RELEVANT - Issue 88 - July/August 2017

88 ALT-J | TONY HALE | CLIM ATE CHANGE PROPAGANDA | COLD WAR KIDS | EUGENE PETERSON CLAIRE DIAZ-ORTIZ | AUGMENTED REALITY F A I T H , C U LT U R E & I N T E N T I O N A L L I V I N G

Lecrae He took a stand, then felt the fallout. A lot has changed for the chart-topping rapper.

JULY-AUG 2017 // $6.95 US

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CONTENTS

T H E M A G A Z I N E O N FA I T H , C U LT U R E & INTENTIONAL LIVING

JULY-AUG 2017 // ISSUE 88

July-August 2017, Issue 88 Some of these articles are crae crae.

Publisher & CEO | CAMERON STRANG Brand Director | JESSE CAREY Editorial Director | AARON CLINE HANBURY Production Editor | KATHY PIERRE Contributing Editor | TYLER HUCKABEE Contributing Writers: Matt Conner, Kim Hunt, Bonnie Gray, Rob Fee, Claire Diaz-Ortiz

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Director of Business Development | AME LYNN FUHLBRUCK Account Manager | HEATHER VOORHEES Circulation and Traffic Manager | CAROLINE COLE

Features

Creative Director| JOHN DAVID HARRIS Designer | LAUREN HARVILL

This Isn’t the Same Lecrae

Designer | ALEXA MENDEZ Developer | BRAD TAYLOR Audio Producer | CHANDLER STRANG

p .48

Contributing Photographers: Christian Lantry, Infectious

Speaking out about injustice almost cost him everything. How has the tumultuous past year changed Lecrae and his music?

Music, Kevin Russ, Sean Hagwell Operations Manager | JESS COLLINS Finance Manager | MERCEDES LANGDON Operations Support Coordinator | MIKAYLAH ROUCHARD

4 4 // HELLO ( AGAIN), BROTHER

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Tony Hale plays the quirkiest people on TV—contrasting his determined normalcy.

Operations Support Coordinator | AMBER KATYNSKI Facilities Manager | NOAH DARMATA

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: www.RELEVANTmagazine.com/advertise

5 2 // THROUGH A GL ASS, DARKLY

7 4 // ALT-J

Augmented Reality is changing the way people perceive, well, reality. Are we ready?

The thing about alt-J is their constant experimentation. Relaxer is no exception.

5 8 // AN ISSUE OF LIFE AND DE ATH

7 8 // THE GENER ATIONAL DIVIDE

Climate change is back in the forefront.

Will Christians finally step up?

Millennials and their parents *aren’t* seeing eye to eye these days. Is it fixable?

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6 8 // AVOIDING CHURCH BURNOUT

8 4 // COLD WAR KIDS Their new album, L.A. Divine, delivers on the

TO SUBSCRIBE RELEVANTmagazine.com/subscribe Rates: 1 year (6 issues) U.S. $26.99, Canada $36.99, International $45.99

Admit it: You’re a little tired of the church grind. Here’s how to avoid burning out.

familiar and the new.

7 2 // SUMMER LUVIN’ GUIDE

8 6 // WHAT IS A CHRIS TIAN?

Eight sure-fire ways to find your Boaz this summer. You’re welcome.

Eugene Peterson talks about what it means really to follow Jesus.

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0 6 // FIRS T WORD

9 0 // RELE VANT SELECT S The new entertainment releases worth your time, featuring spotlights on Propaganda,

0 8 // CURRENT ISIS persecution, Kendrick Lamar’s opinion on preaching, Louis C.K. and pro-lifers, Russia’s

Girlpool, Yaa Gyasi, Sofi Tukker, Honne, Kari Jobe and Teen Daze.

Christian persecution, Hailey Baldwin,

9 6 // L AS T WORD

Putting down roots, Harry Styles and more.

Claire Diaz-Ortiz on the two-way nature of mentorship.

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Issue #88 July/August 2017 (ISSN: 1543-317X). RELEVANT is published 6 times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November for $26.99 per year by RELEVANT Media Group, Inc., 900 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789.

Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, FL, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to RELEVANT Magazine, P.O. Box 531147, Orlando, FL 32853.

2017

let there be light.

Live album from Hillsong Worship recorded at Hillsong Conference in Sydney, Australia Featuring What A Beautiful Name, Behold (Then Sings My Soul) and Love So Great 05

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

FIRST WORD a letter from the editor

He used his platform to challenge the status quo—and there was major backlash.

We Need to Listen When a massive artist is willing to lose his fan base to stand up for what’s right, we need to pay attention.

I had dinner with Lecrae last fall,

AND NOW WE’RE SEEING MORE OF WHO [LECRAE]

and honestly he looked beaten up.

REALLY IS, AS

His shoulders slumped as he sat at

AN ARTIST AND

the table. He was in the middle of it.

That night I tried to encourage

AS A PERSON.

him. I wanted him to know I was

AND HE POURED

proud of the stand he was taking for

ALL OF IT

justice and truth. I was thankful that someone out in front the way he is would stick their neck out, even if it

INTO HIS NEW ALBUM.

upset some people.

I don’t think I realized how severe the backlash was for him.

How his fan base would turn their

ou might remember that in January 2016,

Y

Lecrae was on the cover of RELEVANT. In

back on him.

The music industry, and his fans,

the piece, he opened up about his surprising

put labels on him that didn’t really

and tumultuous past, which I loved because

apply. Now we’re seeing more of

it allowed us to get to know Lecrae the man

who he really is, as an artist and

more than just Lecrae the Christian rapper.

So why is he on our cover again, only 18 months later?

Sure, the timing aligns with the fact Lecrae is dropping a

as a person. And he poured all of it into his new album.

I hope other artists see Lecrae’s

highly anticipated new album, the first since he partnered

example and are encouraged to take

with major label heavyweight Columbia Records. Sure, his

a risk for their beliefs. Whether it

new singles are topping mainstream charts, and his will be

be letting the content of their music

one of the breakout albums of the year by a Christian artist.

grow beyond industry labels, being

But that’s not why he’s on the cover.

more vulnerable and transparent or

Lecrae’s transformation since we last talked to him is

using their platforms to speak truth

worth writing about. If you knew his music previously, he had built a massive platform. He performed in front

and enact important change.

Eighteen months ago, Lecrae

of arenas filled with Christian music fans. He’d become

opened up on these pages and

the poster child of the holy hip-hop music. You’d be hard-

talked about his difficult life story.

pressed to name a more popular Christian artist.

Today, he’s speaking honestly about

But he wasn’t being totally true to himself. If you followed

who he is now, speaking truth with

him on social media over the last couple of years, you saw a

conviction, whether people like it or

big shift in his tone.

not. We need to listen.

As our nation became gripped with racial violence and tensions were rising and it seemed the most extreme and hateful voices had the loudest microphones, Lecrae started speaking out.

He had always been one of those celebrities everyone liked, but no one really knew. He stayed out of controversy.

Lecrae was as beloved in Birmingham as he was Boise.

But then he spoke the truth. He tweeted things that made some of his fans uncomfortable.

C A MER ON S T R A NG

OK, a lot of his fans.

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CURRENT A B I M O N T H LY L O O K A T F A I T H , L I F E A N D C U LT U R E

It’s ‘Christian Persecution Like We’ve Rarely Seen in History’

T

church in the middle of Palm Sunday services.

Forty-four believers died. Coordinated attacks wreaked similar havoc around the Middle East.

This year, ISIS has been accelerating its efforts to eradicate Christianity. The group’s coordination has even led the United States Congress and the E.U. and U.K. parliaments to declare it a cultural genocide. “[ISIS is] not just trying to kill, imprison and persecute

The genocide against Jesus followers in the Middle East is reaching historic proportions.

JULY-AUG

HIS SPRING, THE ISLAMIC STATE bombed a Christian

Christians: They’re trying to erase Christian history,” says Johnnie Moore, recent winner of the medal of valor for fighting

08

2017

Mourners carry the coffins of victims of the blast at the Coptic Christian Saint Mark’s church in Alexandria, Egypt, in April.

needing humanitarian aid—a number reaching the millions, with people suffering not only persecution but also blistering living conditions.

“In the immediate throes of violence, the things that people need most, after safety, are food and medicine,” Courtney says. He suggests money is the most effective way for Christians around the globe to help. “It’s really important that we give cash during these times to trusted organizations who will know how to jumpstart markets and get emergency aid to the front lines,” he says.

