Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Youth Theology - an Invitation
Youth ministry is often viewed as a side dish of the church. It is a way of dealing with a problem. The problem is that young people are not involved in church. This problem-oriented approach to youth ministry is bound to fail. What lies at the heart of profound ministry to youth is an unfettered proclamation of the gospel: "the Kingdom of God is at hand." If one concedes that youth do in fact have brains, and are capable of comprehending sermons, and Bible studies, then the uncomfortable question emerges: is there a theology worth captivating their attention? Is there truly a gospel message that speaks to them? If so, what is it? If there isn't one, then what might it be?
Here are some potential theological launching points:
To be young is to be fully human. Adulthood is not a destination, but another step on a journey of faith. Babies, children, adolescents, teens, young adults, adults, and seniors are all human beings. One is not better than the other. Each has specific gifts that it offers to the community of the church at large. Language that puts down teenagers is just as oppressive and inappropriate as racist or sexist language. Furthermore youthfulness is a state of being that crosses boundaries of race, gender, class, etc. The experience of adolescence varies from person to person and group to group, and having dialogue among young people from various social locations can contribute to a richer church.
Bringing young people together in conversation, and adopting a theology that prioritizes their experiences will help contribute to living out the Kingdom of God hoped for by many people around the world. Because young people have an innate sense and experience of what it means to be both privleged and oppressed they are natural bridge builders between disparate groups. In other words, it may not be enough to teach young people how to serve the poor, for example. Instead, placing a mirror in front of adolescents so that they might see how they are at times oppressed, and at times the oppressor would help them see the larger issues of justice and righteousness in the world today. This will lead to a solidarity with people who greatly oppressed in the world. Solidarity will lead to social action and the building of a more just world.
What are the needs of youth? What matters most to you? Creating justice with youth begins by creating justice for youth. This is youth theology.
Here are some potential theological launching points:
To be young is to be fully human. Adulthood is not a destination, but another step on a journey of faith. Babies, children, adolescents, teens, young adults, adults, and seniors are all human beings. One is not better than the other. Each has specific gifts that it offers to the community of the church at large. Language that puts down teenagers is just as oppressive and inappropriate as racist or sexist language. Furthermore youthfulness is a state of being that crosses boundaries of race, gender, class, etc. The experience of adolescence varies from person to person and group to group, and having dialogue among young people from various social locations can contribute to a richer church.
Bringing young people together in conversation, and adopting a theology that prioritizes their experiences will help contribute to living out the Kingdom of God hoped for by many people around the world. Because young people have an innate sense and experience of what it means to be both privleged and oppressed they are natural bridge builders between disparate groups. In other words, it may not be enough to teach young people how to serve the poor, for example. Instead, placing a mirror in front of adolescents so that they might see how they are at times oppressed, and at times the oppressor would help them see the larger issues of justice and righteousness in the world today. This will lead to a solidarity with people who greatly oppressed in the world. Solidarity will lead to social action and the building of a more just world.
What are the needs of youth? What matters most to you? Creating justice with youth begins by creating justice for youth. This is youth theology.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Empowerment of Youth...a Dangerous Cocktail
I just finished reading "Flickering Pixels" by Shane Hipps. What a compelling exhortation for people of faith to take a sober account of how "technology shapes your faith." I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the confluence of technology and faith, especially folks in the Theology After Google conversation.
Hipps' peace-making Mennonite Christian faith overlaps with his background in marketing/advertising/media. He has a profound respect for community: face to face interactions, and makes their primacy clear for Christian faith. Yet, he engages media and technology head on, with plenty of cautionary tales, but also a realistic conceit as to how they affect theology!
Hipps argues that the advent of the printing press and the proliferation of printed media were as influential to the Reformation as the content of theologians like Luther and Calvin. He also argues that the ubiquity of images today with TV/internet changes the way persons think and theology too. Here is a priceless quote: "The Internet makes a flat stone of the mind and skips it across the surface of the world's information ocean. A book, by contrast, is a sturdy submarine, diving the mind deep into the sea" (pg 146).
Most fascinating of all was Hipps' insight into the “empowerment of youth.” Because they learn and adapt to technology faster, argues Hipps, they become the ones in control--the adults, and adults become the marginalized—the young; thus a reversal of power. He then goes on to highlight some forms of encrypted language people use for drug use and other illicit behavior. Another quote: “This unprecedented empowerment of youth, along with our image-fueled obsession with beauty, is a dangerous cocktail. In a culture that worships youth, what incentive do our kids have to ever grow up?” (139)
What’s wrong with empowering youth? I would argue that the problem exposed is not empowerment of youth; the problem/danger is the exploitation of youth. If young people are given the chance to be full participants in the body of Christ, they will. Youth are human beings. They are not deranged beings with insatiable appetites for drugs, sex, and rock and roll (ok maybe rock and roll). They have insatiable appetites for community! If kids invent language for drug use, this is in large part because they are being exploited by a network of drug dealers (probably with influential adults at the top), and not given proper oversight and boundaries. I agree with Hipps whole-heartedly that boundaries are essential for youth, just as they are essential for adults. I think that an emerging theology of the 21st century that openly recognizes the influence of media is one where young people are empowered to be full members of the body of Christ. The gospel for youth is that Jesus at 12 years old was in the temple teaching the adults.* Youth, who are empowered by technology have an opportunity to teach adults something about God, just as Jesus did, and Mary, David, Samuel, Ruth, Abel, Hagar, Ishmael…
Hipps’ cautionary notes are still perfectly valid. Technology can liberate, but can also be used to enslave. The task of the church is to take the advice of McLuhan seriously, “There is absolutely no inevitability as long as there is a willingness to contemplate what is happening” (182).
