"Dude, That's Your Mom?!?!"

Embarassing pics. Nude/graphic pics. "Funny" videos. "Fighting" videos. Blackmail pics/videos. 

 

It seems that Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, blogs and other web communities/sensations have officially changed the landscape of life, sin and consequences. Back in the day the fact that "no one is perfect" simply meant "we've all made mistakes and we're glad we've learned from it and that it is in the past."

 

Today those decisions have new life. With posting pictures and videos online being as simple as “point and click,” pictures from all eras are popping up all over the web. You thought that “party” 20 years ago was just a fun time with friends? Now the world is the judge of that as those pics surface online. Pics of stuff being drank or smoked or activities being carried out that you no longer do or approve of are now public knowledge. This is only the beginning!

 

While most grown adults have a better understanding of poor decisions and consequences (hence the reason those “past” things worry them and break their hearts) teens and young adults (early-mid twenties), on the other hand, do not have a clue. They find the wealth of information and pics funny and harmless (which also means they find the potentially harmful activities recorded in those pics or videos harmless, as well).

 

Here are two examples, just to prove my point:

 

Situation #1: The Domino’s Pizza employees (one 31 yrs old, the other 32) who video taped one of them stuffing cheese in their nose and blowing it on to sandwiches, then posted it on YouTube. Both were fired as a result and are now facing possible criminal charges and a civil lawsuit. I highly doubt either would have done it, filmed it or posted it had they known THIS was going to be the outcome. They thought they were being funny and causing no harm (they state they never actually gave food to anyone like that).

 

Situation #2: Teachers or other professionals “letting their hair down” at bars, clubs and other after hour establishments, taking pics of themselves and posting their activities on said websites. Even though most of their activities may technically be legal, it is hard for companies to employ people to represent them that obviously do not have the same moral code that many of their clients do (especially in the case of teachers). I'd give examples, but there are far too many to mention (especially regarding teachers).

 

While it is easy to dismiss these two and other like scenarios as instances of people being “stupid enough” to post those types of pics or videos (an argument I’ve heard repeatedly), but what about the numerous instances where pics are posted WITHOUT your consent? The ones that were taken with a group of friends just “having fun” and then magically surface online, posted by someone who may not have the same career drive, ambition or family desires that you do. Sure you can ask the “friend” to take them down, but in many instances they don’t (or they do after it is too late). This actually just happened to an acquaintance of mine.

 

Parents: I am all for giving teens room to grow, make decisions and learn from their mistakes. This, however, is one of those situations where I think wisdom calls on us as parents to protect our teens (even if they do not understand it or want it). Some things you can (and ought to) do: (1) if you allow them to have a facebook, myspace, youtube, etc. profile, require that you have FULL access to their account (to include a copy of their login information), (2) be careful who they associate with and, more importantly, what they’re doing (those pics don’t disappear – they may not be on the web now, but it may only be a matter of time), (3) set up clear guidelines about pics posted of them (whether by them or friends); it’s a good idea to have them get all pics approved by you before allowing them to post them. (4) Use the two examples above (along with the HUNDREDS of others available on the web) as tools for teaching about consequences and the danger of information in our age of no-privacy. (5) As always, don’t just take kids to church, but teach them and model for them Godliness every day. Teach them the importance of 2 Tim. 2:22 and Phil. 4:8. Teach them their role in teaching others who are younger than them (Titus 2:2-8).

Want to join the conversation? Click here to comment or ask a question! 

Image borrowed from http://www.unc.edu/~msalome/Graphics/facebook.jpg

___________________________

Christian Teen Pics - What Now?? (The How)

Ok, so it happened again. It’s been a little over a week since my last entry. I apologize. With summer here my life is packed with Youth Group planning and events, leaving very little time to blog. That will change in a few weeks when school resumes – so please be patient with me. :-)

Now on to PART 2 (and final part) of “Christian Teen Pics.”

Ok, so we get it – many “Christian teen” lifestyles are anything but Godly. What can we (they) do to remedy this? While my list is no doubt unoriginal and far from exhaustive, it is a start and good reminder to us all about being CONTENDERS for the faith (Jude 3) and lovers of God (Deuteronomy 6). For the most part I address the list below to teens, but parents and others feel free to use it how you see fit.

1. Starts with Parents. Yes, teens make their own choices to live the lives they do, but as parents we have to check ourselves as well. (1) Ask yourself: “Are they simply copying what they see in my life?” (2) Talk with your teens – do you even know what’s on their pages? Their friends’ pages? What’s going on when they’re “just hanging out with friends?” (Note: Giving teens “their space” doesn’t mean being completely removed from their lives or online lives. It means giving them space to make decisions while guiding them and catching them in love when they miss the mark. Trust me – ignorance is NOT bliss.)

2. Your Future Spouse. What about your husband/wife? Yes, I know (teens)… you are not married. However, make no mistake about it – your demonstration of how much you love your future spouse starts NOW! I can’t imagine my wife (or online internet surfers either, for that matter) being comfortable with seeing suggestive pictures of me online (yes, I am having trouble not laughing at this even as I type it). Respect your future spouse enough to protect what will belong to them alone (read 1 Cor. 7:4).

3. Accountability. Get some friends in your life who are willing to say the hard stuff to you, who are willing to point out when you are crossing the line (checkout Prov. 22:6). Another way to help keep you accountable is making your online profiles (all of them) available to your parents to check out. Ask Godly adults or teens whose opinion you respect (because you know they’ll be honest with you) to give you feedback about your online profiles or lifestyle choices from time to time. Partner up with another Christian friend and challenge each other to live lives of truth and faith (hold each other accountable).

