Feeling Like the Elephant Man
8/23/2007
People always stared at John Merrick. Terribly disfigured by a congenital disease, the 19th century Englishman was an oddity. He was different. Double takes and shocked glances were thrown at the man every time he went out in public. Some laughed. Others pointed in disgust. Still others ran away in fear. Because of his unusual appearance, nobody was quite sure how to respond to the "Elephant Man."
At times I feel a slight kinship with Merrick. It's not due to any physical deformity. Rather, it's from what is the belief among some that a passion to know and understand today's youth culture is not normal or right, but a mark of "spiritual disfigurement." Consequently, there are times when I find myself on the receiving end of "double takes" and "glances of disgust" as fellow Christians question the validity of the CPYU's mission, commitment and call. Sometimes the disapproval comes in the form of verbal challenges to our theology - a theology our critics say is abiblical. Some are offended by our forthrightness in communicating the reality of the world of today's children and teens. They tell us we've "sold out" to worldliness. Others think CPYU is producing trash - trash that is poisoning pure hearts and minds. We're asked, "Why do you have to show us those pictures, tell us those stories and print those song lyrics?"
As a friend of mine (who shares our commitment to know the culture and has experienced the same response) once said, "Get used to it. When you seek to understand, engage, infiltrate and transform the culture, you're too Christian for your pagan friends, and too pagan for your Christian friends."
Still, in the midst of it all, our mission, commitment, and call remain distinct and clear. We are confident and haven't wavered. We believe our theology of culture is Biblical. It's a theology that demands, for the sake of the missiological advance of God's Kingdom, that we diligently strive to know the world of today's youth culture. It's a non-negotiable given. We continue to listen to kids and their culture. I personally read what they read, watch what they watch and listen to what they listen to.
Because of what I do, people ask one recurring question: "Why?" It's an important question. Why have I spent the last 10 years of my life in full-time pursuit of getting to know youth culture? Why are we working to convince the Church to aggressively do the same? And why are we committed to providing youth culture information and analysis through the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding? The answers are many. Here are five.
First, there's a divine given that is non-negotiable. The followers of Christ have no option but to go into the world of children and teens. Jesus said, "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life ... instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:18-20, The Message). Today's youth culture is a cross-cultural mission field that groans for redemption. While youth culture is a mission field that's geographically near (in our own homes, schools and churches), it is ideologically and experientially far from what we faced or knew when we were passing through our own adolescent years. We can't sit back and wait for the youth culture to come to us. Rather, our initiative must include the resolve to go to youth culture, meeting kids right where they are with the only message that will quiet their groans.
Second, to go without knowing our audience and their culture is foolish. When one hears the divine call to foreign missions, they don't immediately pack their bags, hop on a plane, arrive on the mission field and jump right into preaching. Such an approach is a recipe for frustration and failure. Instead, months or years are spent learning the native tongue and unique culture/customs of the audience. If you want to "go" to China, you've got to know the Chinese people and their world. If you want to "go" to teens, you've got to know the kids and their world. This "missiological" approach has Biblical precedent. Read about Paul's trip into Athens (Acts 17). Before Paul begins to preach, he walks through the city with his ears and eyes open to learn as much as he can about the Athenians and their world view. Effective ministry to today's emerging generations must be preceded by the same approach. We've got to know them and their rapidly changing cultural context.
Third, we've been losing our ability to connect. The two biggest complaints we hear from today's teens about their parents, the church and adults in general are: "They don't listen" and "They don't understand." Their gripes are legitimate. If we don't listen, we can't understand. And if we don't understand, they won't want to listen. It doesn't matter how true our message is or how passionate and noble our efforts to communicate that message are. If we don't speak to them from the vantage point of knowing them and their world, chances are they'll have little or no interest in what we've got to say.
It's no wonder parents, pastors, youth workers and educators are frustrated. Fewer kids are listening. Not because they don't want to, but because they can't hear the life-changing message we've got to share. Sadly, they're going elsewhere for "answers." When Paul finally opened his mouth to share the Truth with the Athenians, he did so with a deep understanding of the people and their culture. He had been observant; so observant he was able to quote directly from the inscriptions on their idols and the words of their poets. Because he exposed his eyes, mind and heart to their expressions of themselves in their pictures, stories and lyrics, they were all ears. He had gotten under the skin of their popular culture and it helped him to connect. Paul's knowledge of their pagan culture didn't result in spiritual suicide. Rather, it was used by God to bring the spiritually dead back to life! Paul had listened to them and their world. He understood. As a result, he connected! There's a message there for a 21st century church that's gotten to the point where it's struggling even to preach to its own choir.
Fourth, we've never been called to be separate from the world. Knowing full well that we might be tempted to curl up in Christian complacency or circle the wagons, Jesus made it abundantly clear that we are to be in the world, but not of the world: "I'm not asking that you take them out of the world, but that you guard them from the Evil One" (John 17:15, The Message). There's a huge difference between being isolated and being different. If we were called to be isolated, Jesus would have never commanded us to go. He would never have commanded us to be salt, functioning to season and preserve our bland and decaying culture. He would have never commanded us to be light, shining bright in the midst of deep spiritual darkness. And he never would have commanded us to be sheep in the midst of wolves, fully and lovingly protected by the Good Shepherd from the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy. Theologian John Stott has caught the reality of our calling in these words: "Every Christian needs two conversions. One from the world to Christ, and another back into the world with Christ."