Moore thinks it’s time for Americans to press for political solutions, too.

“EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US HAS

A RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS CRISIS.” — JOHNNIE MOORE

“We can put pressure on our politicians to say that religious freedom isn’t just enshrined in our Constitution, it ought to be enshrined in our foreign policy.”

Moore isn’t suggesting the crisis is merely about global politics. For Christians, the for persecuted peoples. “It’s cultural

concern for the situation of religious

genocide. ... It is Christian persecution

minorities in Iraq.

concern runs much deeper.

“Here we [Christians] are, a billion strong,

like we’ve rarely seen in history.”

These attacks aren’t leveraged only

The plight of Christianity in the

not only the biggest religion in the world, but

against Christians. ISIS targets include

the wealthiest, and we just let these people

Middle East comes down to this: Unless

Yazidis, as well as lesser-known

die every day.

Christians around the world take

religious sects like the Mandeans and

action, the Church might disappear

Shabaks—any group ISIS considers

in this crisis. Sometimes the littlest thing

from the region.

heretical.

we think is insignificant—sending a tweet

This demolition isn’t just of concern

Enter Jeremy Courtney and Iraq-

“Every single one of us has a responsibility

or writing an email to a congressperson or

to Christians. Moore makes clear

based Preemptive Love Coalition,

giving $10—the person on the other side

that millions of Muslims share deep

who help any and all in the region

calls a miracle.”

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CURRENT

Yoga Pants Are Killing the Environment Yet another reason sweatpants are superior.

SORRY, LULU FANS.

New research suggests that certain types of hightech fabrics—including athleisure wear, outdoor jackets and, yes, yoga pants—are made with microscopic plastic fiber that when washed, can slip past water filtration systems. Research from the University of Florida has found evidence that the microfibers are ending up in waterways where they can actually pollute the water and pose a threat to wildlife.

K-Dot is no fan of prosperity sermons. Can’t blame him.

Kendrick Lamar Thinks Preaching Has Gotten Too Watered Down IF YOU HAVEN’T NOTICED, hip-hop is in the

past few years, I’ve finally figured out

middle of a spiritual revival of sorts, and

why I left those services feeling spiritually

one of the artists at the forefront is Kendrick

unsatisfied as a child,” he said. “I discovered

Lamar. While the likes of Chance the Rapper

more truth. But simple truth.

fill their music with praise to God, Lamar’s

“Our God is a loving God. Yes. He’s a

music takes a thornier, Job-like approach.

merciful God. Yes. But he’s even more so a

After his latest album, D*MN, came out

God of [discipline]. OBEDIENCE. A JEALOUS

this summer, Lamar went deep about his

God. And for every conscious choice of sin,

church upbringing, his thoughts on the fear

will be corrected through his discipline.”

of God, and his belief that a lot of modern

That preachers soften their messages to

preaching waters down conversations about

make them more palatable isn’t new—but it

God’s righteousness.

is still prevalent. The bigger question is, will

“After being heavily in my studies these

church leaders listen to Lamar’s critique?

MISC.

JULY-AUG

Shiplap! The most popular

McDonald’s has released a new

HBO is making another pope-based

“Christian celebrity” in the world

product: the Frork. It’s somehow

miniseries. Following the success

is … Chip Gaines. That’s according

a fork that’s made out of french

of The Young Pope, the network has

to a survey by entertainment

fries, and it’s likely the world’s

announced The New Pope (because

market research group, E-Poll.

dumbest idea.

if it ain’t broke, don’t change it).

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S E AT T L E U N I V E R S I T Y S C H O O L O F T H E O LO GY A N D M I N I S T RY

We empower

for a just and humane world “I have been deeply impacted by the ecumenism and interfaith emphasis here at the School of Theology and Ministry. My faith has expanded and my personhood deepened by the spiritual experiences shared by students who believe differently than I do. Be present. Be hopeful.

Be awake to the small shifts at the center of your being.”

— Missy Trull, Master of Divinity

Graduate Degree Programs:

Doctor of Ministry Master of Divinity Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies Master of Arts in Transforming Spirituality Master of Arts in Couples & Family Therapy Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership

Learn more: seattleu.edu/stm

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04/22

CURRENT

THE HOT LIST Bimonthly Cultural Power Rankings

A Z I Z A N SA R I [Hottest]

The return of Master of

None shows why he’s one of this generation’s most important voices.

Louis C.K. Stood Up for Pro-Lifers?

Sort of.

The comic espoused an irreverent, but surprisingly pro-life philosophy in his new Netflix special.

FACTS [Hotter]

In the world of alternative facts, we’re pretty excited about good ol’ fashioned truth.

A RCA D E F I R E [Hot]

IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING about comedian

percent killing a baby. It is—it’s totally killing

Louis C.K., you know he has a penchant for

a whole baby. But I think that women should

the uncomfortable. That’s his whole bit,

be allowed to kill babies.”

pushing you to the absurd, too-true edge.

or language, but at the core, he makes the

tackles one of society’s most taboo issues—

point abortion is either not a big deal at all

abortion. The comic says he thinks the idea

or it’s a huge deal.

The indie rock legends

abortion should be “safe, legal and rare” is

have returned. We’ve

hypocritical.

missed them.

He lays out his point in requisitely off-col-

Enter his new Netflix special, 2017, where he

“I just think it has to be one or the another, you know? Like when people say

“I don’t think [abortion is] killing a baby,

abortion should be safe, legal and rare. Why

I don’t,” he jokes. “I mean, it is. It’s a—it’s a

rare if it should be legal?” It’s a point pro-life

little bit—it’s a little bit killing a baby. It’s 100

advocates have been making for years.

F I D G E T S P I N N E RS [Cold]

Nothing will ever be as cool as POGS were.

CELEBRITY POLITICIANS [Colder]

The Rock is considering

RIP: Blockbuster Is All But Dead in America

running for president.

YOU REMEMBER BLOCKBUSTER,

Idiocracy is now a

don’t you? For kids of a certain generation, the movie rental giant was about as exciting a place as you could go on a Friday night—though it caused endless sibling arguments.

documentary.

R A I N B OW - CO LO R E D FO O D [Coldest]

The unicorn frappucino

In November 2013, all that fun pretty much ended in the U.S.—except in El Paso, Texas, where hope lived on. There, four locations stayed open.

But sadly, even in Texas, the inevitable has happened.

Recently, the very last Blockbuster location in the contiguous United States shut its doors, and with it the doors of millennial childhoods.

Thanks for fighting the good fight, El Paso. We salute you.

killed it.

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05/22

CURRENT

MISC.

Remember the kid on Twitter who asked Wendy’s for free chicken nuggets in exchange for retweets? Well,

The Portable Vinyl Player No One Needs But We All Kind of Want

@carterjwm didn’t get the 18 million retweets the burger chain asked for, but he does now have the most shared The perfect way to

tweet ever. That’s

one-up your vinyl

something.

snob friend.

Y

OU KNOW HOW

It basically looks like a TV

you always get

remote that rotates on top

an insatiable

of a record (instead of the

desire to listen

opposite). It works on a

to vinyl records while you’re

base, which keeps weight

traveling for business?

off the records, and has a

In what has to

Of course you do. Well—

traditional stylus. Still, it

be a first: Pope

thankfully—that may not be

plays digitally through a

our nation’s greatest travel

Bluetooth connection and

crisis much longer.

you control it with an app.

LOVE is a portable record

It’s the perfect gift for your

player that doesn’t look like

hipster traveling salesman

a Cold War-era typewriter.

friend.

Francis now has his very own pair of Air Jordans.

On a recent visit to Vatican City, University of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh presented the kicks to the pontiff.

Younger Millennials Think Women Should Stay Home

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO BELIEVE A MAN SHOULD BE THE “BREADWINNER”

advanced tech

A NEW STUDY BY THE COUNCIL on Contemporary Families suggests

guru Regina Dugan

millennials may be less progressive than Gen Xers on things like household divisions of work. Sociologists used the Monitoring the Future study that asks high school seniors specific questions every year since the ‘70s. When asked if the best way to run a household was a man “breadwinner” and a woman homemaker, in 1994, 58 percent of the students disagreed, but in 2014, only 42 percent disagreed. Luckily, there’s been a steady 89 percent agreement on the fact women should have the same job opportunities that men do.

JULY-AUG

Facebook has hired

to help develop

1994

technology to—

42%

Facebook posts

2014

generated by

58%

014

wait for it—read your mind. As in,

thoughts. No, that’s not terrifying at all.