4. Challenge yourself to commit to God ABOVE ALL THINGS (even if it means not doing the things everyone else labels as “ok”, “good” or “acceptable”). Our loyalty is to our Creator above all else – to include friends.

5. Love God. Learn now what your faith and relationship with God mean to you. Learn to love it more than anything else. Demonstrate that relationship with God in your other relationships and character (to include your private and online life).

6. NEVER COMPROMISE (never be willing to give up) ANY part of your relationship with God for anything else. Remember – sin takes ALWAYS takes us further than we want to go, leaves us longer than we want to stay and costs us far more than we were willing to pay.

Now the decision is yours. What kind of Christian teen are you going to be? The kind that lives one life in title (“I’m a Christian” or “Jesus Freak” or “Washed by the Blood” or “Sold Out Believer” or whatever other title you might use to describe your faith) and another in practice (talk like heaven and live like hell)? Or are you going to be the kind that sets the standard and challenges their friends to live lives of hope, as well? You can’t have both… a decision must be made. Trust me, the world around you can already tell what your decision is just by the way you live your life…

And that’s what “Christian Teen Pics - What Now” is all about Charlie Brown…

Christian Teen Pics

Craziness! Teens partying/drinking (usually beer) and taking risqué pics of themselves and posting them all over the internet for the world to see is not new news (sad, but true). And at no point do I expect Christians to be perfect, but over the last several weeks I’ve stumbled across (and for the record it wasn’t that hard) many of these partying and/or racy pics that either feature “Christians” (at least according to their profiles or the fact that they've said they are) or are featured on a Christian’s page/profile. Since I only have so much space and you so much time/attention (take your pick), I cannot fully address this topic in a blog article but will address each of the two subjects (partying/drinking and sexually suggestive pics) with a few points.

Alcohol and Christian Teens:
To clarify, I am referring to pics (and behavior, whether pics are taken or not) that show teens partying with alcohol (regardless of what type of party it is).

1. Honoring the Law. Even if the Bible is not anti-drinking (though this is a sensitive conversation by itself), it is all about honoring the law and the last time I checked underage drinking is illegal. To even be around that practice makes you guilty by association (as my dad used to tell me growing up – a lesson which is a reflection of Biblical teaching and one I wish I had listened to at a younger age – if you don’t want people to think you’re doing something wrong, then don’t be around it).
2. Witness. “There’s nothing wrong with it if I’m not drinking. Plus, how will I witness to non-Christians if I don’t hang around with them.” Let’s go ahead and call this what it is – an EXCUSE (especially the second part)! Most Christians have about as much intention in witnessing to their intoxicated friends as the “legalize marijuana” people do smoking Pot for medicinal purposes. Not to mention the fact, what witness do you have left after being associated with illegal activity? I digress…

Suggestive Pics and Teens:
These pics are hard to define as they show up in many forms: posing in underwear/bathing suits/suggestive/revealing clothing (usually in a mirror or holding the camera away and posing for themselves), posing in suggestive positions or poses with friends, statues, props, people, etc., making sexually suggestive faces or gestures, girls acting romantic with other girls (and at times, guys with guys), etc.

1. “God gave it to me, why not use it/show it off”. First, as Christians we are NOT our own, you were bought at a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Second, is that WHY God gave it to you? Last I checked we were told not to be consumed in outward looks (not that it is unimportant), but instead drawing people’s attention to God, not our bodies (1 Peter 3:3-4). Third, your “showing it off” makes it difficult for viewers (especially guys) to fix their thoughts on things above (Col. 3). Be honest with your actions – you are intentionally tempting your fellow brothers/sisters (in Christ) to look and think inappropriately about YOU (and misleading Lost people about what it looks like to be a follower of the Christ Who saves).
2. These pics are seen by many more people than just intended audiences (facebook and MySpace safety features aren’t that good). And once you put them online, they are forever public. Vanessa Hudgens (HSM star) picture drama ring any bells? Nude pictures taken by her for a boyfriend (at 15 years old!!) are still making their way around the internet (4 years later).
3. Future Spouse. How thrilled is your husband (or wife) going to be knowing that their spouse took revealing and suggestive pics of themselves? Yes, you as a teenager are not married, but I think a little forward “one day” thinking would benefit you greatly… your body belongs to your future spouse (1 Cor. 7:4) not the world.
4. Sexually suggestive pics (posing alone or with others in suggestive manners) might be done in fun and with innocent intentions (“just being funny”), but as an outsider let me be blunt: I can’t tell if you’re just having fun or actually that promiscuous. Matter of fact, the only people who know what’s really going on in the pic are those who were there when it was taken. The rest of us (even if we think we know you) are left to guess if you’re just playing around or giving the world a sneak preview of what you’re really like outside the walls of the church. And if those that know you have to guess, it’s a pretty safe bet that those who don’t know you just assume your life is anything but God-honoring.

My intention is not to make you angry (though a reaction of any sort might be a start) or get you to be better at hiding said pics or behaviors. Instead it is to challenge you as teens to RISE ABOVE it! There is a myth that has been circulating for some time that “you are only young once” (and also in the form of “you’re young and stupid and going to make mistakes”) as if giving permission to be intentionally unwise in making decisions or ignoring the fact that consequences do not only attach themselves to those 21 and over. I recommend instead 2 Timothy 2:22:

But run away from the evil young people like to do. Try hard to live right and to have faith, love, and peace, together with those who trust in the Lord from pure hearts. (New Century Version)

Next blog: HOW to be a facebooker/myspacer with Godly-integrity and drive (or the parent of one)… (COMING SOONER THAN A WEEK, sorry for the long delay between the last post and this post, but because of its nature wanted to take my time writing it)

Until next time, that’s what “Christian Teen Pics” are all about Charlie Brown…