery so they can look a few years younger. The label on clothing seems to be more important that the person inside the clothes. We are told over and over again that our value is determined by what car we drive, what pants we wear, what we drink, and a variety of other products that will make us the best person possible.
We have to be careful. This is the same attitude that led to things such as Hitler's campaigns of euthanasia and genocide. I am not saying that we are all headed for mass murder, but when we determine someone's worth based on their appearance, we are focusing on the wrong thing. The reality is that things haven't changed much, even after thousands of years. God told the prophet Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) While this has always been a struggle for people, our societies overwhelming focus on the surface has made it even harder to listen to and live according to the words spoken to Samuel.
The third leg of this stool is the immense sexualization of nearly everything. It's nearly impossible to watch TV, listen to music, or even walk down the hallways of a school and not be overwhelmed by the ways in which sexuality is shaping our society. A recent study determined that "92% of the 174 songs that made it into the Top Ten in 2009 contained one or more reproductive messages, with an average of 10.49 reproductive phrases per song." Sexuality is everywhere and almost nothing is off-limits anymore. I am not trying to be a prude, but this kind of exposure can be destructive emotional, socially, and spirituality.
Our society is teaching us to pursue immediate gratification. This onslaught of messages for cheap and easy intimacy is welcome news to a generation starving for attention, affection, and acceptance. Like a child raised on Cheetos and candy bars, this steady diet of a message that teaches short-term, immediate satisfaction develops a habit of "consuming" whatever brings happiness at the moment, regardless of the long-term "nutritional value." The very "solution" to loneliness that our society parades before us is actually making things worse.
So into the midst of this mess steps the pastor. She brings a message that is contrary to the one the world is screaming out. As voice after voice cries out in anguish, grasping whatever quick fix is available, the pastor seeks to share a message that brings true salvation, but also requires real intimacy.
People ask me all of the time why so many young people are leaving the church. I could probably list off dozens of reasons, but the scenario listed above would probably be at the top of the list. When we swim in water that is polluted with shallow relationships, surface assessments, and a sexualized view of most everything, we are sure to get sick.
So what does the pastor do?
Does he ignore everything around him and cluster his people in a bunker? No. We are called to be salt and light to the world. We cannot hide our light under a bushel.
Does she embrace the world and simply deliver the message of God by dressing it up in the clothing the society offers? No. What good is a salt that has lost it's saltiness?
The pastor must start by examining his own heart and mind. While he cannot dictate how everyone else should live, the pastor can dictate how he lives. He must set expectations and standards for himself that allow him to maintain his saltiness and shine his light. This will not look identical for every pastor, but the principles cannot be ignored.
Then the pastor must live her life in a way that reflects the light of Christ. She will not be perfect, but she must pursue perfection. Without judging others, she must present her life as a living sacrifice that embodies the character of God. When she does this, the light will expose the darkness in her midst, both in the lives of others and (here is the scariest part) herself.
This is not an easy journey or calling. Being a pastor is an immense blessing, but it also carries significant challenges. As I wrestle with all of the questions raised by the challenges above, I don't have all of the answers. But I will, in the words of Paul, "press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." (Philippians 3:12)
shine!
Jason
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
What are we doing to our children?
This morning I arrived at a local middle school shortly before 7:00am. As I was walking up to the flagpole, I heard a familiar sound. It was a marching band. I looked over to see the high school band on the field, under the lights. Since it wasn't even daylight yet, they needed the lights on to practice on the field.
This got me to thinking and asking the question posed in the title of this post: What are we doing to our children?
I have read various studies that seem to agree on two fundamental things about teenagers and sleep. First of all, they have found that as children move into adolescence, their bodies naturally shift to an later bedtime. When a teenager suddenly wants to stay up later, it seems they are responding to a change that God created to occur. The other thing they have discovered is that most teenagers need 8-1/2 to 9-1/2 hours of sleep each night. These findings are not from one random study. Almost all the studies I have encountered confirm this information.