And finally, this is what we've been called to do. Like it or not (and sometimes I don't!), this is the specific work that God has established, in His grace and sovereignty, for CPYU to do.
I recently heard of a 14-year-old girl who decided her faith required her to work to redeem - rather than run from - her culture. Becky told her parents about a group of kids in her school who seemed to be the most antagonistic toward Christianity and the farthest away from faith. Instead of telling their daughter to "stay away from those kids," Mom and Dad encouraged her to answer God's call to "go" by being "salt and light" in the little corner of youth culture where she lived. The little lamb went into the midst of the wolves. Becky began inviting them over to her house every Thursday night for a "Bible Debate Party."
Over time, the group grew. Dad bought a 15-passenger van to pick up those who had no ride. After congregating in the driveway, this rough group would extinguish their cigarettes and come into the family room. There they would eat pizza (provided by the family) and talk, sometimes for hours. The topic was always open to whatever was on the group's mind. Any subject was fair game. Kids shot straight. They talked intimately about their pain, anger and struggles. They used profanity. They talked openly about the immoral things they were doing in life. There was only one rule: whatever the topic, Becky and her parents would respond by sharing God's perspective on the issue at hand.
Four amazing things happened. First, this was the only opportunity many of these kids ever had to speak openly to a Christian who was truly listening. They knew they were being heard and understood.
Second, Becky and her parents heard and learned a lot about the ugly reality of the real world of these kids. They were gaining deep insights into the youth culture of those kids.
Third, by knowing their cultural context, Becky and her parents were able to share the truths of God's Word in understandable language and relevance right at the point of their need. Like Jesus, Paul and countless other Saints through history, this little family did cross-cultural missions work that connected!
And fourth, God used their efforts to transform young lives. One young girl who had been involved in Satanism didn't miss a week. Eventually, God used Becky to call the girl to faith. She wrote Becky a note: "Thank you for turning me to God. I hope I can repay you some day."
Theologian Helmut Thielicke wrote, "The Gospel must repeatedly be forwarded to a new address because the recipient is repeatedly changing places of residence." Today's youth culture is like a "Change of Address" form screaming out at the church: "Please take note!" We'll continue to work to figure out where kids "live" for the sake of God's Kingdom. If you care about kids, I trust you'll do the same. But be prepared, you'll not only see God do amazing things, you might also get some funny looks.
At times I feel a slight kinship with Merrick. It's not due to any physical deformity. Rather, it's from what is the belief among some that a passion to know and understand today's youth culture is not normal or right, but a mark of "spiritual disfigurement." Consequently, there are times when I find myself on the receiving end of "double takes" and "glances of disgust" as fellow Christians question the validity of the CPYU's mission, commitment and call. Sometimes the disapproval comes in the form of verbal challenges to our theology - a theology our critics say is abiblical. Some are offended by our forthrightness in communicating the reality of the world of today's children and teens. They tell us we've "sold out" to worldliness. Others think CPYU is producing trash - trash that is poisoning pure hearts and minds. We're asked, "Why do you have to show us those pictures, tell us those stories and print those song lyrics?"
As a friend of mine (who shares our commitment to know the culture and has experienced the same response) once said, "Get used to it. When you seek to understand, engage, infiltrate and transform the culture, you're too Christian for your pagan friends, and too pagan for your Christian friends."
Still, in the midst of it all, our mission, commitment, and call remain distinct and clear. We are confident and haven't wavered. We believe our theology of culture is Biblical. It's a theology that demands, for the sake of the missiological advance of God's Kingdom, that we diligently strive to know the world of today's youth culture. It's a non-negotiable given. We continue to listen to kids and their culture. I personally read what they read, watch what they watch and listen to what they listen to.
Because of what I do, people ask one recurring question: "Why?" It's an important question. Why have I spent the last 10 years of my life in full-time pursuit of getting to know youth culture? Why are we working to convince the Church to aggressively do the same? And why are we committed to providing youth culture information and analysis through the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding? The answers are many. Here are five.
First, there's a divine given that is non-negotiable. The followers of Christ have no option but to go into the world of children and teens. Jesus said, "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life ... instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:18-20, The Message). Today's youth culture is a cross-cultural mission field that groans for redemption. While youth culture is a mission field that's geographically near (in our own homes, schools and churches), it is ideologically and experientially far from what we faced or knew when we were passing through our own adolescent years. We can't sit back and wait for the youth culture to come to us. Rather, our initiative must include the resolve to go to youth culture, meeting kids right where they are with the only message that will quiet their groans.