2017

Story / Script / Screen Explore Truth and Beauty with an M.A. in Screenwriting Cultivate your storytelling skills with Azusa Pacific’s low-residency Master of Arts in Screenwriting program. Enter into the dialogue on faith and cinema and collaborate with faculty-mentors in an innovative arts community, just 30 miles from Hollywood.

T H E R E ’ S M O R E T O Y O U R S T O R Y. CONTINUE THE JOURNEY WITH APU. apu.edu/screenwriting

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06/22

CURRENT

Hailey Baldwin: Instagram’s Conflicted Celebrity M

ODEL HAILEY BALDWIN

to The Times magazine in the

may be a celebrity

U.K. “There are times when I feel

on social media, but

depressed or anxious, and a big

the 20-year-old has a

part of it comes from that. If we

different take than most on the toll

didn’t have social media, we’d have

constant connection takes.

a weight lifted off our shoulders. It

After amassing 9 million Instagram followers and nearly

does affect you.”

Recently, after finding herself on

1 million on Twitter, the face of

the receiving end of celebrity gossip

brands like Guess and H&M—

from tabloids and random social

and daughter of actor Stephen

media users, Baldwin, who has been

Baldwin—knows just how difficult

vocal about her Christian faith,

it can be dealing with trolls, other

tweeted an interesting response

people’s expectations and the

to those perpetuating the rumors:

feedback loops of life online.

“Listen to some hillsong united pray

“It definitely does something to the soul,” she recently explained

a lil and worry about yourself y’all.”

Words to live by.

Yeah, we wish Alec Baldwin were our

Infant Mortality Rate Drops HISTORICALLY THE UNITED

States has had a shockingly high infant mortality rate, especially when compared to other developed, wealthy countries. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that rate has continued to drop since 2005.

Between 2005 and 2014, Asian or Pacific Islander women saw a decline in infant deaths of 21 percent and black women saw one of 20 percent. Connecticut, South Carolina, Colorado and Washington D.C. all had rate drops of more than 20 percent.

The CDC’s study doesn’t try to explain why the decline has been happening, but experts point to things like baby boxes, better care for babies with a low birth weight, discouraging women from scheduling early deliveries and making birth control more widely available.

uncle, too.

I N FA N T M O R TA L I T Y R AT E S F O R T H E PAST DECADE:

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6.7

5.9

2006

2016

2017

Pursue your something more

CONNECT YOUR PASSION OF HELPING OTHERS WITH THE TOOLS AND SKILLS YOU NEED TO DO JUST THAT. EARN YOUR GRADUATE DEGREE AT HOPE. 100% ONLINE PROGRAMS WORK WITHIN YOUR SCHEDULE, AND DEDICATED ACADEMIC COACHES HELP YOU PLAN FOR AND REACH YOUR GOALS.

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07/22

CURRENT

“Everybody who paid $15 for a can of Monster at the concession stand say YEAH!”

An Insider’s Guide to 2017’s Summer Festivals Everything you need to know.

OU CAN FEEL IT IN THE AIR.

worse, hundreds of thousands of people will

Music festivals are a highly profitable

Singles are being remixed.

be flooding the sun-dappled, mud-trampled,

business, so there are a lot to choose from.

Flower crowns are being laced

energy drink-strewn parks, deserts and

But which one is right for you? Let’s take

together. Urban Outfitters is

fairgrounds to hear their favorite bands—

a look at the differences of a few key ones,

selling floral rompers on sale. Yes, music

or at least pretend to hear them from a

before we all pass out from heat exhaustion.

festival season is upon us, and for better or

distance, roughly three football fields away.

Y

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2017

LOLLAPALOOZA (left and right) Chicago: Urban Jungle

Run the Jewels, Arcade Fire, Chance the Rapper, The Killers, Lorde and others will be headed to the windy city’s premier music fest (sorry, Pitchfork), which takes place in Grant Park on the Chicago waterfront downtown. That makes Lolla the ideal choice for people who prefer their music fests with restaurants and shopping options.

BONNAROO Tennessee: Music Max: Fury Road

and The Shins will lead this fest, making it ideal for those who don’t get what all the kids are into, what with their hippity-hoppity. Although, Sasquatch does feature Chance the Rapper this year—pretty much every U.S. festival booked him this year (for good reason).

This year will bring U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The xx and others, so it’s a solid lineup.

W H AT T O PA C K F O R A MUSIC FEST

• CamelBak, to stay hydrated • Plenty of sunscreen • A portable cell phone charger • A first-aid kit • A flashlight with extra batteries • Road flares • Another first-aid kit • A machete Fashion tip: Music festivals are the last acceptable place you can work a fanny pack.

But be warned, it takes place in the scalding Tennessee wilderness, accessible only via an Indiana Jones-esque exploration into the unknown. Not everyone who ventures will make it home safely.

• Flak jacket (2x) • A generator • Small toolbox • Last will and testament

SASQUATCH

• Trail mix

Washington: Granola Diet

Twenty One Pilots, The Head and the Heart,

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09/22

CURRENT

TIME: THE KALIEF BROWDER STORY

Jay Z produced a six-part docuseries about 16-year-old Kalief Browder who spent three years in jail—two in solitary confinement—after being accused of stealing a backpack.

The charges were dropped, but after being released, Browder took his own life.

MISC.

The chicken king KFC has published Tender Wings of Desire, a novella about the love

YET-TO-BE-TITLED

affair between

DOCUSERIES & FILM ABOUT

Lady Madeline

TRAYVON MARTIN

After securing the rights to two acclaimed books about the death of black teen Trayvon Martin and the lack of charges against his killer George Zimmerman, Jay Z will produce both a six-part docuseries and a feature film.

Parker and Colonel Harland Sanders. Yes, a KFC romance book is real.

THE WAR ON DRUGS IS AN EPIC FAIL

In this animated short film made for The New York Times, Jay Z explains why the ongoing crackdown on marijuana and harsh penalties for minor drug law violations not only disproportionately target minority communities, but are also ineffective.

Jay Z: Social Justice Filmmaker IP-HOP LEGEND JAY Z is expanding his entertainment

H

empire, and his career’s next act goes beyond music.

Nicki Minaj, it turns out, is one of the great celebrity philanthropists of her generation.

Apparently, Minaj has spent the last few years donating money to an unnamed Indian village through her pastor.

He’s currently making films and docuseries that take on the criminal justice system.

A&E IndieFilms just commissioned

Scientists Can Now Make Saltwater Drinkable

a documentary about a small religious sect called Followers of Christ, a

AROUND THE WORLD, an estimated 663 million people live without access to clean

water. In addition to the progress humanitarian organizations have been making toward getting drinkable water to people, scientists may now be able to get people the tools they need to make saltwater drinkable. A team at the University of Manchester has created a filter made mostly out of the chemical graphene oxide, which can separate salt particles from water particles, leaving only clean water.

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group accused of refusing to treat community members with medicine or seek traditional medical help.

2017

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CURRENT

Islam Will Soon Be the World’s Fastest-Growing Religion Dramatic demographic trends mean that Christians could become a minority.

IN

LESS THAN 20 YEARS, the number

of babies born to Muslims is expected

to exceed births to Christians.

While Christianity will continue to grow around the world (based on the number of children born), the current majority religions will soon be outpaced, according to a recent Pew Research study.

Part of the reason is that Christian populations tend to be older and account for a large

31%

percentage of the world’s deaths (37 percent), while

OF BABIES

they make up

BORN FROM

just 33 percent

2010 TO

of the world’s births. The global Muslim population, however, tends to be

2015 WERE BIRTHED TO MUSLIMS

much younger.

This means that in the next generation, the global religious landscape could look Islam is getting younger and

entirely different.

spreading faster.

MISC.

JULY-AUG

Archaeologists recently found

Owen Wilson and Daniel

There is a new Kickstarter that

evidence— in 3,000-year-old

Radcliffe will be playing the

has, as of this writing, pulled in over

donkey dung—King Solomon had

parts of God and an angel on

$364,796 to create the RompHim.

access to copper mines, possibly

a new TBS workplace comedy

It’s the male-styled version of the

the source of his massive wealth

called Miracle Workers. It sounds

romper (the one-piece lady’s outfit).

described in the Bible.

terrible, but, yeah, we’ll watch.

Boys of summer, right?

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11/22

CURRENT

Meet the Netflix Series Out to Change America Why we need the buzzworthy Dear White People.