It seems like our society has chosen to ignore this and keep on going. If we really listened to this data, would we do things like schedule a marching band practice that starts before 7:00am? (Trust me, I am not picking on marching band. I loved marching band in high school. This is just the tangible example I encountered this morning.)
What in the world are we doing? We're either stupid, blind, or so driven by something that we ignore the obvious.
Think about this...
We medicate a significant number of adolescents in this country for ADHD, ADD, depression, and a variety of other mental and emotional issues. (Let me take a time-out before I go any further. I have been working with teenagers for over a dozen years and there are certainly situations where medication is an appropriate and necessary part of treatment. There are students I have ministered to for whom some form of medication was the right response. I want to set the record straight on that before I continue.)
While I am not a doctor (and never even played one on TV), I think that we often use medicine as the solution and ignore the real problem, our inability to be grown-ups. It seems like we often fail our teenagers in several ways. Sometimes, I think that in our desire to help our children be successful, we push them to do as much as they can to build self-esteem, develop skills, fill their resume for college applications, and - if we're honest - to make us look like successful parents.
In addition, we sometimes struggle to tell our children to say no. I am always impressed with the parents who tell their children that they can only participate in one significant sport/activity at a time. I am not sure if these parents do this for their own sanity, to protect their children, or some of both. Whether it's the desire to have our children like us, an attempt to avoid one more thing to fight about, or some other reason, it seems like there are times when adolescents lack someone helping them say no to things.
Add to this the fact that just when adolescents need adult guidance the most, we often seem to be absent. Barbara Strauch, in her book The Primal Teen, outlines some recent discoveries about the development of the adolescent mind that show how physical changes in the brain significantly cloud the ability of teens to see consequences and the bigger picture in their decision-making process. When we ask teenagers, "Didn't you know that would happen if you did that?" and they say, "No," they aren't being defiant (well, at least much of the time). They're brains are going through changes that make it difficult for them to think about the consequences of their decisions.
So whether it's something as severe as a destructive decision or something as (seemingly) harmless as the inability to make wise decisions about how many things to get involved in, teenagers need guidance.
But here's the other side to this coin. They aren't eight-years-old any more. They are entering a phase a life where they need the freedom to make their own decisions, think for themselves, and (more than we would like) to make mistakes. We cannot hold their hand and make every decision for them.
Unfortunately, there isn't an instruction manual for all this. Every child is different and every family will have to navigate their own path through this phase of life. I don't have a teenager yet and I know that I will make my share of mistakes when we get there. I have made enough mistakes as a parent already, but I know there are more in the future.
I have digressed, so let me return to where I started. I am not writing this as a reaction to an individual family, but rather as a reaction to who we have become as a society.
I work with teenagers who struggle with depression, loneliness, anger, and a host of other emotional issues. In the last dozen years I have watched the frequency and level of these struggles increase. We medicate teens. We blame teens. We punish teens. We ask what's wrong with teens these days. We create more activities to keep them out of trouble. But it seems we avoid the real issue and the best solution.
Do we want to reduce teen suicide? Teen depression? Teen loneliness? I have a simple but challenging answer.
Sabbath.
We need to slow down. I am not just talking about our teens. I am talking about us, too. And in saying this I implicate myself. I am too busy. My schedule is too full. I have too many things on my personal calendar. I probably have too many things on my youth ministry calendar.
We are way too busy. In our drive to be successful, we are failing. While we try to build self-esteem, we are destroying ourselves. As we strive to find worth in performance, possessions, and popularity, we often feel worthless on the inside. We can never measure up to the expectations we place before us. We can never do enough. There is always more to do.
We are raising up a generation that doesn't know what rest is. When they're not running somewhere, they're surfing the web. When they're not engaged in some activity, they are listening to their iPod, watching TV, or playing video games. Text messages are sent and received all hours of the day. Nowhere is safe from the invasion of the cell phone.
I don't have an easy answer. If I am going to be completely honest, I often don't want to unplug and slow down either. Our society is addicted to being busy. There is usually time almost every day that I get frustrated with myself for not taking enough time to be still.
