Veggie Tales: A Case Study on Christ-Centeredness

My daughter has finally decided she wants to sit for extended periods of time to watch cartoons and children’s programs. Before, she couldn’t be bothered, and would find something else to play with after about 45 seconds of Big Bird. But now she has reached the stage where she can sit and enjoy an entire episode of Sesame Street without blinking (her favorite character is Elmo; I’m still wondering what his purpose is on the show, but that’s another post for another day).

Veggie Tales were (and still are, right?) a big hit about 10 years ago. This was just past my childhood, but the videos and DVDs were just coming out when my younger brother was growing up. So they were always in our house, and he enjoyed watching them over and over again (as my daughter does now). Veggie Tales, for those who don’t know, are short, biblical stories with a twist. They are told through the eyes of animate vegetables, e.g. Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber.

What I’ve noticed, and I know this criticism is not new, is that Veggie Tales are not very Christ-centered. In other words, Christ is not always the center of the story. Christ is not always the hero. Though “God” is in every episode, Christ is not. I noticed this when watching one of my all-time favorites, Dave and the Giant Pickle, which is, of course, about David and Goliath.

There is a time at the end of the episode where Bob and Larry discuss the purpose of telling the story. In this case, the “lesson” was that you are special because God has made you that way. David was a “little guy” and was still used by God to defeat Goliath and defend Israel. Now, there is nothing inherently wrong with this message. We are all created uniquely in God’s image, and our value is not found in how big or how little we are but in who we are as God’s creation. However, is this really the purpose of the story of David and Goliath? Does this focus too much on the “moral” of the story and not on how God used David in redemptive history?

That question led me to another: should Christ always be at the center of our message? If we are teaching the Ten Commandments, for example, should Christ be the center? And I don’t mean to ask, Should Christ be mentioned? I mean, should Christ be the focal point? If the answer to that is “yes” (which is what I believe), then, as parents, we must teach our children that these stories in Veggie Tales are about more than just being special. They are about King Jesus. After all, anyone who isn’t a Christian could tell a story about being special. The uniqueness of our faith is that it is all about Jesus.

Though we don’t need to dump all our Veggie Tales VHS tapes in the trash, should we not entertain discussions with our children after watching an episode? That way, we make sure Jesus is always the “moral of the story.”

The Testimony of a Teenager

Ever been blown away by someone’s testimony of how the Lord saved them?

Ever felt sheepish about sharing your own because it may sound underwhelming?

I would say “yes” to both those questions. We all love testimonies of those who were into drugs or drink or sex and were changed by the power of the Holy Spirit. But then there’s those of us who have a somewhat “boring” testimony: raised by a Christian family, went to Sunday School and youth group and maybe children’s choir, and became members of the church at an early age.

Those of us who were raised in the church and became a Christian at an early age should definitely rejoice. God’s faithfulness to his children and children’s children is a thing of beauty. But sometimes we don’t feel like our story is interesting. Sometimes we don’t feel like “being raised in the church” is the story that captivates an audience.

I used to think that until recently.

A couple weeks ago I was a leader at a church camp in a wee village in Wales. I would say at least 80% of the youth at the camp were Christians. During evening worship, a few teenagers were asked to give their testimony. All three of them were from Christian families, but all three of them had different stories. And each of them were captivating.

Why? Because each story was not simply a testimony of how each became a Christian, but they were all about how God works intimately with his people. Though he is the Creator of the world and Lord over all, God walks alongside his children.

Also, there is something special about the testimony of a teenager. They are young and seemingly have not experienced as much in life as most adults. Yet they are unashamedly declaring their faith in Jesus in front of many of their peers and leaders.

Testimonies are great to hear. They teach us, encourage us, and sometimes rebuke us. They warm our hearts and give us joy. And they aren’t so much testimonies of ourselves, but they are testimonies of our God.

So be encouraged that your testimony, no matter the content, is amazing, because your story is about one who has been raised from the dead.

Parents: Love God by Loving Your Children

I love parents. My job at Smithton is youth worker, but working alongside the parents is part of that. And I’ve had the privilege of visiting with families and seeing them in their own homes – their own context. I was even able to participate in family worship with one family. I can’t say enough about the importance of family worship. Dads, we should not be relying on the minister of our church to teach our children; we are called to be pastors to our children. Whether we like it or not, we are the pastor in our home. It is our responsibility to teach, to guide, to direct, to rebuke. Our children are part of our flock. We must shepherd them.

I was speaking with someone not too long ago, and I said, “You know it seems like children don’t know their Bible anymore.” And this person said, “Well, it’s because it has been taken out of our schools.” My response was, “No, I really think it’s because it has been taken out of our homes.” It is wrong to think that our children should receive their primary instruction on the Bible from our public schools. Numerous studies have been done. Parents, you are the main influence on your child’s life. Not the youth worker. Not a teacher or a coach. You.