JUST LOOK AT TWITTER and

you’ll see few topics incite more explosive reactions than race.

That’s what makes the Netflix comedy series Dear White People, which dropped earlier this summer, so significant.

Like the 2014 movie, the show follows four black students at an Ivy League college. It has attracted wild acclaim, but that’s not its loftiest goal. We talked with actors Antoinette Robertson (Coco Conners) and Marque Richardson (Reggie Green) about why America needs this show.

THE SHOW’S ANNOUNCEMENT CAUSED QUITE A STIR.

Antoinette: I was surprised by the hatred that followed.

Needless to say, that reaction alone reinforced the fact this show is needed in this society. We definitely need something that could help begin conversations that would help close this racial divide.

DEAR WHITE PEOPLE IS A COMEDY. DOES HUMOR PROVIDE A BETTER WAY TO HAVE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS?

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Marque: Absolutely. Comedy

HAVE YOUR OWN IDEAS OF

makes knowledge easier to digest,

RACE CHANGED SINCE WORKING

especially with the subject of race

ON THE SHOW?

in America. Yeah, a lot of people

Marque: It’s interesting because the

don’t want to talk about it; but

TV series, more so than the film for

the only way we can progress

me, was the first piece of work in

people forward is talking about it.

which I actually got to explore what

At the end of the day, you choose

it means to be a young black man in

your strategy and [creator Justin

America. I’m realizing that art can,

Simien’s] strategy was with Dear

and should, be activism. I can’t go

White People and making it a satire,

home and pretend like nothing else

making it funny.

is going on in the world.

I’M REALIZING THAT ART CAN, AND SHOULD BE, ACTIVISM. — MARQUE RICHARDSON

Antoinette: There were definitely things that made me take a moment and have an introspection like a little heart-to-heart with myself and say, ‘Wait, hold on, are there things that I’ve done specifically because it might make my life easier in terms of conforming?’ And if so, why not be bold and brave enough to reveal to the world who I am in every capacity—instead of covering myself up to be accepted?

WHAT DO YOU HOPE VIEWERS TAKE AWAY FROM DEAR WHITE PEOPLE? The Netflix series

Antoinette: I hope people take

follows the 2014 film of

away the universal theme that we’re

the same name.

all continuing to discover who we are, regardless of where we come from or where we aspire to be.

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1. MAKE A TOWN BUCKET LIST

“Start by talking to everyone. Ask them, ‘What do you like to do?’ or ‘Where do you like to eat?’ And start doing those things.”

4. MAKE FRIENDS

“An easy way to do that is to find a church community, which has always been really helpful for me.”

2. GET OUTSIDE

5 Keys to Putting Down Roots in Your New City Your next move doesn’t have to be so hard.

SUMMERS ARE ALWAYS BUSIER THAN

you expect, especially for people moving to new cities. In fact, the majority of people who move do so in the summer.

This is especially true for millennials, 75 percent of whom say they’re

“It’s our way of experiencing a place at its most elemental. And it can help you connect and understand more about what it is deep down.”

considering moving to a new city.

5. GO TO YOUR TOWN’S FESTIVALS

“Almost every city in America has at least one during the summer. And they are the ways cities brag about themselves.”

Few things offer the excitement of exploring a new city, but moving always presents a problem: actually putting down roots and investing intentionally in a community.

You know that feeling you get when you think about home? There’s a scientific term for that called “place attachment,” and journalist Melody Warnick, who last year published This Is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live, has spent

3. WALK IN YOUR

years studying it and exploring how to

NEIGHBORHOOD

speed up the attachment process. Here’s

“This helps you feel more like you belong, like you know what’s going on here. You recognize things.”

what she says you need to do to make your new city feel like home:

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Crackdown: Russia’s Mounting War on Evangelism

MISC.

Well, Brooklyn has out Brooklyned itself. In the mecca Putin’s “Yarovaya laws” make some types of evangelism a crime.

of overpriced craft food and drink now sits an avocado bar called Avocaderia.

Yes, a whole “bar” dedicated, we’re guessing, to avocado toast.

They’re calling them “Cereal Splashbacks,” three new flavors of Ben & Jerry’s

IN RUSSIA, SHARING your

laws. They’re billed as anti-

arrested—inviting friends

faith could land you in jail.

terrorism, but they actually

or strangers to church in

One of Russian President

ban evangelizing outside of

any way would be subject to

Vladimir Putin’s most

designated religious locations,

criminal punishment.

recent controversial moves

including your own home.

The laws also require

happened in July 2016 when

Based on the law—which

foreign missionaries to have

he signed a set of laws,

has already resulted in

a permit from government

known as the Yarovaya

religious leaders being

officials to speak at a church.

An HR Department’s Mark of the Beast Program

JULY-AUG

NOT ONLY ARE THEY KEEPING track

of your personal days, but your H.R. department may also be paving the way for the Mark of the Beast. Sort of. A Swedish tech company called Epicenter has begun implanting its employees with near-field communication microchips that allow

them to do things like unlock doors, use office printers and purchase beverages from the smoothie shop. To think, the end times are being ushered in because people want a convenient way to buy smoothies.

028

ice cream that taste like drinking the milk from your favorite kid cereal. We can all just relax now, because Ben and Jerry are solving world problems.

The distressed fashion thing is getting out of hand. These sneakers from designer Maison Margiela cost $1,425. Seriously.

2017

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[T I M E C A P S U L E]

A Visual History of Dope Televangelist Suits Don’t be known for what you’re against, be known for what you wear.

S

INCE THE ADVENT OF BROADCASTING, preachers have been taking to the

airwaves to spread the Good News. But as any TV personality knows, if you’re going to be on primetime, you need to rock a dope suit.

And just as normal fashion has evolved over the last several decades,

so to have televangelists’ suits—though much more radically. The following is a definitive visual history of the evolution of televangelist suits.

THE GLORY YEARS 1970S - 1980S

_ ALL BUSINESS 1950S - 1960S

_

Not only did tent revivals start looking like variety shows, but the suits and hair got straight-up audacious. No era has seen more bold fashion decisions.

Billy Graham always kept it classy.

Early TV ministry pioneers kept it simple—a good ol’ fashioned black suit and a smart necktie.

Oh, how things would change.

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THE EXPERIMENTAL YEARS 1990S - 2000S

_

With three-quarter length, collarless suits that looked like they came from the future, Benny Hinn literally just invented new types of clothes. Of course, others followed suit. (Pun intended.)

Sadly, only one of these pictures is of a fictional character.

Clockwise from top: Benny Hinn, Eddie Long, Leroy Jenkins, Jonas Nightengale

THE MODERN ERA

_

The modern era of televangelism is marked by flashy pantsuits, outlandishly flashy blazers and blindingly white teeth.

Clockwise from top: Oral Roberts, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Paul and Jan Crouch

L-R: T.B. Joshua, Joyce Meyer, Deitrick Haddon, Joel Osteen

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Millennials: Don’t Call Me a Millennial

You might have run into Poe at Cornerstone.

EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT

Oscar Isaac Was Once a CCM Scenester IN HOLLYWOOD TERMS, Oscar Isaac is

in the day. The actor, who grew up in

about as big of a deal as you can be these

a devoutly Christian home, told Chris

days. But before Inside Llewyn Davis,

Hardwick in a 2015 interview:

before The Force Awakens and before

“I went to this thing called Cornerstone

Ex Machina, Isaac spent his free time at

when I was in high school, which is like

Christian music festivals.

a Christian Woodstock. It was a Christian

Earlier this year, Juliana Theory

Coachella kind of thing. They had like

frontman Brett Detar said in a podcast

Christian metal bands, and Christian

interview that he heard Isaac attended a

hardcore bands and all sorts of different

Cornerstone festival sometime in the ’90s.

tents and all that. That was pretty wild.”

That got us digging, and it turns out—

Just think, that kid you elbowed a little

Isaac did indeed attend the now-defunct

too hard in the Five Iron Frenzy mosh pit

alternative Christian music festival back

might just have been Poe.

millennials. Well, almost.

At this point, generational comparisons are a fixture of American public discourse, and this generation gets a lion’s share of attention. That is, unless you’re actually a millennial.

For Gen Xers and boomers, those generational labels are fairly neutral, with about two-thirds of them telling researchers at LIMRA they use and are comfortable with the terms. Cut to millennials, and less than half (44 percent) actually identify as, well, millennials.

