The musical set at a high school has its dark side, but these students with a song in their hearts are fun to watch.*

Such is the description of the Fox show Glee, which has a lot of people texting, tweeting, and talking about. I must admit that at first I figured this show to be a lame TV version of another rather popular high school musical story called…well, you know.

But I stand corrected. Glee is definitely and defiantly not life at East High, rather it is an insightful, sarcastic, and downright enjoyable journey through senior high existence.

Enjoyable for me anyway – because I’m done with high school, so I’m out of the lame games, drama, and mean boy/girl interactions that I’m sure most of you reading this are painfully aware of. So maybe that’s why it’s popular with teens? As someone once said – “misery loves company” – and there are a lot of characters we can connect with in Glee.

Most of the principle characters are not who would be voted into the ‘most popular on campus’ sort of deal. In fact, the place where this crowd hangs out was dubbed the ’sub-basement’ by the head cheerleader – and I doubt she meant that as a compliment.

So let’s play a little comparison game. If you were able to choose, would you rather go to East High with Troy and all the gang, or does McKinley High with Kurt and Mercedes seem more like your style?

For me, I think both high schools would be fun, but in the end I think I’m going with McKinley…why? Well, what was true of me when I was a teen is still true now as a Youth Minister - I like the Glee Club students.

Sure, I get along with the other cliques, but the group of students that doesn’t seem to fit in reminds me of what it means to be a Christian in this external image focused, materialistic, shallow values, pleasure-seeking world. We’ve decided not to play the popularity game, and we realize that oftentimes the cost of ‘fitting in’ is not worth the compromising price tag.

Here’s the way the Apostle Paul explained it to a group of believers who were starting to make the church into a clique oriented carbon copy of the world:

My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn’t think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame.

What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him. You are God’s children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy. So if you want to brag, do what the Scriptures say and brag about the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:26-30).

See what I mean? Paul is basically telling them (and us) that we are the Christian Glee Club. He didn’t call us to follow Christ because we had anything to offer, actually just the opposite. We are the ‘losers’ who deep inside carry incredible gifts and talents that He wants to use to change the world.

So if you’re feeling like you live in the ’sub-basement’ of this world, be loud and proud that ” you are God’s children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy.”

And remember, most if not all, school campuses have a ‘glee club’ of sorts. Students who truly believe that not a soul in the universe loves them or believes in them. But you can change that! Start a Christian Glee Club at your school that isn’t all about the performing, but about proclaiming the good news that Jesus Christ loves them, died for them, and wants to have a forever relationship with them.

*Source: Los Angeles Times, May 19, 2009.

This just in…apparently there are a few college campuses where there is more than just studying going on. No seriously – I’ve heard rumors that there might even be partying!

I know, I know – you probably imagined college life as going to classes, studying, and occasionally playing Wii with friends, right? But after seeing the ABC Family (ahem) show called GREEK, I think there’s just a little more than academic pursuit happening.

It almost seems as though the studious side of college is just a bothersome requirement that is getting in the way of elevated blood alcohol and “I’m not sure what happened last night” experiences.

So yeah, none of this is probably news to you… In fact, you probably have heard of or know people who are experiencing a mini-version of the ‘partay’ environment right now – which for Christians brings up an interesting dilemma. On the one hand, you’ve found peace, hope, and purpose in your relationship with Jesus, which is why you aren’t looking for it in a bottle or warm body. You’ve been freed from the destructive lie that getting drunk, using drugs, and having sex will somehow bring you happiness and help you escape from your frustrations and stress. That’s why believers who “get it” should not be into the alcohol, drugs and sex party scene.

But that’s also where the problem is. In my opinion, the folks who do partake in the drug-induced festivities are also the ones who are the most desperate to hear the gospel!  They are looking and searching and hurting… But if they have little-to-no relationship with any Christians, how will they ever hear the incredible news that there’s another way to live life that is not only guilt-free, but also freedom-driven???

Did you know that there were Greeks back in Jesus’ day?  I know – duh – the people from Greece, right?  Well, yes – but there was also a Frat-type crowd that was partying long before America was even a nation.

And Jesus reached out to them. Here’s the account:

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.

Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.  But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners” (Matthew 9:9-13).

Did you know that Jesus was accused of hanging out with people of questionable reputation? No, not because he got drunk and lived an immoral lifestyle. It was because He spent time with people whose lives were messed up by bad behavior choices and offered them hope and forgiveness. As you read in the passage above, the religious leaders of the time were shocked that someone claiming to be God would spend His time with the ones who seemed to be rebelling against Him the most.

But Jesus didn’t hang with them to party… He was with them to build relationships.  He wanted to be in their lives so that when the party was over and the emptiness, pain, loneliness, and isolation returned with the force of an emotional freight train, they had somewhere to turn.  That’s why He told the religious folks this:

For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.

What did He mean when He said He came to “call” those who know they are sinners?  If you look at Jesus’ life while He walked this earth, He called sinners to respond to the amazing message of the gospel – to discover the forgiveness, acceptance, and purpose that could be found only in Him.

And isn’t that what we are supposed to be doing as well?  If we are Christ followers, then we should follow His example and reach out to those who don’t have their act together and their lives cleaned up! And not in a judgmental “If you stop drinking, Christ will love you” kind of way. Rather, we need to share with them the true message of the gospel: that we are all sinners, undeserving of God’s grace and in desperate need of a Savior. Out of love for us, God sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to live a perfect life, die in our place, pay for our sins, and rise again, so that we could have an abundant life with Him now and an eternal life with Him in heaven.

So am I saying that we should go out and party with the best of them?  NO – but neither should we build a “Christian friends ghetto.” Get to know those who are trying to escape through partying and be there for them when the reality sets in that all the lies they believed about sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll are a short trip to depression and disillusionment.

Who are the Greeks in your life that need the message of eternal life?

I’ve really enjoyed posting and blogging about different current events and how a Christian Perspective can be called for these items. As the summer is over and Youth Group is starting, I feel it is especially important to continue these blogs. Each Wednesday around noon EST I will be posting a post similar to what I have been releasing. The post will be announced on my Facebook and Twitter automatically as it has been, and you can subscribe to the RSS. These posts will not be the same discussion as what was discussed at Youth Group, I am still not sure how I wish to continue Youth Group discussion, but I imagine I will be using a separate website to achieve that goal. As time permits I will attempt to blog more often, but I can only guarantee a blog once a week for now. As always I’d love to talk to you in the chatroom (http://www.ryancourtade.com/chat).

God Bless,

Ryan