And this leads me to a good place to stop (I have gone on too long already). In all of our efforts to pursue happiness and success, we rob ourselves of opportunities to experience joy. In Psalm 46:10, God says, "Be still, and know that I am God." One of the questions parents ask me is, "Why are so many young people leaving the church?" An answer I often hear is that the church isn't relevant. While I agree that we need to communicate in ways that speak to our audience, I don't think that's the ultimate answer.
Maybe the reason so many of our children are abandoning their faith is because they don't slow down enough to hear God's voice. And if we want someone to blame, we should probably start by looking in the mirror.
shine!
Jason
This got me to thinking and asking the question posed in the title of this post: What are we doing to our children?
I have read various studies that seem to agree on two fundamental things about teenagers and sleep. First of all, they have found that as children move into adolescence, their bodies naturally shift to an later bedtime. When a teenager suddenly wants to stay up later, it seems they are responding to a change that God created to occur. The other thing they have discovered is that most teenagers need 8-1/2 to 9-1/2 hours of sleep each night. These findings are not from one random study. Almost all the studies I have encountered confirm this information.
It seems like our society has chosen to ignore this and keep on going. If we really listened to this data, would we do things like schedule a marching band practice that starts before 7:00am? (Trust me, I am not picking on marching band. I loved marching band in high school. This is just the tangible example I encountered this morning.)
What in the world are we doing? We're either stupid, blind, or so driven by something that we ignore the obvious.
Think about this...
We medicate a significant number of adolescents in this country for ADHD, ADD, depression, and a variety of other mental and emotional issues. (Let me take a time-out before I go any further. I have been working with teenagers for over a dozen years and there are certainly situations where medication is an appropriate and necessary part of treatment. There are students I have ministered to for whom some form of medication was the right response. I want to set the record straight on that before I continue.)
While I am not a doctor (and never even played one on TV), I think that we often use medicine as the solution and ignore the real problem, our inability to be grown-ups. It seems like we often fail our teenagers in several ways. Sometimes, I think that in our desire to help our children be successful, we push them to do as much as they can to build self-esteem, develop skills, fill their resume for college applications, and - if we're honest - to make us look like successful parents.
In addition, we sometimes struggle to tell our children to say no. I am always impressed with the parents who tell their children that they can only participate in one significant sport/activity at a time. I am not sure if these parents do this for their own sanity, to protect their children, or some of both. Whether it's the desire to have our children like us, an attempt to avoid one more thing to fight about, or some other reason, it seems like there are times when adolescents lack someone helping them say no to things.
Add to this the fact that just when adolescents need adult guidance the most, we often seem to be absent. Barbara Strauch, in her book The Primal Teen, outlines some recent discoveries about the development of the adolescent mind that show how physical changes in the brain significantly cloud the ability of teens to see consequences and the bigger picture in their decision-making process. When we ask teenagers, "Didn't you know that would happen if you did that?" and they say, "No," they aren't being defiant (well, at least much of the time). They're brains are going through changes that make it difficult for them to think about the consequences of their decisions.
So whether it's something as severe as a destructive decision or something as (seemingly) harmless as the inability to make wise decisions about how many things to get involved in, teenagers need guidance.
But here's the other side to this coin. They aren't eight-years-old any more. They are entering a phase a life where they need the freedom to make their own decisions, think for themselves, and (more than we would like) to make mistakes. We cannot hold their hand and make every decision for them.
Unfortunately, there isn't an instruction manual for all this. Every child is different and every family will have to navigate their own path through this phase of life. I don't have a teenager yet and I know that I will make my share of mistakes when we get there. I have made enough mistakes as a parent already, but I know there are more in the future.
I have digressed, so let me return to where I started. I am not writing this as a reaction to an individual family, but rather as a reaction to who we have become as a society.
I work with teenagers who struggle with depression, loneliness, anger, and a host of other emotional issues. In the last dozen years I have watched the frequency and level of these struggles increase. We medicate teens. We blame teens. We punish teens. We ask what's wrong with teens these days. We create more activities to keep them out of trouble. But it seems we avoid the real issue and the best solution.
