This
morning, I had the best time laughing and joking with my son. We sat on the
couch watching one of my least favorite children’s TV shows,
Dora the
Explorer, and the
things Ethan was saying in response to her questions were just hilarious. If
you have ever seen the show, you know that about two minutes into it you’re not
only ready to turn the channel, you’re ready to throw something at the TV
because of the complete and utter redundancy of Dora’s daily mission.
My son has
watched many an episode in his years on this earth, and has always chimed right
in with answers to Dora’s questions
...It made me
stop and think about how important discernment really is in our culture. The
more I work with teenagers and youth leaders alike, the more I realize that too
many times we just take what we’re being presented by media, movies, magazines,
and music as being the truth.
He has always answered with a similar
response, “Yes, Dora, I’ll help you row your boat”, or “Sure, Dora, I’d be glad
to help you scale magic mountain.”
Maybe it was the woozy state from the stomach bug he has
been battling, or the fact that he hasn’t been able to keep any food or liquid
down since yesterday, but I believe my boy is getting older and becoming more
discerning. My son was firing back some pretty sarcastic answers to Dora’s
questions. Ethan and I pointed out obviously ridiculous things time after time.
It was so much fun!
As I sat
there with my ill son, standing our ground, thinking of quick responses and not
giving in to what every kid gives in to when they are watching the show
(mindless responses to questions that we already know the answers to), I
thought of one word that summed up what Ethan and I were doing . . .
DISCERNMENT!
Even though
it was a silly show, my son was starting to process what he was seeing and
hearing. He was beginning to ask questions internally. “Why, what, who, how,
and where” questions were now becoming part of his thought process.
It made me
stop and think about how important discernment really is in our culture. The
more I work with teenagers and youth leaders alike, the more I realize that too
many times we just take what we’re being presented by media, movies, magazines,
and music as being the truth.
Messages to
young girls from the media are telling a complete and utter lie that “in order
to be beautiful you must look like this.” Or to guys that message is “unless
you have a six-pack set of abs like Brent (ha ha) you’re a loser!” Man, how my
heart breaks every time I see discernment-less responses to these messages that
are being assailed on a daily basis at the young people of the world.
Every time
a teen cuts, purges, or gives into some sort of temptation, it is usually in
response to a message that they have internalized as truth from a TV show,
movie, song lyric, or magazine ad. How tragic!
I believe
one of the things youth leaders need to continue to do with teens is teach them
how to discern what they are being fed. Questions like, “Why is that true or
not true?” and “What standard is that message being based on?” should be a part
of everyone’s thought process.
I think if
we could begin to apply the only unmovable, unshakable, unstoppable standard
of God’s Word to our lives as leaders, and then teach our young people to do
the same, we would begin to see some push back, some rebellion, some outright
defiance toward the confusing messages that have their sights set on teens from
every angle and every medium. We need to stand up and discern what is right and
wrong based on the standard of God’s Word!
Now I don’t
know if Ethan understands the whole concept of discernment yet, I mean he’s
only nearly six. But I tell you what, it gave me an incredible open door to
help my son begin to learn that just like the Bereans in Paul’s day—to
ask questions, dig deeper, and explore the truths of God’s Word so we can apply
it to every area of our lives.
We all need
a moral compass . . . God’s Word!
Lesson
learned.
Now, I need
to get back to my sick son . . . Sponge-Bob is on!
Brent Carl, M.S., BCCC
Youth Ministry International
Vice President of Training Operations
Brent Carl
is the Vice President of Training Operations for Youth Ministry International,
a missions organization that specializes in providing training and resources
for Youth Leaders worldwide.
Brent is a
youth ministry veteran who loves to teach, preach, train and engage with
students and those who work with them. He is in his 19th year of
full time ministry to students, and is currently lining up speaking engagements
for 2008-2009.
If you
would like more information on Brent and Youth Ministry International please
contact him at
brent@ymionline.com visit his blog at
www.ninetyseventhree.blogspot.com
or check out what YMI is all about at
www.youthministryinternational.com
Brent and
his wife Bonnie, and 2 children live in Rochester, NY.
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