Of course, millennials do have a reputation for eschewing labels. There’s irony in there somewhere. Or maybe just consistency.

MISC.

JULY-AUG

A new study just came out

There’s a new Dumbledore

Everyone knew Adele’s 2011 album,

saying that artificially sweetened

coming to the Harry Potter

21, was special. Now that album

drinks—e.g., diet soda—increase

franchise. This next version? Jude

holds the new record for longest

your risk for stroke or dementia—

Law. Because every British actor

time on the Billboard 200 by a

by triple(!). Warn your mom.

has to be in a Potter film.

woman, at 319 weeks and counting.

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14 SONGS FOR THE CHURCH INCLUDING “MANIFESTO” “HOLY (WEDDING DAY)” & NEW SONG “HONESTLY” RECORDED LIVE AT THEIR FINAL WORSHIP GATHERING

A V A I L A B L E

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CURRENT

MISC.

This Leaf Might Just Save the World

Former University of Michigan player turned NFL rookie has signed what’s quite possibly the greatest endorsement deal of all time. Jake Butt, who—no lie—is a tight end, is the new spokesman of

It produces 375% more oxygen

Charmin toilet paper.

than most normal plants.

AS A HIGH SCHOOL junior, Wyatt Pontius made

a large mark on how we can fight climate change and even approach space exploration.

Pontius created a leaf that puts out 375 percent more oxygen than a regular leaf. That matters because as the climate changes, a major part

Compared to literally every

of that will be the declining amount of oxygen

other generation,

in the atmosphere. And when it comes to space

millennials are

travel, carrying oxygen up to space is one of the

the worst drivers.

heaviest and most expensive things to account for. With Pontius’ invention, trips up to space could be cheaper and last longer.

Only 39 percent Wyatt Pontius—

passed a written

and a satellite.

test distributed by a car insurance market. That’s the worst of any group measured.

C’mon, guys.

36%

Only 36 Percent of Americans Think the Bible Is True

90%

Chance the Rapper

50% of American homes own a copy of the Bible

JULY-AUG

think the Bible is a good moral guide

AMERICANS LOVE THE BIBLE,

and it’s a big part of American life.

That’s partly why nearly 90 percent of American homes own a copy.

But when it comes to actually believing—much less, reading— the Bible, Americans aren’t quite as enthusiastic. Two recent surveys,

one by LifeWay and one by Barna, bear this out. At the same time, more than half of respondents think the Bible is a good moral guide for your life, but only 36 percent of Americans call the Bible true, which is about the same percentage who actively engage it.

034

recently discussed his complicated relationship with labels, especially when it comes to his faith and art. He told Jordan Peele, “I don’t make Christian rap, but I am a Christian rapper.”

2017

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[ T H R O U G H T H E L E N S]

Adventure, Photography and Changing Perspectives British Columbia, Canada 50° 15’ 26” N • 122° 0’ 12” W

KEVIN RUSS IS LIVING THE LIFE every budding

photographer dreams of: He’s an adventurer that travels the world shooting pictures. In the early days of the iPhone, when every other photographer was flocking to digital SLR cameras, Russ decided he wanted to be a professional photographer that only shot with an iPhone. His shots ended up in commercial work and he garnered a large following, but for Russ it’s not about gear or a gimmick— it’s about finding beauty and capturing it as simply as possible. (He now shoots on analog film as well, including the image on this page.)

Russ travels uniquely. You’re likely to find him hitching a ride on a freight train or sleeping in his car in the middle of the wilderness. He lives simply and intentionally—defining traits of his photography. “I put myself in places or situations that inspire me and document it,” Russ says. “I travel slow and allow the space and time I need to meet people and do things in a fully immersed way.”

The approach has changed his perspective about the world. “It’s shown me how much I take for granted and the kindness of strangers.

The world seems smaller than it used to, and people seem more alike than different.”

Kevin Russ Born & raised in California INSTAGRAM.COM/KEVINRUSS INSTAGRAM.COM/KEVINRUSSFILM

JULY-AUG

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[ T H E C H E AT S H E E T ]

Getting Out of Debt Doesn’t Have to Be Miserable Millennials are the most indebted generation in history.

But managing it can be easier than you think.

MILLENNIALS ARE IN DEBT. That’s a fact that

Getting out of debt is hard, but it’s

consolidating the loans, refinancing

just about everyone knows to some extent.

necessary. Just remember it’s about

them or in the case of federal loans,

According to a recent report out of the Federal

the long game, and it doesn’t have to

make sure your monthly payments

Reserve Bank of New York, the household debt

take over your life.

are income-based. Depending on

for Americans went up in the fourth quarter of

what industry you’re in, you can

2016 across all types of debt: student loan, credit

1. TACKLE YOUR STUDENT

also consider a job in public service

cards, mortgages and auto loans. The Reserve

LOAN DEBT

that offers student loan forgiveness.

found that for 25- to 30-year-olds, student loan

See how you can make your student

It usually requires a long-term

debt made up 69 percent of a person’s debt.

loan more manageable, whether it’s

commitment, but it could be worth it for you. According to Inc., Sponsorchange.org connects you to volunteer programs that will help pay down your debt in exchange for your time.

2. EXPAND YOUR INCOME

More money will obviously make paying your debt down easier, and there are a few ways to get it.

Nerdwallet advises not to be afraid to ask for a raise at your current job or consider another job that pays more. It’s also an option to get creative for extra income, whether that’s freelance writing or editing, selling things on Etsy, house sitting or babysitting, or even renting out extra space you may have.

3. GET INTERESTED IN INTEREST

Interest is that small, but sneaky thing that manages to add money to our debt balances each month.

According to the ReadyforZero blog, it’s fairly easy to call your debtors and ask them to lower your interest rate. It’s a small step, but based on the terms of your loan, it could make a big difference.

JULY-AUG

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22/22

[T H E B IG Q U E S T IO N]

What Is the Best Piece of Relationship Advice You’ve Received?

R

elationships are tricky things. Even though bookshelves and video series spill over with advice and coaching, just about everyone seems to struggle with friendship, dating or marriage at some point. Because life is complex and often just really busy. Yet

relationships have the power either to fuel or totally drain, so doing the work to make them healthy is never a waste. We asked three of the most dynamic—and busy!—people we know about the best relationship advice they’ve received.

Andy Mineo

Louie Giglio

Award-winning hip-hop

Founder of A21 and Propel, as

Pastor of Passion City Church

artist, whose latest album

well as an internationally sought-

and author of a new book,

drops this summer

after author and speaker

Goliath Must Fall

DO THE HARD WORK OF KNOWING

SOMEONE TOLD ME ONCE , “Christine, Nick is not Jesus.

Jesus is Jesus.” Don’t expect your husband to be for you what only Jesus can be. Don’t expect from Nick what you can only ever get from God.

yourself. I think the greatest gift my wife ever gave me was her emotional healthiness. She came into our relationship having done the hard work of learning how to engage with her feelings honestly. ... That relationship will inform all of the other important ones.

JULY-AUG

Christine Caine

040

TO LOWER THE EXPECTATIONS WE

have for people ... especially a spouse.

Relationships with others are a special treasure, but no one—no one—can meet the craving deep inside our hearts with sustenance and sustainability like our Creator. If you’re looking to people to be more than they can be, you’re headed for a relational roller coaster.

2017

Reflect on the Psalms with musician Bono, author Eugene Peterson, and Fuller theologian W. David O. Taylor Photo: Taylor Martyn

Read a candid conversation on reconciling race and why we need to step into the dialogue, not away from it

Watch internationally acclaimed artist Makoto Fujimura as he introduces the Culture Care movement

Hear stories of women in ministry, business, the arts, and academia from FULLER studio’s unique Story Table

Read noted theologian Oliver Crisp on why he chooses to be evangelical and what it really means

INTRODUCING FULLER STUDIO FULLER studio offers Fuller Seminary’s resources at a free online website, showcasing a wealth of theological material from our world-class faculty alongside exclusive releases such as the short film Bono and Eugene Peterson: The Psalms and a new podcast series from President Mark Labberton.

Fuller.edu/Studio 041

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HEY AGAIN, BROTHER Tony Hale plays some of the weirdest people on TV, and as he’ll be the first to tell you, that’s because he understands them better than anyone.