Do we want to reduce teen suicide? Teen depression? Teen loneliness? I have a simple but challenging answer.
Sabbath.
We need to slow down. I am not just talking about our teens. I am talking about us, too. And in saying this I implicate myself. I am too busy. My schedule is too full. I have too many things on my personal calendar. I probably have too many things on my youth ministry calendar.
We are way too busy. In our drive to be successful, we are failing. While we try to build self-esteem, we are destroying ourselves. As we strive to find worth in performance, possessions, and popularity, we often feel worthless on the inside. We can never measure up to the expectations we place before us. We can never do enough. There is always more to do.
We are raising up a generation that doesn't know what rest is. When they're not running somewhere, they're surfing the web. When they're not engaged in some activity, they are listening to their iPod, watching TV, or playing video games. Text messages are sent and received all hours of the day. Nowhere is safe from the invasion of the cell phone.
I don't have an easy answer. If I am going to be completely honest, I often don't want to unplug and slow down either. Our society is addicted to being busy. There is usually time almost every day that I get frustrated with myself for not taking enough time to be still.
And this leads me to a good place to stop (I have gone on too long already). In all of our efforts to pursue happiness and success, we rob ourselves of opportunities to experience joy. In Psalm 46:10, God says, "Be still, and know that I am God." One of the questions parents ask me is, "Why are so many young people leaving the church?" An answer I often hear is that the church isn't relevant. While I agree that we need to communicate in ways that speak to our audience, I don't think that's the ultimate answer.
Maybe the reason so many of our children are abandoning their faith is because they don't slow down enough to hear God's voice. And if we want someone to blame, we should probably start by looking in the mirror.
shine!
Jason
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Marilyn Manson and church
This morning, a student I know posted the following quote on her Facebook page. From what I could find, this is a quote from musician Marilyn Manson. I do not know the date or context of the interview.
I will be the first to admit that I am not an expert on Manson, nor do I listen to his music, but I was intrigued but what he had to say.
Manson, whose given name is Brian Hugh Warner, has evidently received a lot of negative press because of his anti-Christian message. Again, without having listened to much, if any, of his music, I am not going to make a lot of comments about the message he sends.
However, after a little bit of research, I did discover some interesting things about what may have shaped the view he espoused in the above quote. (I did find this information on the internet, so it's validity is always open to falsehood.) Apparently, Brian attended a private, Christian school most of his childhood. There are also other childhood experiences that may have contributed to his attitude towards Christianity, and I think all of that is important to consider as we listen to what he has to say.
Anyway, back to the quote...
I think that Manson has some valid points. But the question I must ask is which "church" is he talking about?
Is he talking about the living organism God intended, or the organization that has developed over time?
Is he talking about the prophetic people of God, or the product-driven dispenser of religious goods and services?
Is he talking about the living temple of the Holy Spirit, or the building where people gather once a week?
Is he talking about the body created in the image of God, or a group of people creating God in their image?
Depending on which one he is talking about, Manson may be right. To be honest, most of us struggle between the divergent explanations of church that I describe above. We are a broken, imperfect people, often wrestling with our own sins and shortcomings. But that doesn't change who God is or who God is calling us to be.
I don't believe that Spirituality is something that we find in ourselves. However, it is something that must come from allowing God to work within us. I agree that Spirituality is something that allows us to express our fears. The Psalms are full of that kind of language. But Spirituality is not a self-help program or an individual endeavor.
While it is true that everyone travels a unique journey, no one travels that journey alone. That is precisely why the church is crucial, dare I say essential, for true Spirituality. It is only when we live in community with others who are also filled with and led by the Spirit that we can most fully experience Spirituality. Just as a finger cannot live without the rest of the body, neither can one person live without a community.
From the beginning, God created us to be in community. It is interwoven into who we are and how we exist. Yes, broken relationships and damaged trust can lead us to build walls and focus inward, but that is not what God intended, and neither is it the path to an abundant life.
