The Secret Life of a Christian Teenager
8/11/2008
When you first hear the title of ABC Family’s new series - The Secret Life of an American Teenager, one might say-
Duh!
Seriously - don’t most teenagers have somewhat of a secret life? That’s like starting a new show called The Dysfunctional Lives of Hardened Criminals.
I’m not saying that it’s cool to have a secret life, but it’s just the way a boatload of 13-18 year olds decide to do things.
So in The Secret Life… we have a band girl getting pregnant, a super Christian cheerleader, unhappy marriages, and a multitude of backstabbing betrayals and blistering banter.
In other words, pretty much like real life.
I wouldn’t know how God feels about this show - He probably doesn’t watch TV because He already knows what’s coming anyway…but I do, however, know how God feels about the secret lives of Christian teenagers.
You know what I’m talking about, right? If not, let me lay it out for you:
Sunday morning
Whoa! Today is church, right? Yikes, I need to do some serious confessing so I don’t, like, get struck by lighting or have a serious Bible dropped on my head from above. Oh, and I need to remember to activate the cussing filter and tell the youth leader how I’ve been praying and reading the Bible. Yeah, I’ll confess that one too…later.
Monday-Friday
Yesssss. Back at school where some people know I’m a Christian, but I sure don’t want to come off like some Jesus Freak or something. That’s why I let the profanity fly when the situation demands it, judge others based on how they look, and c’mon - does Jesus really expect me to save sexual pleasure for marriage? Oh - and I’m definitely going to that party Friday night - even though I know my parents think I’m just out with friends. And even though there’s going to be enough booze and drugs to supply a small nation…I’m just going so I can maybe talk to people about God…right?
Saturday
I guess I had fun…but why do I feel so guilty inside? Everybody is doing this secret life stuff, but nobody seems happy. I thought having a relationship with Christ was supposed to bring me joy and contentment, but all I’m getting is shame and loneliness.
Sunday morning
Whoa! Today is church, right? Yikes, I need to do some serious confessing so I don’t, like, get struck by lighting or have a serious Bible dropped on my head from above…
And the pattern continues. And this is the review that God is sending your way-
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” (Revelation 3:15-17)
Get the point? A secret life is a ‘lukewarm’ life that dishonors God’s name and makes Christianity a joke. But you already knew that, right? The secret life of a Christian teenager is a fast track trip to the worst life possible. Why? Well, people who aren’t Christians live life apart from knowing the way God designed it. So partying and acting selfishly and choosing destructively come naturally for them.
But Christians are the only people on planet earth who have the Holy Spirit of God living inside them. And when we choose to live life contrary to God’s design, we literally make God sick. That’s why when He sees the secret lives of Christian teenagers, He wants to ‘spit you’ out of His mouth!
When you think about it, holding on to sinful patterns from our non-Christian days is madness and insanity. Einstein defined ‘crazy’ as “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” - and isn’t that the plot line for The Secret Life of a Christian Teenager? Haven’t we figured out by now that breaking God’s commands and rebelling against His will always trashes your life and those around you?
The truly amazing thing is that obeying God and living life His way will bring the very results that you are trying to achieve by partying and hooking up. A life devoted to purity, holiness, and commitment to Jesus has paybacks you can’t possibly imagine.
I know - because I’ve been there. So my encouragement is this-
If you’re living the secret life of a Christian teenager, cancel the show. Live your life out in the open and fully committed to Christ.
I promise you’ll never regret a decision like that!
Head: Christians who live double lives dishonor God’s name and make Christianity a joke.
Heart: Feel motivated that through the power of the Holy Spirit, you don’t have to crawl through the manure pile that dominates the lives of many teenagers. Breathe the free and pure air of Christianity, and you’ll never go back to a double life again.
Hands: Take some time this week to evaluate your life in light of the way the Bible teaches us to live. Pray the prayer of David in Psalm 139-
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life (Psalm 139:23-24).
Lane Palmer serves as a writer for Dare 2 Share Ministries International (D2S) in Arvada, Colorado, a ministry committed to energizing and equipping teenagers to know, live, share and own their faith in Jesus. For more information about D2S, please visit www.dare2share.org.
Duh!
Seriously - don’t most teenagers have somewhat of a secret life? That’s like starting a new show called The Dysfunctional Lives of Hardened Criminals.
I’m not saying that it’s cool to have a secret life, but it’s just the way a boatload of 13-18 year olds decide to do things.
So in The Secret Life… we have a band girl getting pregnant, a super Christian cheerleader, unhappy marriages, and a multitude of backstabbing betrayals and blistering banter.
In other words, pretty much like real life.
I wouldn’t know how God feels about this show - He probably doesn’t watch TV because He already knows what’s coming anyway…but I do, however, know how God feels about the secret lives of Christian teenagers.
You know what I’m talking about, right? If not, let me lay it out for you:
Sunday morning
Whoa! Today is church, right? Yikes, I need to do some serious confessing so I don’t, like, get struck by lighting or have a serious Bible dropped on my head from above. Oh, and I need to remember to activate the cussing filter and tell the youth leader how I’ve been praying and reading the Bible. Yeah, I’ll confess that one too…later.