BY TYLER HUCKABEE

et’s start by dispelling the obvious, un-

tant who sticks by her closer than a leech. His neurotic, emo-

derstandable assumption: Tony Hale is not an

tionally destitute characterization is mesmerizing and stands

awkward guy. He’s thoughtful, funny, honest, dis-

out in a show full of standouts. Hale’s impression of Gary is

arming and chatty. He loves his wife of 14 years

a dark one, as will probably come as little surprise to fans.

and their daughter, Loy, who he calls his “every-

“Gary, he’s had no identity outside Selina Meyer,” Hale

thing.” He’s humble—endlessly, deliberately so—

says. “He gravitates to very powerful people to find his own

but he’s not self-deprecating. He says he’s cheap.

identity, co-dependently attaching himself to things just to

He’s even brave, opening up about issues public

find love and attention.”

figures likely wouldn’t be as forthright about.

This is one of Hale’s gifts—taking hopelessly broad, effec-

But Hale, contrary to the famed, Emmy-win-

tively helpless characters and finding their identifiably hu-

ning, remarkable performances that have made

man core. And if Hale seems unusually good at it, it’s only be-

him one of his generation’s most iconic comedic

cause it’s taken him some work to find out who he is as well.

talents, is not awkward.

“I think it’s important to find the humanity in

AGGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT

any performance,” Hale says. “I don’t think any

Hale grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, the son of a teacher and

written character should come across as com-

a former political staffer. He always enjoyed acting but, like

pletely solid because that’s not real. ... You have

many, didn’t see much of a future in it. It was just a place to

to find the vulnerability and honesty in those

find a little bit of belonging in a part of the country famously

depths beyond those cracks and that’s what

obsessed with sports.

makes it relatable.”

“I was not an athletic kid,” Hale says with a tone that

He’s coming off the sixth season of Veep, HBO’s

suggests he was very much not an athletic kid. “My parents

astonishingly funny comedy that started out as

didn’t really know where to channel my energy, but we found

a look at the vice-presidential career of Selina

this small theater company called Young Actors Theater and

Meyer (as played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) but has

it was just a gift. It was a place where I just felt like I could be

morphed into something more complex and, ulti-

myself. I felt like I wasn’t judged for my quirkiness and it was

mately, more satisfying. Hale plays Gary, Selina’s

a really freeing atmosphere.”

hopelessly devoted bagman and personal assis-

He wasn’t a popular kid, he says, though he ended up find-

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“You have to have people around you who see you for who you are, and speak truth into your life and can walk beside you during the highs and lows.”

That conviction is part of what led him to found Haven, a New York-based organization for actors in the entertainment industry who also want a faith community. Hale’s faith is a matter of deep importance to him and he and Haven co-founder Kathy Karbowski realized that they couldn’t be the only artists who were passionate about both faith and the arts. Haven was their attempt to feel a little less lonely.

“We would also do service projects, because we all knew this business was selling ourselves and without doing things to get your eyes off yourself, it’s going to destroy you.”

ing a little social currency around the end of high

Hale is really into “getting his eyes off himself.” It comes

school. “But it was purely out of neediness,” he

up a lot in conversations about his notoriety. He’s not exactly

says. “I was trying to adapt to every clique I could

Brad Pitt or Will Smith, but there’s no denying that Hale is a

to get attention.”

distinctive person, and has carved a unique and fascinating

Hale is extraordinarily open about the insecurities of his younger days and the uphill battle to address them in a healthy way.

niche for himself in pop culture. And although he’s effusively grateful for the success, he’s open about the downsides.

“I think the base of fame is that everyone wants to be known,” he says. “And they look at fame as the ultimate of be-

ILLUSIONS

ing known. ... But if you look at massive celebrities, they are

Hale speaks openly about his struggles with

isolated from the world, the opposite of being known.

stress and anxiety, the ways he’s overcome them

“You have to have people around you who see you for who

and the ways they continue to factor into his life.

you are, and speak truth into your life and can walk beside

“I’ve had pain in my past in regards to anx-

you during the highs and lows. That’s the stuff that matters

iety,” he says. “So it’s cool to see how it can be

and will give you longevity.”

used purposefully. It can be used in my work in a funny and positive way, which is cool to see. I’ve

HALE MARRY

learned a lot through it. I still have a lot of stress

Hale lives in Pasadena, California, so his current haven is his

and anxiety but through the mistakes, you learn

daughter and his wife, makeup artist Martel Thompson.

more truth as you grow older and older.”

daughter to school or the mall,” Hale says. “It’s keeping those

in the first place, though there was some initial

simple routines. That’s what love is. In this business, you’re

shame originally associated with it. “I think the

only as good as your last job. But it’s like, your value as a per-

shame comes from a place of our society always

son is the same before and after success. It doesn’t change.”

putting on the face that ‘I can do this,’” he says.

Hale and his wife met in New York City, when Hale was a

“Like a Facebook-perfection world where we all

struggling actor doing “every job under the sun of temp work”

put our best foot forward and no one sees behind

until he started landing a few commercial gigs, including the

the scenes. No one really has it all under control.

famous Volkswagen ad where he danced to “Mr. Roboto.” The

We’re all trying to work it out.”

commercials kept coming until Hale finally got his big break

On screen, Hale is famous for playing isolated

playing Buster on Arrested Development. He was a new face

characters whose comedy clearly comes from a

around seasoned pros, but delivered one of the show’s most

place of profound loneliness. So paradoxically,

enduring performances. Although, Arrested Development’s

Hale seems to have a deeply felt appreciation for

behind-the-scenes struggle to survive has now become al-

genuine community.

most as famous as the litany of running gags it spawned.

“I think the word ‘independent’ has been so

“We were always wondering whether we were going to

overglorified,” he explains. “No one sees the val-

be around or not,” he says of the early Arrested Development

ue in healthy dependence. What’s wrong with

days. “The anxiety is less now, but at the same time, I’m still a

needing healthy relationships and community,

freelancer. Every actor’s job is a job.”

and knowing we need each other and to speak

It’s not something you think about very often: well-known

into each other’s lives? It’s scary to open yourself

actors fretting about where the next paycheck is going to

up to people. It’s easier to put up a false armor

come from. Hale says it’s a real concern but it’s helped him to

than saying, ‘No, I actually need people around

learn to embrace the unknown.

me and the strength that people can provide.’”

JULY-AUG

“My favorite thing is having dinner with them or taking my

It was that stress that drove him to counseling

“I’ve had to accept the uncertainty of it, which has been

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2017

one of the hardest things to accept. ... I’ve been doing this for over 20 years and I still never know where the path is going to go or what will be the next thing.”

The natural question is whether the next thing includes a return to the show that made him a star in the first place. The first three seasons of Arrested Development are in the comedy canon.

The fourth season was more divisive, but finally won over its detractors as its ambitions revealed themselves. Would a fifth season be in the cards?

“I love that question,” he says. “I don’t really know much. I think it’s going to happen, I just don’t know when. And if everyone is on board …” he breaks off for a second, either unsure of what to say or what he can say, before finally just letting it rest with: “I want it to happen.”

Exactly three days after this conversation, Jason Bateman makes it official: There will be a fifth season in 2018, Hale and all. True to Hale’s experience, the next step keeps revealing itself.

TONY AWARDS

“I think it’s pretty complex,” Hale says, musing about the difference between co-dependent relationships—like what Gary has with Selina, or Buster has with Lucille—and healthy relationships, like what he strives for in his own life.

“I think with co-dependence, it’s a situation like ‘I need you to fix me or I need to fix them’ and taking on the responsibility of the other person. Healthy dependence is sharing and being there for each other and knowing you’re not responsible for the other person. Give them respect to stand on their two feet. It’s not yours to take.”

It’s doubtful that Hale would be able to portray his characters with such an easy finesse if he had not come through the hardship already. He can view characters like Buster and Gary with empathy and respect because even if he hasn’t been in their exact shoes, he’s felt their anxiety, their need for love, their fear. He’s survived it, and he can interpret it with compassion.

So maybe Hale is an awkward person. He’s as awkward as the rest of us. The difference is, unlike most people, he’s learned to embrace the awkwardness and the insecurities, and he’s come out more confident for it.

T YLER HUCK A BEE is a writer and editor living in Nashville.

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THIS ISN’T THE SAME LECRAE Speaking out about racial injustice almost cost him everything.

And it changed everything.

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I N T E R V I E W BY A A RO N C LI N E H A N B U RY P H OTO S BY C H R I S TA N L A N T R Y

eading up to the release of 2014’s

new season, the direction he sees his career

Anomaly, Lecrae was on top of

and music going today, and how this last

the world. He was appearing on

year changed him forever.