I respect Manson's opinion because I sense he has experienced significant pain in his life, as have many others who reject or question Christianity. I cannot discount what they say, because it is their story. However, I can offer what I believe is a grander, more hopeful metanarrative that offers ultimate hope and redemption. This story is not found primarily in a certain set of beliefs, a specific building, or one particular religious organization. Rather, it is found in the mission of the Father, the person of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the story that I ascribe to and the one that sheds true light in a world often consumed by darkness.
shine!
Jason
"I think church has very little to do with Spirituality. I think it's something you have to find in yourself. It's about expressing your deepest fears and your emotions and putting it in something. It's not about living in fear and praying and hoping you're not going to go to Hell. That's not very Spiritual to me. "
I will be the first to admit that I am not an expert on Manson, nor do I listen to his music, but I was intrigued but what he had to say.
Manson, whose given name is Brian Hugh Warner, has evidently received a lot of negative press because of his anti-Christian message. Again, without having listened to much, if any, of his music, I am not going to make a lot of comments about the message he sends.
However, after a little bit of research, I did discover some interesting things about what may have shaped the view he espoused in the above quote. (I did find this information on the internet, so it's validity is always open to falsehood.) Apparently, Brian attended a private, Christian school most of his childhood. There are also other childhood experiences that may have contributed to his attitude towards Christianity, and I think all of that is important to consider as we listen to what he has to say.
Anyway, back to the quote...
I think that Manson has some valid points. But the question I must ask is which "church" is he talking about?
Is he talking about the living organism God intended, or the organization that has developed over time?
Is he talking about the prophetic people of God, or the product-driven dispenser of religious goods and services?
Is he talking about the living temple of the Holy Spirit, or the building where people gather once a week?
Is he talking about the body created in the image of God, or a group of people creating God in their image?
Depending on which one he is talking about, Manson may be right. To be honest, most of us struggle between the divergent explanations of church that I describe above. We are a broken, imperfect people, often wrestling with our own sins and shortcomings. But that doesn't change who God is or who God is calling us to be.
I don't believe that Spirituality is something that we find in ourselves. However, it is something that must come from allowing God to work within us. I agree that Spirituality is something that allows us to express our fears. The Psalms are full of that kind of language. But Spirituality is not a self-help program or an individual endeavor.
While it is true that everyone travels a unique journey, no one travels that journey alone. That is precisely why the church is crucial, dare I say essential, for true Spirituality. It is only when we live in community with others who are also filled with and led by the Spirit that we can most fully experience Spirituality. Just as a finger cannot live without the rest of the body, neither can one person live without a community.
From the beginning, God created us to be in community. It is interwoven into who we are and how we exist. Yes, broken relationships and damaged trust can lead us to build walls and focus inward, but that is not what God intended, and neither is it the path to an abundant life.
I respect Manson's opinion because I sense he has experienced significant pain in his life, as have many others who reject or question Christianity. I cannot discount what they say, because it is their story. However, I can offer what I believe is a grander, more hopeful metanarrative that offers ultimate hope and redemption. This story is not found primarily in a certain set of beliefs, a specific building, or one particular religious organization. Rather, it is found in the mission of the Father, the person of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the story that I ascribe to and the one that sheds true light in a world often consumed by darkness.
shine!
Jason
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Do Hard Things
I have been reading the book Do Hard Things by twin brothers Alex & Brett Harris. After reading this book, I feel that it should be a must-read for all teenagers. One of the amazing things about this book is that it is written for teenagers by teenagers. It is a call for a teenage rebellion against low expectations. At the start of the book, Alex and Bret invite readers to explore some radical questions. Let me share them with you here:
I am impressed with the wisdom, maturity, and spiritual depth of these two young men. They are challenging their peers to consider something outside themselves and pursue a path that can change the world.
If you have not read this book yet, I would recommend getting a copy and reading it. I am strongly considering a teaching series on Wednesday nights this fall built around the material in this book.
If you want to learn more about Alex and Bret, you can visit their website: www.THEREBELution.com. There you will find their blog as well other information about their life, dreams, and passions.
One of the verses that Alex and Brett quote is 1 Timothy 4:12: “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” Often, Christian teenagers are more often being told what not to do than they are what to do. Alex and Brett would argue, and I agree, that Christianity needs to be as much – if not more – about what we do as it is about what we don’t do.