Second, to go without knowing our audience and their culture is foolish. When one hears the divine call to foreign missions, they don't immediately pack their bags, hop on a plane, arrive on the mission field and jump right into preaching. Such an approach is a recipe for frustration and failure. Instead, months or years are spent learning the native tongue and unique culture/customs of the audience. If you want to "go" to China, you've got to know the Chinese people and their world. If you want to "go" to teens, you've got to know the kids and their world. This "missiological" approach has Biblical precedent. Read about Paul's trip into Athens (Acts 17). Before Paul begins to preach, he walks through the city with his ears and eyes open to learn as much as he can about the Athenians and their world view. Effective ministry to today's emerging generations must be preceded by the same approach. We've got to know them and their rapidly changing cultural context.
Third, we've been losing our ability to connect. The two biggest complaints we hear from today's teens about their parents, the church and adults in general are: "They don't listen" and "They don't understand." Their gripes are legitimate. If we don't listen, we can't understand. And if we don't understand, they won't want to listen. It doesn't matter how true our message is or how passionate and noble our efforts to communicate that message are. If we don't speak to them from the vantage point of knowing them and their world, chances are they'll have little or no interest in what we've got to say.
It's no wonder parents, pastors, youth workers and educators are frustrated. Fewer kids are listening. Not because they don't want to, but because they can't hear the life-changing message we've got to share. Sadly, they're going elsewhere for "answers." When Paul finally opened his mouth to share the Truth with the Athenians, he did so with a deep understanding of the people and their culture. He had been observant; so observant he was able to quote directly from the inscriptions on their idols and the words of their poets. Because he exposed his eyes, mind and heart to their expressions of themselves in their pictures, stories and lyrics, they were all ears. He had gotten under the skin of their popular culture and it helped him to connect. Paul's knowledge of their pagan culture didn't result in spiritual suicide. Rather, it was used by God to bring the spiritually dead back to life! Paul had listened to them and their world. He understood. As a result, he connected! There's a message there for a 21st century church that's gotten to the point where it's struggling even to preach to its own choir.
Fourth, we've never been called to be separate from the world. Knowing full well that we might be tempted to curl up in Christian complacency or circle the wagons, Jesus made it abundantly clear that we are to be in the world, but not of the world: "I'm not asking that you take them out of the world, but that you guard them from the Evil One" (John 17:15, The Message). There's a huge difference between being isolated and being different. If we were called to be isolated, Jesus would have never commanded us to go. He would never have commanded us to be salt, functioning to season and preserve our bland and decaying culture. He would have never commanded us to be light, shining bright in the midst of deep spiritual darkness. And he never would have commanded us to be sheep in the midst of wolves, fully and lovingly protected by the Good Shepherd from the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy. Theologian John Stott has caught the reality of our calling in these words: "Every Christian needs two conversions. One from the world to Christ, and another back into the world with Christ."
And finally, this is what we've been called to do. Like it or not (and sometimes I don't!), this is the specific work that God has established, in His grace and sovereignty, for CPYU to do.
I recently heard of a 14-year-old girl who decided her faith required her to work to redeem - rather than run from - her culture. Becky told her parents about a group of kids in her school who seemed to be the most antagonistic toward Christianity and the farthest away from faith. Instead of telling their daughter to "stay away from those kids," Mom and Dad encouraged her to answer God's call to "go" by being "salt and light" in the little corner of youth culture where she lived. The little lamb went into the midst of the wolves. Becky began inviting them over to her house every Thursday night for a "Bible Debate Party."
Over time, the group grew. Dad bought a 15-passenger van to pick up those who had no ride. After congregating in the driveway, this rough group would extinguish their cigarettes and come into the family room. There they would eat pizza (provided by the family) and talk, sometimes for hours. The topic was always open to whatever was on the group's mind. Any subject was fair game. Kids shot straight. They talked intimately about their pain, anger and struggles. They used profanity. They talked openly about the immoral things they were doing in life. There was only one rule: whatever the topic, Becky and her parents would respond by sharing God's perspective on the issue at hand.
Four amazing things happened. First, this was the only opportunity many of these kids ever had to speak openly to a Christian who was truly listening. They knew they were being heard and understood.
Second, Becky and her parents heard and learned a lot about the ugly reality of the real world of these kids. They were gaining deep insights into the youth culture of those kids.
Third, by knowing their cultural context, Becky and her parents were able to share the truths of God's Word in understandable language and relevance right at the point of their need. Like Jesus, Paul and countless other Saints through history, this little family did cross-cultural missions work that connected!
And fourth, God used their efforts to transform young lives. One young girl who had been involved in Satanism didn't miss a week. Eventually, God used Becky to call the girl to faith. She wrote Becky a note: "Thank you for turning me to God. I hope I can repay you some day."
Theologian Helmut Thielicke wrote, "The Gospel must repeatedly be forwarded to a new address because the recipient is repeatedly changing places of residence." Today's youth culture is like a "Change of Address" form screaming out at the church: "Please take note!" We'll continue to work to figure out where kids "live" for the sake of God's Kingdom. If you care about kids, I trust you'll do the same. But be prepared, you'll not only see God do amazing things, you might also get some funny looks.
Conversation
Post new comment