Vol. 3, Issue 16 | April 21, 2017

Three Things This Week

1. Sign of the Times

What it is: Harry StylesLinks to an external site.’ first single as a solo artist following the breakup of One Direction debuted at #4Links to an external site..

Why it's important: Both the soundLinks to an external site. and lyricsLinks to an external site. mark a clear departure from his 1D days, showing a more grown up, contemplative side. As one authorLinks to an external site. says, “The heartthrob is dead; long live the ‘artthrob,’” i.e. a “grown up artiste” who offers more than catchy tunes and silly lyrics. And since Styles saysLinks to an external site. the song is about childbirth, he’s clearly going beyond 1D’s “Live While We’re YoungLinks to an external site.” mentality. Work through the lyricsLinks to an external site. with your students; ask them what they think he means by, “They told me the end is near / We gotta get away from here.” Be ready for the album’s release in May, as it will be highly influential.

2. Star Wars: Battlefront II

What it is: A story-based video game, releasing in November, that invites players “into the dark sideLinks to an external site.” by playing from the Empire’s perspective.

Why it's clever: The game humanizes the evil Empire and erases the overly simplistic notion of ultimate good guys (the Republic) fighting unredeemable bad guys (the Empire). Real life just isn’t that simple. Though we should never call evil good or good evilLinks to an external site., the game—along with your wisdom and guidance—can help students remember that the line separating good and evil runs “through every human heartLinks to an external site..” Use your gamer’s interest in the game as a catalyst for dialogue about how a dualistic worldview reduces the world into false dichotomies (pretty/ugly, smart/stupid, in/out) and fails to comprehend complex concepts—like love, grace, suffering, and sacrifice—that are core to the Gospel.

3. Liberated

What it is: A new documentaryLinks to an external site. that reveals just how much Spring Break culture impacts younger generations and feeds the sex-trafficking and p*rnography industries.

Why it's huge: To fully understand the sexual landscape students encounter in high school and college, one must first grasp the influence of “hookup culture” and how it’s incessantly propagated through media. The documentary heartbreakingly exposes that culture, ultimately offering a hopeful perspective on what it means to be truly liberated. As parents/teachers/pastors, we hope you prayerfully consider seeing the film at one of its screeningsLinks to an external site. or sign upLinks to an external site. to be notified when it’s available for online viewing. Though the eye-opening content is very disturbing, it can help you better disciple your students to love, pursue, and promote true liberation.

Join us for our next parent webinar: http://axis.org/webinar-registrationLinks to an external site.

Culture War or Culture Care?*

When it comes to culture, do you consider yourself a foot soldier or a gardener? In today’s world, it is more important for Christians to participate in culture by creating and nurturing it than merely fighting over it.

That’s what Makoto Fujimura says in his new book Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common LifeLinks to an external site.. “Culture is not a territory to be won or lost but a resource we are called to steward with care. Culture is a garden to be cultivatedLinks to an external site..” In other words, Fujimura wants to shift our thinking away from the “culture wars” model and into influencing culture for good. Culture is a garden we tend and cultivate, thereby creating good things to grow in it.

So how do help our students care for culture instead of warring over it? First, Fujimura suggests Christians invest in the arts. Second, he encourages the church to form partnerships with the local artistic community to support and nurture art on the local level. And finally, we must help our students move beyond a pragmatic, utilitarian view of the world by recognizing and participating in the creation of beauty for beauty’s sake. As Dostoyevsky reminds us, “Beauty will save the worldLinks to an external site..” The arts activate a part of your mind and soul that digital media does not. The arts cultivate the imagination, reveal universal truth, and foster the creation of beauty in an often dark world, reminding us that God is still active and alive in His good creation. Culture care renews our appreciation of goodness, truth, and beauty. And that is good for every one.

One of the best things about Culture Care is Fujimura’s optimism about our future. He firmly believes we are living in a “genesis moment” whereby we are invited to nurture and care for culture and those who create it. Help your students become a part of this transformative movement by reading Fujimura’s book with them, then brainstorming practical ways they can be part of transforming culture right now.

*Borrowed and adapted with permission from BreakpointLinks to an external site. and The Colson CenterLinks to an external site..

Bonus!

Join us for The Culture Translator LiveLinks to an external site. events. Click hereLinks to an external site. to RSVP.

Editor’s Note: Axis links to many different sources within this e-newsletter; a link does not equal an endorsement. We cannot guarantee the content of each site (especially its ads). Please be forewarned. Also, we highly recommend something like AdBlockLinks to an external site..