Another thing I’ve seen is the unreasonable expectations we place on our children regarding success in school. Our children’s education has become like a god to us. Instead of worrying about our children studying the Scriptures and being active in fellowship with other Christians, we are more worried about how much our son or daughter is studying their maths or their P.E. or their Gaelic. When your children graduate from school and leave your home, which is going to be more important – their knowledge of geometry or their knowledge of God? Deuteronomy 6:5-9 says we must impress the Lord’s instructions on our children. The word “impress” here literally means to whet or to sharpen – as in sharpening a sword or arrow. We wouldn’t go out to battle with a dull weapon, so why would we send our children out into the world without impressing these truths upon them?

“We wouldn’t go out to battle with a dull weapon, so why would we send our children out into the world without impressing these truths upon them?”

Do we worry about our children loving God and doing what he commands? We may even say we do, but where is the accountability in our households? Parents, we must preach the gospel to our children – with our words and with our lives. As parents, our teaching should reflect the character of the God we are teaching about. A God who requires love and obedience, but a God who gives us grace and forgiveness. Do we parent by grace or by shame?

Let me give you some encouragement, parents. There will be times when your children don’t want to listen to the Scriptures. There will be times when they don’t want to come to worship services. There may be times when they express complete boredom and lack of interest in the things of God. I know, because that was me. My father took the time to teach my brother and I every morning. And we couldn’t have cared less on most days. Parents, if you get frustrated with your children, because they aren’t listening or express boredom in family worship, please don’t stop! Please know that you are doing exactly what the Lord requires of you. It is not your job to change their hearts, it is your job to teach them. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

“It is not your job to change their hearts, it is your job to teach them.”

And children, youth, students … if your parents aren’t teaching you, demand it of them. They are responsible to God for you. If they won’t teach you, then find someone who will. But if they are teaching you, obey them! God himself gives them authority over you. Love them and love God by being obedient.

So parents should impress these things on their children. But this is also a command for the entire community of believers. We baptize our children into a community of faith. Yes, it is the parents’ primary responsibility to raise their children and teach them to love God. But we are a covenant family, and we should be helping parents and keeping them accountable to what God commands. You may not be a parent, but you must still care about the spiritual condition of those baptized in the covenant community. We can do this by simply asking parents, “How is parenting? What are your struggles? How can I help you? How can I pray for you?”

We must impress these things on our children. And our children’s children.

To Fireproof a Marriage

Last night, my wife and I watched the movie Fireproof. It is a movie starring Kirk Cameron (Growing Pains, Left Behind) and Erin Bethea (Facing the Giants) which details the fall and redemption of marriage. I must say that the movie left me feeling awkward – but in a good way. I was already expecting poor acting, writing, directing, casting, and pretty much everything else that goes into a good film, so I was not disappointed when Fireproof fulfilled those expectations. However, I would like to point out what I think is the difference between a good film and a good movie.

To me, a good film has a combination of superb acting, directing, writing, etc. It is what wins Grammy awards. Shawshank Redemption and The Godfather are just two examples. But, on the other hand, a good movie entertains, teaches, and leaves the viewer more enlightened. Fireproof is the perfect example of a good movie. While the elements of a good film were absent, I was thoroughly entertained and edified by it. I think if a movie can encourage me in my marriage and, most importantly, my relationship with the Lord, then that movie deserves respect, regardless of the (lack of) quality or cheesiness.

Without spoiling the movie, I just want to quickly share what I think was the highlight of the movie. Cameron plays a firefighter who’s marriage is failing. This is due to a number of different reasons, including his addiction to pornography. There are multiple occasions where his wife points out that he loves the images on the computer more than he loves her. But midway through the movie, Cameron’s character, Caleb, becomes a Christian. And there is a scene where he is sitting at his computer looking at boats on a website when a pornography pop-up appears. You can really see the struggle he is having in his heart and mind – the battle between the sinful nature and the nature of the Holy Spirit. So what is his solution? He rips his computer and monitor away, takes it out back, and beats it with a baseball bat. When his wife gets home, she notices that in place of the computer is a vase with a dozen roses and a card that says “I love you more”.

I love this scene for two reasons: it teaches me about my marriage, and it teaches me about my relationship with God. It reminds me that nothing, including pornography, TV, my iPhone, or whatever it is, should compete with love for my wife. And even more, nothing should compete with love for my Lord. It’s easy to forget that. It’s easy to get caught up in work or your favorite TV show or reading blogs. And there’s obviously nothing inherently wrong with those things. But when they take the place of your wife, they are just another form of infidelity. And when they take the place of your God, they are idolatry.

While it isn’t possible to completely fireproof a marriage – after all, there will always be “for better and for worse” – it is possible to hold yourself accountable to stay faithful to your marriage and faithful to your Lord.

