Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture: Walt Mueller
Culture is…
- The soup they swim in every day
- to them it’s a map
- to us its a mirror
Introducing them to God’s story
- know God’s changing world
A Marketers goal is to stir the soup!
Marketers are reaching out to kids using feeling instead of ration
If a marketer can get brand loyalty from a teen, it is worth $100,000 over the life of the teen. (sharing with friends, etc…)
marketers use everything (lighting, camera angle, everything) on purpose.
Culture includes
art, music, websites (social networking…), values, beliefs, film, philosophy, books and magazines, language and slang, extracurricular activities, television, ideas, modes of transportation, peer group and social organization, dress, tattoos, body modifications, heroes and role models, rites, spending habits, habits, gestures and mannerisms, etc….
Luke 6:45
out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks
70% of the kids that play youth sports are out of it by age 13. They are burned out.
Plato – you can learn more about a person in an hour of play than in a lifetime of conversation
In the past it was a good thing to “lift the pot” and see what’s in the soup. It’s harder now, but not harder….
-Students are so broken that they are putting everything out there out of desperation on facebook/twitter/etc
Just like a missionary, we have to learn the culture…
relationships can trump culture, but we have to be careful…
Add in investigation of culture into your normal routine. Ask questions…
A walk through Athens:
Acts 17:22-32
In todays world, things we assume are right from a Biblical Worldview, students see confusion, because it does not compute. It does not match their worldview.
You cannot assume that they will believe you at first mention. They have no categories to file it under…
Paul took the time to listen and understand. Vs 22-23 is a pivotal paragraph.
We often see studying culture as a way to poison us. Paul didn’t. He knew right from wrong and was ready to counteract with a Biblical worldview.
If we see that our students are into a particular book/movie/game, check it out, find a way to turn the worldview and show them a Biblical one. Find what doesn’t fit.
Vs 24 – in our time–> he knew the songs, seen the movies, read the books, and knew how Christ was superior.
Steps to Engage…
- Prepare to walk.
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- Do not do anything without preparation. Fill your wells with the word
- do it in community – do not go alone (a group of youth workers together to watch and discuss a film the kids are watching
- don’t go where you’re not supposed to go. God may have brought you out of someplace you need not revisit
- make sure you have people praying for you.
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- Shut your mouth, open your ears and eyes and walk around
- see questions in handout (later…)
- you have to know your culture very well so you don’t bring your own bias to the table
- Look for cultural characteristics and distinctives?
- Values, attitudes, behaviors, changing pressures, etc…
- look for evidence of a spiritual quest (spiritual hunger pains)
- every person you encounter is broken and crying out for redemption and reconciliation
- Identify “touchpoints”
- doorways for connection, conversation, evangelism, spiritual formation
- discern cultural elements that can be celebrated and embraces, and those that must be challenged and opposed
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- what percentage of your peers are are __________________
- if the estimate is high (reality or not) it gives clues to the perception and peer pressures
- do you thing ________________is ok, not ok, what do you think?
- They may say _________is wrong….for me –> relativistic thinking….
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- decide how you might use this in your ministry setting.
- See questions in handout. (later…)
Example: Narcissism – consumed with self – am I promoting, or combating it in my ministry…
Are we promoting that through worship practices and music? Look at some of the lyrics to popular worship songs.
If you make over $50,000/year you are in the top 1% of the world’s wealthy, if you make $25,000, you are in the top 3% or 4%…
What would happen if we said to kids: Heres what the invitation of Jesus is…before you raise your hand, are you willing to spend 9 months to 1 year with me learning what it means to follow Jesus.
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