*Thank you Angelina, for reminding me of the story of 12-year-old Jesus.
Hipps' peace-making Mennonite Christian faith overlaps with his background in marketing/advertising/media. He has a profound respect for community: face to face interactions, and makes their primacy clear for Christian faith. Yet, he engages media and technology head on, with plenty of cautionary tales, but also a realistic conceit as to how they affect theology!
Hipps argues that the advent of the printing press and the proliferation of printed media were as influential to the Reformation as the content of theologians like Luther and Calvin. He also argues that the ubiquity of images today with TV/internet changes the way persons think and theology too. Here is a priceless quote: "The Internet makes a flat stone of the mind and skips it across the surface of the world's information ocean. A book, by contrast, is a sturdy submarine, diving the mind deep into the sea" (pg 146).
Most fascinating of all was Hipps' insight into the “empowerment of youth.” Because they learn and adapt to technology faster, argues Hipps, they become the ones in control--the adults, and adults become the marginalized—the young; thus a reversal of power. He then goes on to highlight some forms of encrypted language people use for drug use and other illicit behavior. Another quote: “This unprecedented empowerment of youth, along with our image-fueled obsession with beauty, is a dangerous cocktail. In a culture that worships youth, what incentive do our kids have to ever grow up?” (139)
What’s wrong with empowering youth? I would argue that the problem exposed is not empowerment of youth; the problem/danger is the exploitation of youth. If young people are given the chance to be full participants in the body of Christ, they will. Youth are human beings. They are not deranged beings with insatiable appetites for drugs, sex, and rock and roll (ok maybe rock and roll). They have insatiable appetites for community! If kids invent language for drug use, this is in large part because they are being exploited by a network of drug dealers (probably with influential adults at the top), and not given proper oversight and boundaries. I agree with Hipps whole-heartedly that boundaries are essential for youth, just as they are essential for adults. I think that an emerging theology of the 21st century that openly recognizes the influence of media is one where young people are empowered to be full members of the body of Christ. The gospel for youth is that Jesus at 12 years old was in the temple teaching the adults.* Youth, who are empowered by technology have an opportunity to teach adults something about God, just as Jesus did, and Mary, David, Samuel, Ruth, Abel, Hagar, Ishmael…
Hipps’ cautionary notes are still perfectly valid. Technology can liberate, but can also be used to enslave. The task of the church is to take the advice of McLuhan seriously, “There is absolutely no inevitability as long as there is a willingness to contemplate what is happening” (182).
*Thank you Angelina, for reminding me of the story of 12-year-old Jesus.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
youth and interreligious conversation
Last night at hs youth group, a super cool guy, by the name of Rami shared his faith with us. He is a Muslim, which means he practices Islam, or as he describes it: submission to God. Rami was very honest and articulate about his faith, and shared openly about what he believes and why. He was generous and kind, not judgmental in the least, and open to questions as well as eager to learn more about the Christian experience. At the end of our time together, Rami prayed, one of the the five times during the day that he does an intentional form of prayer.
His prayer was at least five minutes long, and in mostly complete silence. Everyone at our youth group was totally silent, respectful, and observant. But what struck me most profoundly was the openness and inquisitiveness of our young people.
This is week four in a multi-week series of inviting people to come and share their faith with our youth group. I have found that the youth are so curious! They really want to know about the religious experiences of these people. Sometimes biases come out, in both directions, but never in a seldom to never in a condescending tone. This is led me to a hypothesis:
Young people are specially equipped to have religious dialogue. Their brains are more plastic than adults. They are not "locked" into one way of looking at the world. They themselves are more likely to be honest about still figuring out their own faith, so the conversation tends to be more candid. As they begin to understand their faith in the context of a wider spectrum of religion, they gain insight and wisdom. This wisdom allows them to observe their own assumptions critically, and critical self-reflection is essential to authentic religious experience. I'm going to go reflect on that for a while.
His prayer was at least five minutes long, and in mostly complete silence. Everyone at our youth group was totally silent, respectful, and observant. But what struck me most profoundly was the openness and inquisitiveness of our young people.