Are there certain behaviors and habits we need to avoid? Absolutely! But if all we do is live to avoid poor choices, we won’t discover the abundant life Jesus speaks of in John 10. Instead, let us consider the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 2:22: “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”
shine!
Jason
- Is it possible that even though teens today have more freedom than any other generation in history, we’re actually missing out on some of the best years of our lives?
- Is it possible that what our culture says about the purpose and potential of the teen years is a lie and that we are its victims?
- Is it possible that our teen years give us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for huge accomplishments – as individuals and as a generation?
- And finally, what would our lives look like if we set out on a different path entirely – a path that required more effort but promised a lot more rewards?
I am impressed with the wisdom, maturity, and spiritual depth of these two young men. They are challenging their peers to consider something outside themselves and pursue a path that can change the world.
If you have not read this book yet, I would recommend getting a copy and reading it. I am strongly considering a teaching series on Wednesday nights this fall built around the material in this book.
If you want to learn more about Alex and Bret, you can visit their website: www.THEREBELution.com. There you will find their blog as well other information about their life, dreams, and passions.
One of the verses that Alex and Brett quote is 1 Timothy 4:12: “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” Often, Christian teenagers are more often being told what not to do than they are what to do. Alex and Brett would argue, and I agree, that Christianity needs to be as much – if not more – about what we do as it is about what we don’t do.
Are there certain behaviors and habits we need to avoid? Absolutely! But if all we do is live to avoid poor choices, we won’t discover the abundant life Jesus speaks of in John 10. Instead, let us consider the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 2:22: “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”
shine!
Jason
Monday, March 02, 2009
Youth Dialogue Day - Middle School Edition
Today I was able to make some really cool new friends. I was invited to be a part of a Youth Dialogue Day. Basically, it's a day where students gather to share their opinions and ideas surrounding certain issues today's students face.
I was really impressed by many of the insights students shared. While middle school students have not changed much since I was there 25 years ago (wow, I feel old all of a sudden), some of the issues they are faced with have changed significantly.
There are pressures and choices that very few of my peers had to deal with. The conditions and culture have become more hectic than ever. The stress and anxiety are at levels I can't imagine. But in the midst of all of that, I met some students today who had some great thoughts about what they deal with on a daily basis.
One of the things that I heard a number of students share is that they wish their parents were more involved in their lives. I don't think that necessarily means they want parents who don't give them space and tend to stick their noses in everything. But there definitely seems to be a desire for parents to be more engaged.
Today we live in a culture where times have changed. It seems as though there are more two-income households than ever. I realize that some families need two incomes, but in other families it is more desire than need. A second income to live in a bigger house and drive nicer cars is not a need.
Every family is different and every situation is unique. However, I believe our society has often gotten our priorities out of order and missed the bigger picture. If you could get students to be honest, I believe that many of them would give up some material possessions in order to have parents who had time to listen to them.
One of the things I have become more and more aware of is the feeling of desertion and loneliness that many teenagers feel today. For many of these students that starts at home. They may come home to an empty house where there isn't a adult there until later in the evening. For others, it might result from being at school until five or six in the evening, running to another event, and getting home just in time for homework and bed. For others it might come from everyone in the family having a television in their room, so everyone can watch what they want in solitude. We have allowed our culture and our entertainment-focused society to drive wedges in the middle of our most crucial relationships.
While teenagers want their freedom and want to discover who they are, I am convinced that they will actually feel more free to explore the question of who they are when they know home is a place of safety and community. When they know their parents will actually take time to listen - not just instruct and give orders - teenagers will be more willing to ask questions and share their struggles.
Don't expect teenagers to tell you everything. They are seeking their own life and their own identity. But when we provide an environment where they know we are there, willing to listen and willing to make time for them, the results can be priceless. That's the kind of investment that lasts long after the things we thought were so important are in a landfill or in the rearview mirror of life
shine!