TV, selling out shows and quickly establishing himself as one of the

YOU’VE BEEN PUBLIC ABOUT YOUR

biggest names in hip-hop.

EXHAUSTION FROM THE PAST YEAR OR SO.

Then Ferguson

I think as a Christian, people expect you to

happened. In the

be desensitized, and that’s just not reality.

following months,

We’re not a bunch of sanitized people; we’re

nine African-American

people with issues and struggles, people with

churchgoers would be shot by a white supremacist in Charleston,

addictions. You can’t talk about those types of issues because they’re extremely taboo.

South Carolina. Philando Castile would be

Beyonce creates a whole album about the

shot to death during a routine traffic stop.

pain of an affair, be it real or not, and there

Alton Sterling was killed by police outside

were many women across the world who

a convenience store. Across the country,

related to that. Why aren’t we writing those

dozens of unarmed black men and women

songs? Why aren’t we telling those stories?

were either killed by police or died while in

Why can’t I talk about what it’s like to be a

police custody.

black man in America? Because people say,

Though he’s always been vocal about injustice, Lecrae’s support of the Black Lives

“Oh, no! That’s too black.”

If you suffocate my blackness, you’ve got

Matter movement and his renewed calls

to realize that’s supremacy. ... But because

for Christians to speak out against racial

of the tension within American history with

violence, struck a nerve amongst some of his

blacks and whites, you talk about blackness

fans. The backlash was fierce. It took its toll

too much and in some people’s minds, it

on hip-hop’s raising star.

means you’re anti-white or if you talk about

Now, with his new album, Lecrae, also a co-founder of Reach Records, says he’s

police brutality, you’re all of a sudden antipolice. We don’t do well with complexity.

over it. He’s done worrying about outcomes.

They say you can’t please everyone. You can,

ON TOP OF ALL THAT, YOU’VE BEEN FACING

however, go mad trying to do so.

INTERNAL ISSUES, TOO, RIGHT?

Nowhere can you see this new Lecrae

It’s a collision of stuff from all the way back

more than in his new album, his first

in childhood, to losing my good friend DJ

since Reach partnered with mainstream

Official, to the scrutiny or social criticism—

powerhouse Columbia Records. His new

feeling like you’re in some ways a slave to

songs—the first single became a top 10

an audience, because it feels like, “We’re

mainstream hip-hop chart hit—ooze emotion

not buying your music or supporting you at

and vulnerability and, now, contentment.

concerts if you don’t line up with what we

We sat down with Lecrae to talk about this

want you to line up with.”

“ I ’ M I N A V E RY CO M FO RTA B LE P L AC E , A N D S O M E O F TH AT CO M E S F R O M TH E S H AC K LE S O F N OT H AV I N G TO B E W H AT P E O P LE WA NT YO U TO B E .”

Part of it is having to sit in a counselor’s

dentures now.

chair and have people unpack that stuff

Long story short, I was bred with such

for you. I strongly advocate for that—let

insecurity from not having my dad around.

professionals work with you through stuff.

You don’t realize you’re vying for the

Whether you think you’re jacked up or not,

approval of everyone so much until being

we’re all broken people and until we can

yourself is not approved of. You’re like, “Oh

admit that, we’re not going to progress.

wow, you guys don’t like me unless I’m what you want me to be.”

HOW HAVE THINGS CHANGED SINCE YOUR LAST ALBUM, ANOMALY?

OK, awesome, I can’t do that.

It’s just me saying I’m going to make music

So much has to go on to get you to where

that’s as authentic as it can possibly be. I’m

you’re very comfortable in your own skin.

going to talk about issues that everybody

It’s kind of like you have your uncles or

may or may not want to hear. I think now it’s

grandfathers and they have no problem

really saying, “Look, this is me.”

just being themselves, because they’re like,

JULY-AUG

“Listen I’ve lived enough life. I’m fine. I’m

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE CREATIVELY­—

taking my teeth out and putting them on

LYRICS OR SOUND OR WHAT?

the table and I don’t care what you think.”

When I’m in the studio this time around, it’s

I think that’s where I’m at. I’m OK with my

me saying, “Let’s say some hard things. Let’s

050

2017

say some stuff that is difficult and needed,

I’m nuanced and complex and I like both of

and then let’s go back and say it again and

them.” I’m not going to worry about the way

again until we find a song where it’s done in

people perceive me because if you meet me

the way we wanted it to be done.”

you’ll say, “Oh, OK, I didn’t realize that there

I think more than anything, there are

was this lane in the middle here that people

songs on the album that are explicitly about

could run in.” But that’s what you’re going to

love and relationships. There are some songs

have to deal with.

like “Can’t Stop Me Now” where I said, I’m glad that Jesus ain’t American / That’s the

HAVE YOU CHANGED AS A PERSON?

reason I care again.

I think we’re all growing. I’ve definitely

I don’t know what kind of reaction that’s gonna get, but that’s where I’m at.

grown as a person. I haven’t switched or anything like that. I think I’ve just come into a freedom of being complex, and people are

SOME PEOPLE WONDERED IF YOU WERE

going to not agree with me on everything.

DONE WITH EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY. YOU

Every team is going to say, “No, he plays for

SAY IT’S MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.

us now” and they’re all going to be sorely

I’ve never been in a box. It’s really the irony

disappointed at times.

of it, but publicly I didn’t realize how much of a box I was in. Personally, I was able to

RIGHT NOW, WHERE ARE YOU ON THE

navigate in a million different spaces, but

SPECTRUM OF THE LECRAE JOURNEY?

I remember [author/theologian] Christena

I’m definitely on the other side of it; I’m

Cleveland challenged me by saying I was

totally liberated.

an evangelical mascot. I said, “Wow, is that really how I’m perceived?”

I went to Egypt; sometimes getting out of your own backyard reminds you America is

When I saw that, it really made me do

only 500 years old. It’s not the only country

some internal soul searching and say, “Wow,

in existence. There are so many issues all

I didn’t realize that was the perception.”

over the world that people are wrestling

I had to ask friends. I was in the dark. By

through. You just realize there’s so much

placating people so often in certain circles,

more going on and it gave me perspective.

you’re viewed as an advocate. If you hang

When all you can see is the problem in

out at the biker club so many times, people

front of you, it’s like you tell your kid they

will say, “He’s a biker.”

can’t have any ice cream and they think

I’m way more complex and nuanced than

the world is coming to end. Not to belittle

that. It’s not to say that I hate that world or

my issues, but, like, I just couldn’t have ice

anything like that; I have great friends over

cream. It was just really helpful for me to see

there and everywhere. Now I’m just content

that there was a 3,000-year-old civilization

with saying I’m just a follower of Jesus.

that survived in some kind of way. I’ll be

That’s it. I don’t belong in any camp.

fine. God’s got me, and I’ll be fine.

IS THAT REALLY SOMETHING YOU CAN AVOID,

great joy, great liberation. I’m in a very

BEING PUT IN BOXES?

comfortable place, and some of that comes

I guess to drive it home for me, it’s not

from the shackles of not having to be what

being worried if I disappoint the box people

people want you to be.

I’m on the other side of it. I’m full of

thought I was in in the first place. Because it’s like, “Oh, you’re hanging out with this person? You must be liberal. No, wait. Why are you hanging out with this person? Are you conservative?” It’s like, “No, because

051

A ARON CLINE HA NBURY is the editorial director of RELEVANT. He’s on Twitter @ achanbury. Matt Conner contributed to this interview.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

BY JESSE CAREY

JULY-AUG

052

2017

053

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

T here’s a world around us few can see. It exists alongside our physical reality. It can enhance our understanding beyond the five 0

senses, and it even manipulates

10

our perceptions.

It is a realm in which those

101010

who tap into it can find great 01010

power, and those who embrace it can have their lives changed in

1000

nearly unimaginable ways.

1011010 010101000 101010 1010

This is the world of augmented reality.

THE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS OF THE

01010

REVOLUTION

10101011 1001 010 1

But “Pokemon Go” isn’t simply revo-

about ethics—whether you use the

The week of July 6, 2016, marked an unex-

lutionary for its unique game play, but

term or whether you don’t,” says eth-

pected turning point in the history of tech-

because of what it represents. For the

icist Nigel Cameron, the president

nology and humankind. In the days that fol-

first time on a large scale, millions of

of the Center for Policy on Emerging

lowed, millions of people around the world

people broke down the barrier separat-

Technologies and the Fulbright Visiting

began wandering the streets, phones in hand,

ing the digital and natural worlds.

