How to Share Your Faith Using The Paper
High school is drama. There's no escaping it. It can be messy and emotional. It can also be psychologically intriguing, provided you're an onlooker and not at the epicenter of whatever current drama is unfolding. Intriguing enough, actually, to be fodder for reality TV.
So those who sit around trying to dream up the next thing in reality TV have created a new, real-life, high school based MTV series, called The Paper. The eight week series follows the high drama swirling around the editors and newspaper staff on the school paper, The Circuit, at Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Florida.
Personality conflicts, pressure deadlines, power plays, popularity contests, gossip and eye rolling - it's all there for all the world to see - raw, real and unvarnished. Added into the mix is the reality that these teens are intelligent, ambitious, and articulate, along with being dramatic.
While the TV series may be entertaining, in the real world, we've all faced similar experiences of dealing with high drama among our peers. What's a Christian to do when they find themselves in the middle?
As believers, no doubt we've all wrestled with this question. Obviously, God knew we needed some advice for these kinds of situations because the Bible is full of insightful words of wisdom that speak to these very issues. Here's a quick summary of some of the overriding principles that can help us keep our eyes on Jesus and our head on straight when high drama swirls around us:
- Strive to be a peacemaker. You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family (Matthew 5:9, The Message).
- Live with integrity. The vice-regents and governors got together to find some old scandal or skeleton in Daniel's life that they could use against him, but they couldn't dig up anything. He was totally exemplary and trustworthy. They could find no evidence of negligence or misconduct (Daniel 6:4, The Message).
- Keep your ego in check. True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life (Proverbs 22:4, NLT).
- Keep your heart focused on God. Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust (Proverbs 4:23-27, The Message).
- Revenge is not part of your job description. Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it" (Romans 12:17-19, The Message).
While these truths may seem counter-cultural to our unbelieving friends, they just may be provocative enough to trigger some interesting spiritual conversation. Try launching into a conversation about the high drama of high school, using the new reality series, The Paper. Then turn the conversation toward God and see what happens. Here are some ideas that might help you get started:
- Do you think the personality conflicts, power plays, popularity contests, gossip and eye rolling in The Paper are a realistic depiction of real-life high school?
- Do you struggle with the urge to seek revenge when someone wrongs you? What do you generally choose to do with those feelings? Listen, then share from the Bible some of what God has to say on this issue (Romans 12:17-19).
- How do typically choose to handle things when your friends launch into their high drama mode? Avoidance? Confrontation? Peacemaking? Listen, then share some of the principles from God's Word that speak to these kinds of situations.
- Is 'peacemaking' a role that comes easily for you or is it difficult? Then introduce your friends to your role model for 'peacemaking' - Jesus, who came to make a way for us to experience a restored relationship with God.
Personality conflicts, gossip, and power plays are part of life in a fallen world. But God's in the business of restoring relationships. He calls us to a higher path. So try using the latest episode from The Paper (or the latest real-life high drama currently unfolding in your own world) to pursue a God-focused conversation with your friends.
Grow Deeper in your faith - check out this week's Soul Fuel article on What MTV Taught me About Forgiveness.