Jason
I was really impressed by many of the insights students shared. While middle school students have not changed much since I was there 25 years ago (wow, I feel old all of a sudden), some of the issues they are faced with have changed significantly.
There are pressures and choices that very few of my peers had to deal with. The conditions and culture have become more hectic than ever. The stress and anxiety are at levels I can't imagine. But in the midst of all of that, I met some students today who had some great thoughts about what they deal with on a daily basis.
One of the things that I heard a number of students share is that they wish their parents were more involved in their lives. I don't think that necessarily means they want parents who don't give them space and tend to stick their noses in everything. But there definitely seems to be a desire for parents to be more engaged.
Today we live in a culture where times have changed. It seems as though there are more two-income households than ever. I realize that some families need two incomes, but in other families it is more desire than need. A second income to live in a bigger house and drive nicer cars is not a need.
Every family is different and every situation is unique. However, I believe our society has often gotten our priorities out of order and missed the bigger picture. If you could get students to be honest, I believe that many of them would give up some material possessions in order to have parents who had time to listen to them.
One of the things I have become more and more aware of is the feeling of desertion and loneliness that many teenagers feel today. For many of these students that starts at home. They may come home to an empty house where there isn't a adult there until later in the evening. For others, it might result from being at school until five or six in the evening, running to another event, and getting home just in time for homework and bed. For others it might come from everyone in the family having a television in their room, so everyone can watch what they want in solitude. We have allowed our culture and our entertainment-focused society to drive wedges in the middle of our most crucial relationships.
While teenagers want their freedom and want to discover who they are, I am convinced that they will actually feel more free to explore the question of who they are when they know home is a place of safety and community. When they know their parents will actually take time to listen - not just instruct and give orders - teenagers will be more willing to ask questions and share their struggles.
Don't expect teenagers to tell you everything. They are seeking their own life and their own identity. But when we provide an environment where they know we are there, willing to listen and willing to make time for them, the results can be priceless. That's the kind of investment that lasts long after the things we thought were so important are in a landfill or in the rearview mirror of life
shine!
Jason
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Expression or impression?
Expression. One side of the argument would say that music is an expression of one's emotions and thoughts. (I am referring to the listener, not the author of the song.) The belief here is that music is helping the listener express how they are feeling. As someone listens to a song, it aids them in understanding their feelings. Some would even say that it helps them express something they cannot put words to themselves.
Impression. The other side of the coin would argue that music impresses emotions and thoughts. The thought here is that music shapes how we think and feel. Obviously, this is not occurring in a vacuum, but those who lean towards impression would say that music creates or over-amplifies feelings.
I believe that both are valid, but that discernment must be applied to our music choices. Music is one of the - if not THE - most direct pathways to our hearts. Music can create or reveal emotions that few other things can. The right song with the right lyrics can bring tears to our eyes or a smile to our face.
But hidden within the magic of music is also the risk. While music can reveal hidden emotions or help us express how we feel, it can also create emotions in us that were either not previously present or amplify emotions to a place they weren't before - and maybe don't need to be.
To get an idea of what teens are listening to, I looked at the Top 40 for this week. Here are the lyrics to the top two songs on the charts:
Leavin' by Jesse McCartney
Hey baby girl
I've been watching you all day
Man that thing you got behind you is amazing
You make me want to take you out and let it rain
I know you got a man but this is what you should say
[Chorus:]
Why don't you tell him that I'm leavin' never looking back again
You found somebody who does it better than he can
No more making you cry
No more them gray skies
Girl we flying on a g-5, g-5
And we're leavin' never looking back again
So call your shawty you tell him you found a new man
The one who's so so fly
The one to keep you high
Have you singing all night, like that
Now if I talk it girl, you know that I will walk it out
Man I'll put my money money where my mouth is
Cause you're the baddest little thing that I've ever seen
So I'm gonna ask you one time if you got a man
[Chorus]
Don't stress, don't stress, don't stress
Just tell him to the left left left
Don't stress, don't stress, don't stress
Cause we gone & we gone & we gone
No stress, no stress, no stress
Girl you deserve nothing but the best
No stress, no stress, no stress
Girl you need to tell him...