Monday-Friday
Yesssss. Back at school where some people know I’m a Christian, but I sure don’t want to come off like some Jesus Freak or something. That’s why I let the profanity fly when the situation demands it, judge others based on how they look, and c’mon - does Jesus really expect me to save sexual pleasure for marriage? Oh - and I’m definitely going to that party Friday night - even though I know my parents think I’m just out with friends. And even though there’s going to be enough booze and drugs to supply a small nation…I’m just going so I can maybe talk to people about God…right?
Saturday
I guess I had fun…but why do I feel so guilty inside? Everybody is doing this secret life stuff, but nobody seems happy. I thought having a relationship with Christ was supposed to bring me joy and contentment, but all I’m getting is shame and loneliness.
Sunday morning
Whoa! Today is church, right? Yikes, I need to do some serious confessing so I don’t, like, get struck by lighting or have a serious Bible dropped on my head from above…
And the pattern continues. And this is the review that God is sending your way-
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” (Revelation 3:15-17)
Get the point? A secret life is a ‘lukewarm’ life that dishonors God’s name and makes Christianity a joke. But you already knew that, right? The secret life of a Christian teenager is a fast track trip to the worst life possible. Why? Well, people who aren’t Christians live life apart from knowing the way God designed it. So partying and acting selfishly and choosing destructively come naturally for them.
But Christians are the only people on planet earth who have the Holy Spirit of God living inside them. And when we choose to live life contrary to God’s design, we literally make God sick. That’s why when He sees the secret lives of Christian teenagers, He wants to ‘spit you’ out of His mouth!
When you think about it, holding on to sinful patterns from our non-Christian days is madness and insanity. Einstein defined ‘crazy’ as “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” - and isn’t that the plot line for The Secret Life of a Christian Teenager? Haven’t we figured out by now that breaking God’s commands and rebelling against His will always trashes your life and those around you?
The truly amazing thing is that obeying God and living life His way will bring the very results that you are trying to achieve by partying and hooking up. A life devoted to purity, holiness, and commitment to Jesus has paybacks you can’t possibly imagine.
I know - because I’ve been there. So my encouragement is this-
If you’re living the secret life of a Christian teenager, cancel the show. Live your life out in the open and fully committed to Christ.
I promise you’ll never regret a decision like that!
Head: Christians who live double lives dishonor God’s name and make Christianity a joke.
Heart: Feel motivated that through the power of the Holy Spirit, you don’t have to crawl through the manure pile that dominates the lives of many teenagers. Breathe the free and pure air of Christianity, and you’ll never go back to a double life again.
Hands: Take some time this week to evaluate your life in light of the way the Bible teaches us to live. Pray the prayer of David in Psalm 139-
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life (Psalm 139:23-24).
Lane Palmer serves as a writer for Dare 2 Share Ministries International (D2S) in Arvada, Colorado, a ministry committed to energizing and equipping teenagers to know, live, share and own their faith in Jesus. For more information about D2S, please visit www.dare2share.org.
Conversation
I'm 15 and Im going through
I'm 15 and Im going through a lot right now..the guy I wanna be with has a girlfriend and the feelings are mutual but its like hes just leading me on..but I am a pretty good all around teenager considering..but I do swear..but I dont drink and will not have sex...but my youth group leader brought this to our youth group and made me realize just how fake so many there were being..and how I wasnt living my life for christ..so I turned my life around.
I have watched this show
I have watched this show from the time it started and continue to watch it every week. I was raised in a Christian home and was kind of sheltered, so this show has really helped me to see how kids think that weren't raised in the kind of home environment that i was. even though i had my share of mistakes it has really been insightful for me. i also see some great benefit in it, showing kids the consequences and trouble that comes from going against God's perfect plan for life.
I agree with this and have
I agree with this and have gone through this myself when I grew up in church as a teen I was the grl who knew all rhw bible verses, ans was way involved but at school I was only a christian when I couls be loud in your face ans abrassive. I still would use swer words and party with my friends. I think this is something that definetly can be addressed ans yes while it may step on toes, if its done right in a non judging manner, with the attitude of concsern and compassion it can be helpful. Otherwise this will be a never ending cycle! Almost like an addiction
I think this article is
I think this article is great! The word says the enemy roams around like a lion seeking who he may devour...that doesn't sound to me like he is worried about steping on any of our toes...we have to fight for our children even when they cannot or will not fight for themselves!!
When I first saw the ads for
When I first saw the ads for this show, I wasn't sure I wanted my kids watching it---but I watched it with them (and continue to do so each week). Although some of the acting is a bit cheesy, I'm glad that the show is not glamourizing the young pregnant girl--instead the show does focus on the hardship and the disappointment and the upheaval that comes along with a teen pregnancy--and the message that "it can happen to the "Nice girl" comes across loud and clear. The show also gives me a good way to talk to my girls about the morals that I want to impart to them, but in the context of talking about the show, not as another "lecture" from Mom....
I'm also encouraged that the show has a character that isn't living her faith in secret, but is living it out loud, and isn't the least bit ashamed to talk about her faith--that's an encouraging role model for kids to see.
I totally get this and it is
I totally get this and it is exactly what I'm seeing in the lives of my teens now . . . but does stepping on their toes and taking the straddling the fence "option" they believe they have away from them push some to be out right COLD?
I really love this.
I really love this. Sometimes you have to step on toes to teens attention. Thanks so much for sharing this.
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