This is week four in a multi-week series of inviting people to come and share their faith with our youth group. I have found that the youth are so curious! They really want to know about the religious experiences of these people. Sometimes biases come out, in both directions, but never in a seldom to never in a condescending tone. This is led me to a hypothesis:
Young people are specially equipped to have religious dialogue. Their brains are more plastic than adults. They are not "locked" into one way of looking at the world. They themselves are more likely to be honest about still figuring out their own faith, so the conversation tends to be more candid. As they begin to understand their faith in the context of a wider spectrum of religion, they gain insight and wisdom. This wisdom allows them to observe their own assumptions critically, and critical self-reflection is essential to authentic religious experience. I'm going to go reflect on that for a while.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Tila Tequila & Theology After Google
I read this article in the LA Times today about Tila Tequila. I had never heard of her before, but maybe that's because I live in a salt mine (self snark). She had her own show on MTV, and a cultish following on Twitter. The story was a very provocative follow up to the recent Theology After Google (TAG) conference, also covered by the LA Times - which gives you a taste of the spectrum of life in southern California.
Sex. It's a huge issue on the internet and in the post Google world, but I am just now realizing that the TAG conference mostly avoided it. The Times article highlighted how Tila's sexuality had been exploited from an early age first by the online version of Playboy, then the magazine, Twitter, and MTV. Tila very successfully built a loyal fan base, but seemingly at the cost of her own identity. This is an extreme example of the dangers of becoming absorbed into online social media. Tila said that she would be feeling horrible in the middle of the night, then get on twitter and reveal extremely personal information and images, which was a "temporary high." The next day she would have to answer to the media who were having a heyday, sending her into another depression.
Tila is only 28 years old. She is quite young. I am concerned about how life after Google, can so easily exploit and enable young people to exploit themselves on the internet. Theology After Google should speak prophetically, by that I mean: speak truthfully, honestly, and critically, to the places of power on the internet that enable this kind of exploitation. Theology After Google should also speak words of Gospel to young people who geot caught up in such schemes and offer them an alternative way of living. This means being honest with young people and exhorting them to have boundaries and value their sexuality as a sacred gift, not as a commodity.
Young people have the skills and the desire to make connections on the internet. The church must ask itself if we are inviting the voices of young people to be a part of our conversation. Are we? What can the church do to offer a positive interaction and online community that values young people as children of God and vessels of grace?
Sex. It's a huge issue on the internet and in the post Google world, but I am just now realizing that the TAG conference mostly avoided it. The Times article highlighted how Tila's sexuality had been exploited from an early age first by the online version of Playboy, then the magazine, Twitter, and MTV. Tila very successfully built a loyal fan base, but seemingly at the cost of her own identity. This is an extreme example of the dangers of becoming absorbed into online social media. Tila said that she would be feeling horrible in the middle of the night, then get on twitter and reveal extremely personal information and images, which was a "temporary high." The next day she would have to answer to the media who were having a heyday, sending her into another depression.
Tila is only 28 years old. She is quite young. I am concerned about how life after Google, can so easily exploit and enable young people to exploit themselves on the internet. Theology After Google should speak prophetically, by that I mean: speak truthfully, honestly, and critically, to the places of power on the internet that enable this kind of exploitation. Theology After Google should also speak words of Gospel to young people who geot caught up in such schemes and offer them an alternative way of living. This means being honest with young people and exhorting them to have boundaries and value their sexuality as a sacred gift, not as a commodity.
Young people have the skills and the desire to make connections on the internet. The church must ask itself if we are inviting the voices of young people to be a part of our conversation. Are we? What can the church do to offer a positive interaction and online community that values young people as children of God and vessels of grace?
Monday, March 15, 2010
Crazy Deal at Buca di Beppo
This blog post is dedicated to finding a cheap meal for your family/friends. We just did it, and it worked! Today only Buca di Beppo has a promotion: a free personal size serving of spaghetti along with an order of a small or large pasta or entree. But to maximize your saving you should also use this coupon: $10 off of $20 spent.
The best bang for buck is to order two small spaghetti's with marinara sauce (10.45 each). A "small" can easily feed two people. With each of those smalls you get your free serving of spaghetti (with or without meat sauce). That means you get enough spaghetti for six people for 20.90 minus 10.00 (from your coupon), for a total of 10.90 (pre-tax)!
Dinner for six at Buca di Beppo for $10.90 can't be beat! Let me know if you take advantage!
Good Luck,
-Wes
The best bang for buck is to order two small spaghetti's with marinara sauce (10.45 each). A "small" can easily feed two people. With each of those smalls you get your free serving of spaghetti (with or without meat sauce). That means you get enough spaghetti for six people for 20.90 minus 10.00 (from your coupon), for a total of 10.90 (pre-tax)!
Dinner for six at Buca di Beppo for $10.90 can't be beat! Let me know if you take advantage!
Good Luck,
-Wes
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