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Mt. Olive Lutheran Church
2001 N. Alpine Rd.
Rockford, IL 61107
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February 2007 |
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Popular culture gives teens the idea that fame is more important than anything else.
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It is no surprise that we live in a culture that glorifies the rich and famous. We have become obsessed with breakups and breakdowns of the stars through magazines, Internet, television, and all the other venues. If you don't think this is an issue with teens, think about this question Jake Halpern asked to over 650 teens in his book called "Fame Junkies": "Given a choice of becoming the CEO of a major corporation, the president of Yale or Harvard, a Navy SEAL, a U.S. senator or "the personal assistant to a very famous singer or movie star," almost half of the girls — 43.4% — chose the assistant role" (jakehalpern.com).
You might think this is absurd, but for many teens this is reality. Teens want what they think fame brings, and that is the Three A's: affluence, attractiveness, and achievement. The picture painted by our culture shows that the more of the Three A's you have, the better your life will be. God reminds us in Luke 14 that we have our priorities all wrong. Jesus tells a story of someone being invited to a wedding feast. He reminds us not to take the place of honor because someone more distinguished could show up. Then, He says in Luke 14:11, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Helping teens see the value of exalting Christ instead of themselves is where true success and fame can be found. As we lift Him up, our priorities shift to Him and to others. The most famous in God's eyes are the one's who love, serve, and give when no one else is looking.
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Message from Mendy
At youth group recently we watched the movie "Facing the Giants" and we talked about what it means to trust God with every aspect of our lives. Giving Him control shows Him that we trust that He has the best in mind for each of us. The Lord says in Jeremiah 29:11 that He knows the plans He has for us and that they are good for us! I know that we all make wrong choices that often take us the opposite direction of God's plan, but we know that even in those times, He will work it out for good. Romans 8:28 says, All things work for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose. God will take care of us, even if we make the wrong choice He will work it out to fulfill His plan through us.
Take time today to spend time in prayer. Determine what area of your life you need to be trusting God with, and do your best to give it over to Him. You will be blessed!
ps. If you have not seen "Facing the Giants," I highly recommend it!
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Usaweekend.com asked teens some very interesting questions about famous people. Here is what they found:
Which quality matters most to you in a celebrity? (Pick one)
36% Talent
32% Personality
17% Character
15% Looks
Do you agree with this statement: When celebrities make the following choices, a lot of teens want to do the same.
77% - Lose weight
62% - Pierce a body part
58% - Get a tattoo
48% - Drink alcohol
47% - Smoke cigarettes
39% - Take drugs
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* When given an option to become stronger, smarter, famous, or better looking, boys in a survey chose fame almost as often as intelligence, and girls chose it more often. (usatoday.com)
