When you work with teenagers, you really get a glimpse into the impact a future generation will have on the world when they become adults. Older generations used to study the Bible in class and get in trouble for chewing gum. My generation saw an increase in teenage pregnancies and homosexual behavior. Today, students are having to manage school shootings and identity crises. Boy, we really have progressed as a society, havn’t we?
There were people on both sides of the “Never Again” movement. There’s nothing wrong with students advocating for stricter gun laws, but some thought these teens went too far. Why? Politics, of course. Politics has become such a divisive issue in our country. More on this later…
For the most part, I stopped watching TV about twenty years ago. Sure, I watch sports, news, and movies, but I really stopped watching television shows once reality tv hit the scene. When the family shows stopped coming on, I tuned off. I never really got into Seinfield, Frazier, Friends, so I never made it to Survivor, Lost, CSI, etc. Many of my friends enjoyed these shows, but I just wasn’t interested. Another show I did not pay much attention to for the first ten years of its existence was American Idol. However, I finally gave in and began watching occasionally. This year, I have become hooked.
You may be the opposite of me and stopped watching American Idol years ago because you grew bored with it. But for those of you who still enjoy watching the show, I want to use a person on this year’s show to illustrate a teaching lesson. Up to this point, I think the best singer on the show is Ada Vox. Here’s what we know about Ada. Her real name is Adam Sanders and he is from San Antonio, TX. He is a waiter by day and a drag queen by night. He/she says, “Mr. Adam is the base of everything that I am. That’s just who I am and what I do every day of my life. Ms. Ada is kinda of the outer exterior, is a personification of the diva in Adam.” Adam created Ada about three years ago and has auditioned for American Idol 13 times.
When I was in high school, I sat beside a homosexual girl. If I was in high school today, chances are I would be sitting beside a transgender boy or girl. Did you know that Facebook has 71 gender options one can choose from? WOW, we really have come a long way from the two options of male and female. Simon Milner, one of Facebook’s Policy Director’s says, “By challenging the gender binary, Facebook will finally allow thousands of people to describe themselves as they are now and it will allow future generation of kids to become truly comfortable in their own skins.” What I say to you today is really old news, but did you catch that line, “future generation of kids.” How many more gender options are to come???
If you are working anywhere with the next generation, you can bank on having to deal with the gender issue. Here’s how I deal with it. Let’s take Ada/Adam for example. I don’t discriminate. American Idol is a singing contest. Though I don’t believe the Bible approves of Ada’s lifestyle, I would still vote for Ada because I think he/she is the best singer in the competition. Now, I might change my mind, because the competition is not over. But today, I certainly would not deny Ada the award for best singer. Why? Because American Idol is a singing competition, not a lifestyle competition.
Here is how the political issues of our day coincide with the gender issues of our day from a Christian perspective. In the political landscape, the left and right are not able to sit down with one another and have a real conversation. Between all the name-calling and yelling, nobody’s voice is heard. In other words, we have lost our ability to communicate with one another as humans. So, for us Christ-followers, we must first show the world that friendly communication is possible. Two sides might not agree with one another, but they certainly can sit down, be polite, and hear each other’s point of view. This is why men and women are no longer able to communicate with one another. It’s not just because of the “Me Too” movement. This is why many are still not happy with the results of the “Black Lives Matter” movement. We have not made time or space to give ear to what each side is really saying. Church, we must listen to God, but we also need to be able to hear what others are saying. Christ-followers must be able to sit down and have conversations with the LGBTQ community, students who are scared they might not walk out of school alive tomorrow, and blacks who feel that policemen are not doing them justice. These are real concerns. The shouting and name-calling must end. It is time we get to know and understand each other so we can begin to heal these wounds.
Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Would you be willing sit down with Ada and have a one-on-one conversation with her? I would! Not to tell her all about what she is doing wrong, but to first listen to her and to understand her. What is her background? Did you know she had brain surgery at 8 years old? What is her story? Would you be willing to allow her to touch you? Or would you treat her like a leper? Do you believe God’s arm is too short to save the transgender? I don’t. Yes, you may be uncomfortable at first, but ask God for strength. He will provide what you need so that these conversations that need to happen can take place. If God’s people won’t stand up and be Christ to a lost and dying world, who will?