One of the greatest windows into the current culture of your students is the annual MTV Video Music Awards. I wasn't able to watch Sunday night but caught them online today. Most everyone already knows about the Kayne West/Taylor Swift fiasco, but there were so many more key glimpes into the world of students. Of note especially was Lady Gaga and her performance. She is worth paying attention to since she is one of the main voices influencing your students.
But instead of taking my word on it and repeating what many worthwhile folks have already blogged, let me give you a link to go to. Walt Mueller is a foremost expert and culture guru in Student Ministry. I read him every chance I get. He gave a very thoughtful and insightful breakdown of the VMA's a couple of nights ago on his blog. I highly suggest it. Go to learningmylines.blogspot.com to get his take on the famous night.
I also suggest you watch a little bit of the VMA's yourself, just to begin to get a pulse on the worldviews out there. You can watch the entire program or each segment separately at www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2009 .
As much as you may not like much of what's in it, the music and video industry is a mainstream window into the world of your teen. If we're gonna have a chance to redeem culture we need to see and understand it first (not necessarily agree with it). Catching glimpes afforded us by mogul giants like MTV help us see and hear the hearts and souls of a generation that is normally very guarded with us. Look for these opportunities and think through how Christ would use them.
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good point. you can also learn alot of the teenage culture, just by reading the lyrics to most songs. it isnt just what they are watching but what is unconsciously going into their ears (lady gaga's lyrics especially).
ReplyDeleteI don't mean to be a "wet blanket" or a "spiritual Sam", but we are not called to redeem the culture, nor to understand it. Neither are we to find ways to have one foot in the culture and one foot in Christianity. To engage in such vane efforts, is to behave as Israel was behaving leading up to the confrontation with the priests of Baal on Mt. Carmel. (OBTW, there is no such thing as a "carnal Christian".) We are to preach the Gospel! Youth AND adults who attend church do NOT need leaders who are up to date on all of the latest trends, music, show biz happenings, etc. They need pastors, elders, teachers who care about their souls and set the example of how to redeem the TIME God has granted us. Just as parents who try to be friends with their children fail, so do church leaders who try to be cool with the world. We are called to preach the Gospel, to disciple those who have been regenerated by our Father, and to minister to those in need! A closing sidenote: If you attract people to a church/ministry/ etc. with carnal tactics, the only way to "keep" them there is with carnal tactics. I've yet to have anyone show me a section of Scripture that promotes or even implies that doing so is proper.
ReplyDeleteIn his article, Mr. Mueller writes that he tends to believe that "...the cultural-generational gap that exists in today's world is due more to the pace of cultural change than to ideological differences. "
ReplyDeleteNO!!!!! The generational gap is due to foolishness being bound up in the heart of a child" (Whether that child is 4, 14, 24, 34, or 44 years old) and the failure of parents to be parents as described in God's Holy Word. To blame the gap on cultural change is to discard God's stance on this issue in favor of an academia, elitist view.