Paris Hilton is searching for a new best friend via reality television. And the show will be as humorous, trashy and ridiculous as you can imagine. My wife and I only watched briefly before continuing on, but I couldn't help but think...a lot of teenagers, including yours, will be watching this show...
The majority of the posts on this blog have to do with culture and Christ...and how the two relate in terms of your teenagers. I recently came across the article, "Pop Goes the Church," where pastor Tim Stevens writes,
"We are surrounded by pop culture. Every family, every community, and every church has to deal with this reality. It is a new day...We live squarely in the middle of a media-driven, entertainment-crazed world. People around us are not only watching and listening - they are actually shaping their values through the movies, books, songs and TV shows that fill their world. We can get angry about that. We can throw a tantrum, sign a petition, and support a boycott. That's all fine and dandy. But it won't change the facts. The influence of pop culture is here, and it is here to stay. And it is having a drastic impact on the way the people around us pursue and experience their faith."
As ridiculous and outlandish Paris' show may be...it touches on something deep inside us all...the need for community - for friends. My hope is that you can begin to engage your student in conversations using what they're already experiencing...
Stevens later writes, "Somehow, our theology has taught us that God speaks only at church. He only talks to us through his written word or through an individual (aka pastor of priest) who has been trained. This belief is very confusing to us when we feel God tugging at our heart through culture."
I recently watched a movie with no Christian ties or implications...but at the end I had been profoundly impacted. As I wiped away the tears, I realized I had experienced God in a way I had never expected. My goal through this blog is to help you as a parent to better understand the culture your teenager finds themselves in - but my passion is for you to engage your teenager where they are. Rather than shutting off the tv when you find your teen watching "Paris' New BFF," create a conversation...then choose whether to shut it off or not.
Check out how Paul, in Acts 17, chooses to engage the Athenians with God's truth. As families...be weary of embracing or immersing yourself in culture, but be weary of condemning or seperating yourself from culture...instead let's leverage culture!
2 comments:
Thanks for the encouragement to not retreat from the culture. I recently read "Fearless Faith" by John Fischer and although I would not agree totally with throwing out the Christian subculture there is truth in the reminder that we need to be in the world...but not of it. I am currently reading "The Beautiful Fight" by Gary Thomas and he reminds us that it is not in putting down a bunch of rules to follow that you obtain a Christlike life...but in changing your heart to WANT to do what is right and make the right choices...to be come holy is something that comes from your heart...your relationship with Christ. My prayer is that our teens will grasp that desire for themselves...the desire to love God so much that they will give up everything...what they watch, what they read, what they listen to...if it isn't in line with what God says. That they won't need rules or us to turn off what is inappropriate, but instead that they will love God so much their focus will be on Him and His will for their lives. None of us are there yet, but we are all in the beautiful fight together. Can we ever get to the point in our faith where we are willing to give up our very lives for what we believe? I pray some day our faith will be that strong and our teens will see it and own it as well. Thanks for reminding us that you are there with us too. God Bless your ministry!
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