The Husband Dies for Her

John Piper on women, complementarianism, and the gospel:

The Future of Youth Ministry

I’ve been working my way out of a job lately by the thoughts I’ve shared with my boss. In my opinion, youth ministry is changing so rapidly that it may be nearly extinct in 20 years. By extinct, I don’t mean that there won’t be youth being ministered to in the church. They will surely be ministered to. However, I feel like intergenerational ministry is going to be taking over soon. Churches around the US are already starting to take up this model. What this means is that instead of having a “youth group” or “youth fellowship” or whatever your church calls it, the youth in the church will be meeting with children, youth, and adults in a community group environment.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my job as a youth worker. But there is more to the church than having various silo ministries. We have our children’s ministry for kids up to age 11 or 12. We have our youth ministry for those from 12-18. Sometimes we have our college and young adult ministry for those up to 30 or 35 (depending how young you feel). Then there are our adult classes and adult small groups, dividing into the men’s ministry and women’s ministry. Then there is our seniors ministry for those 55+. We have divided the church into age and gender based categories, and, in my most humble opinion, this has resulted in a chasm between these age groups. Intergenerational ministry bridges these gaps.

What kind of model am I talking about? When I was still in school at Florida State University, I attended CenterPoint Church, which was a new church plant at the time. To connect believers in the church, “community groups” were started. These community groups meet in four different locations throughout the city of Tallahassee on different nights of the week. The basic agenda for each group is prayer, worship, fellowship, and a meal. They are open to all church-goers, regardless of age.

I think these groups can solve a few problems the silo ministry model has created:

• First, there is no age specification. Both young and old (and those in between!) are together in fellowship with one another. There is nothing like seeing 14-year-old boys having a discussion about Jesus with an 85-year-old grandfather of ten.
• Second, there has been a decrease in church attendance from those who have “graduated” youth ministry. This is because church worship services aren’t the same as youth worship services. When a youth graduates and has not participated in church worship services regularly, they will become bored. Why? Youth services are tailored for youth. When they find out there is no XBox360 or messy games night at church, they split.

This doesn’t mean we get rid of activities all together. There is still plenty of room for youth retreats or bowling nights. But they are now within the greater context of community groups. And adults who want to volunteer as leaders with these youth activities don’t feel like they need to be under the age of 30 to participate. They have already become familiar with the youth (and vice versa) through community groups.

To conclude, I leave you with Why We Try to Keep People Together In Church, an article by Grace Community Church in Toronto, Canada:

A great misconception in local churches today is the result of a consumer-mentality that suggests “the church” ought to offer “something for everybody.” Kids should have their groups, singles theirs, and once you are big enough, you can even specialize with groups like “Single Parents Who Like Mountain Climbing.”

At Grace Fellowship Church we work against this way of thinking because we do not believe it represents the Lord’s teaching on the church.

The old slogan, “the church is the people, not the building” is quite true. And it is a group of people of massively diverse ethnic, economic, and educational backgrounds. The Lord likens this diversity to a human body – a toe is distinct in many ways from an eye, yet both are essential to the proper functioning of the human body. In the same way, the varied people that Jesus grafts into His Body all serve different purposes and varied roles. A local church expresses the great reality of the universal church that “though we are many, we are yet one.”

We are not against age-appropriate or experience-appropriate ministry. The seven year old girl does not learn in the same way or at the same rate as the typical 37 year old mother of 4. What we are avoiding, however, is the shift toward defining all ministry as taking place within these kind of isolated groups at the expense of the corporate ministry of the whole church.

Our belief is that the 7 year old girl needs to know and be known by the 37 year old mother and the 92 year old bachelor. Over-division of the church hampers this kind of relationship, even worse, it exponentially increases the potential church members will begin thinking in very selfish ways.

Although it is true that the 42 year old, divorced single mom is able to relate quite easily with other church-goers in similar situations. This is not what defines her as a person.

If she is born-again, she is a new creature in Jesus, set apart to do “the good works which He prepared beforehand” for her to do. She has joined a new family (the church) and has responsibilities to all its members. As a believer, she is to die to herself, serve others first, do unto other people what she wishes they would do to her, remain morally pure and upright, and grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

If all she is concerned about is meeting other people with similar experiences, she has fallen down the slippery slope of self-interest. and what is more antagonistic to a cross-carrying, self-denying, Christ-exalting, Spirit-empowered, God-exalting life of worship than this?

There is a dire need for every Christian to look at all his brothers and sisters in Christ and ask Himself, “What can I do? How can I serve? How can I decrease and Jesus increase in my life?” This is not “super-saint” Christianity – it is normal Christianity.

By aiming to keep many of our church meetings as “inclusive” as we can, we hope to see the Spirit of God create a local body that better reflects this cohesive and integrated picture given to us in the New Testament.