[Chorus]
-------------------------
I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry
This was never the way I planned
Not my intention
I got so brave, drink in hand
Lost my discretion
It's not what
I'm used to
Just wanna try u on
I'm curious for you
Caught my attention
(CHORUS)
I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chapstick
I kissed a girl just to try it
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it
It felt so wrong
It felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl and I liked it
I liked it
(V2)
No I don't even know your name
It doesn't matter
You're my expiramental game
Just human nature
It's not what
Good girls do
Not how they should behave
My head gets
So confused
Hard to obey
(CHORUS)
I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chapstick
I kissed a girl just to try it
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it
It felt so wrong
It felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl and I liked it
I liked it
(BRIDGE)
Us girls we are so magical
Soft skin, red lips, so kissable
Hard to resist so touchable
Too good to deny it
Ain't no big deal, it's innocent
(CHORUS)
I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chapstick
I kissed a girl just to try it
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it
It felt so wrong
It felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl and I liked it
I liked it
------------------
As I look at the lyrics to both of these songs, I wonder what is going on. Is it expression or impression?
In many ways, today's teenagers are not much different than I was as a teen. They are trying to find their way. They are seeking direction and guidance. They want to figure out who they are.
The biggest difference is the voices that are calling out to them. There were voices when I was teenager. Whether it was Centerfold by J. Geils Band, Jack and Diane by John Cougar (before the Mellencamp), or Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard, we had plenty of songs to fuel our teenage emotions as well. It's just that today's stakes seem even higher.
It's amazing to me how, when I hear songs I haven't heard in almost twenty years, I still remember many of the lyrics. Is that expression or impression?
Music has the power to impress words, thoughts, and emotions on our hearts that can last for a lifetime.
I am not saying that music is the only cause of the increased sexuality, disrespect (for adults and peers), depression, and more. But when many teenagers walk around with iPods pumping lyrics like the ones above into their heads for hours a day, what can we expect?
This is not a call for censorship. It is not a statement that we should only listen to Christian music. I don't think that all "secular" music is bad. But, we need to be more intentional about our choices. We should be more selective about the words that shape our hearts.
I don't care how good the music is; if the lyrics have the potential to poison our minds, should we be listening? Is it more important to be entertained than Kingdom-focused? If we are going to be serious about being transformed into the image of God and enjoying the abundant life Jesus talks about, let's begin by controlling the pathway to our heart.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Skin
Why is our culture fascinated with showing so much of it?
I was reminded of this today when I went to sign in to my MySpace account and had to deal with a picture of the Pussycat Dolls. The image that appeared on my computer screen looked more like something I would see in a Victoria Secret’s catalogue or an adult magazine.
Unfortunately, we have become somewhat numb to the sexualization of our culture. We often think nothing of seeing a young girl dressed in so little clothes that the slightest wrong move could reveal the color of her undergarments.
When I go to the mall, I realize that this is a real struggle. Clothing stores don’t help us in our battle. Sex sells. Girls want attention. Boys give attention to girls who dress “sexy.â€
But we are called to be different. We are called to be pure. And that means more than avoiding sexual intercourse. Jesus said, “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.†(Matthew 5:27-28) It’s not just about our physical purity; it’s also about emotional and spiritual purity.
And even if you are not tempted in that way, you have a responsibility to others to consider how you appear. Jesus also said, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. So watch yourselves!†(Luke 17:1-3)
Let’s agree as a community of believers to do everything in our power to avoid temptation. Maybe that’s the way you look at members of the opposite sex. Maybe it’s the way you appear to members of the opposite sex.
You may need to change your wardrobe. It may require you to change your entertainment choices. Regardless of what it takes, let’s make a serious effort to live out the words that Paul wrote to Timothy: “Treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.†(1 Timothy 5:2)
Girls, don’t make it harder for guys to treat you with purity.
Guys, don’t engage in conversations that treat women more as objects than human beings.
Let’s all work together to treat one another as the sons and daughters of the King that we are.
shine!
Jason
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