Research Chair in Science and Society

looking for stuff that didn’t really exist.

Devices like Google Glass—which

at the University of Ottawa, Canada.

projects images and data onto the

“Partly because there are, of course,

lens of actual glasses like Arnold

such profound ethical questions bound

For decades, sci-fi movies like Minority

Schwarzenegger’s terminator eye—had

up in all of these technologies, because

Report created fantastic pictures of what a

long been released, but nothing caught

they are all ways of leveraging power

world powered by augmented reality could

on like the phenomenon of “Pokemon

of people ultimately. And partly, be-

look like, but it was the simple smartphone

Go,” which became one of the most suc-

cause ultimately, values drive value.”

game that provided the initial firsthand intro-

cessful apps of all time.

They were playing a revolutionary game

00

called “Pokemon Go.”

1

duction to the concept of augmented reality for millions.

The game is based on a harmless— and pretty ridiculous—concept, but the

by the personal values of consumers.

The game itself is simple: Using GPS maps

technology that it uses has some of the

“It’s going to be investors and capital

on their phones, players look for Pokemon

world’s foremost researchers, futurists

markets that mainly determine what

hiding nearby. When their phone’s camera is

and ethicists deeply concerned about

happens with these technologies,” he

pointed in the direction where the Pokemon

what lies ahead.

explains. “And the way to get the atten-

is, players see it on the phone screen, float-

JULY-AUG

The bottom line, Cameron says, is these powerful technologies are driven

tion of those people is to point out that

ing on top of the actual ground in front of the

THE BIGGER ISSUES

people’s values actually drive the value

player. From there, the objective is to “catch”

“As soon as you start talking about

that they give to products.”

them all.

technology in the future, you’re talking

054

The implication is this: Though the

2017

port-like implants: Basically you would have implants in the brain that would augment your vision,” she explains. “So

instead

of

seeing a white wall, say

mented reality is predicated on the ability to

there’s

that

detect and triangulate precise locations, uti-

you’re walking past, it’s

lize facial-recognition technology and to put

just a plain white building,

tiny cameras literally everywhere.

a

building

it could have individualized

Creighton says this will force new legisla-

projections based on who

tion and mobilize activists concerned about

you are.”

privacy to ask big questions.

She thinks it’s basically

“Is the company in control of that tech-

an extension of how e-com-

nology allowed to keep what you record as

merce already works.

you’re walking around? Are they allowed

“So, much the same way

to sell what you record as you’re walking

Facebook has targeted ads

around?” she asks. “There’s a lot of concern

on their site ... a building

that governments starting from the state lev-

could have ads that as you

el all the way up to the federal level and even

walk by, they are catered to-

local governments will have to determine.

ward you,” she explains.

But, of course, a lot of these conversations are

However

Creighton

driven by individuals, and I think throughout

doesn’t think these predic-

history we have seen that when people truly

tions should overshadow

mobilize and form movements behind issues

the benefits of augmented reality, and the promise that a digitized vision of the world could hold.

She points to an examidea for any emerging technology may

ple of a plumber, years into the future,

“DOWN THE ROAD, THE IDEA

be based on purely utilitarian or altru-

helping a homeowner utilizing aug-

istic motivations—digitally connecting

mented reality glasses: “You put on

WOULD BE ... BASICALLY

people with the world around them

these glasses; you connect with them

YOU WOULD HAVE IMPLANTS

and furthering the enabling of their

via Skype or some other messaging ser-

IN THE BRAIN THAT WOULD

own personal values—the people and

vice and they can literally draw on the

commercial entities funding innova-

wall in front of you in order to show

AUGMENT YOUR VISION.”

tion ultimately have a financial stake.

you what you need to do to sort of fix

At the end of the day, how can this

the plumbing issue.”

new technology be used to sell consum-

She also points to the revolutionary

ers products or provide corporations

educational possibilities: “Other appli-

with valuable data about buying hab-

cations involve things in the classroom,

that they truly care about, we can drive con-

its? Can the physical world around us

where students are able to not just see

versation and also political action.”

be even more programmed to gear our

a picture of Niagara Falls or some alien

This kind of action will be necessary. At

thinking into constant consumption?

world like Venus—we have maps from

least according to Jon Fisher, the CEO and

Jolene Creighton thinks a lot about

our various spacecrafts of Mars and Ve-

co-founder of the company CrowdOptic,

these kinds of questions. She’s the ed-

nus that would allow students not just

known for its cutting-edge augmented reality

itor-in-chief at Futurism magazine and

to hear about far-off places, but will

products—some of which have sparked ma-

is a well-known speaker, researcher

allow them to scroll around the world

jor breakthroughs. Their technology is cur-

and university professor who specializ-

at will.”

rently the single patented solution utilized in

es in emerging technologies.

Still, there are also growing concerns

wearable devices like Google Glass.

“If we’re looking at specifically brain

about how augmented reality-equipped

Fisher says it’s not inconceivable that in

hacking, down the road the idea would

devices and infrastructure will infringe

the future, more products—meant to safe-

be to kind of have these Minority Re-

on individuals’ privacy. After all, aug-

guard your privacy in a world constantly

055

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

being scanned by tiny sensors or cameras— would also be prevalent.

“You have to realize our privacy and security is out the window with stuff like this— not my stuff in particular—but with AR and VR to identify people’s faces and to identify all kind of characteristics,” he explains. “My wife and I have a 7-year-old, and maybe the next invention will be a type of sunblock to protect her from all these types of crazy technology. And I think that’s the downside with all the great improvements; we are going to have defend her against all the crazy types of technology as far as security goes.”

The concerns on a consumer level are multifaceted—with both commercial and socially beneficial implications. But, for the Christian who is concerned with the ethical and the biblical, what are the spiritual ramifications of modifying the design of God’s creation?

DEEPER QUESTIONS

There’s a major difference between virtual reality and augmented reality.

Virtual reality is based on the ability to overtake an individual’s primary senses.

Nothing you experience with a VR headset is actually “real.” You are virtually taken somewhere else entirely.

Augmented reality, however, isn’t concerned with supplanting reality; it instead attempts to enhance it.

Either through projections—via a smartphone screen, car windshield or glasses, like ones currently being developed by companies like Google and Snapchat—or, in the future, some sort of neurological or optical implant, augmented reality works with the world around you.

The technology overlays what people see with digital images associated with real-world landmarks.

Unlike virtual reality, AR messes with how you see the world. In a sense, it augments the way God designed people to perceive the world. But what does that mean in relationship to our Creator?

“My criteria that I bring to these things, within the Christian context specifically, is the image of God,” Cameron says. “Within a public context I’m talking about human dignity and humans flourishing, and my question, ‘Is this basically good or bad for the human? … Is it making us more or less human?

JULY-AUG

056

2017

Is it enabling our human capacities to

But I think the answer does not lie in

be more fully unfolded or is it dimin-

distinguishing between the digital and

ishing them, by turning us into some-

the analog, or the real world and the

thing more like a machine?’”

unreal world.”

1000 101

When it comes to the biblical ethic

Having to decide where the line is

1010

behind the coming advancements into

in the merger of the human brain and

010101000

the AR revolution, Cameron sees two

augmented reality devices may seem

competing

like a far-off concern. But these reali-

philosophies—each

with

different spiritual implications.

ties may be closer than you think.

Are these technologies enhancing

101010 1010

can be projected before us.

On the surface, these are two completely

01010

independent concepts, but with the optimis-

10100101 10101011

God’s design, or are they concerned

THE COMING REALITY

tic approach Cameron encourages, they don’t

with ultimately replacing it with a less

Experts across the spectrum agree that

have to be mutually exclusive. Augmented

“inferior” technology?

there are very real considerations to be

reality holds untapped promises to heal the

To people on Cameron’s side of

made when embracing, developing and

sick, help the poor and connect communities

the debate, the truly exciting part of

legislating how augmented reality will

around the world.

“brain-hacking” technologies like aug-

be incorporated into lives. But they also

Creighton says that this technology could

mented reality isn’t its ability to replace

agree on another point—augmented re-

give people the ability to do things “like make

parts of our brains and thinking with

ality is the future.

brain-computer interfaces that will allow you to connect to computers, making things like mobile storage devices so you can store memories externally and doing those really remarkable, moonshot things.”

What if doctors could operate on patients

“WHAT WILL IT MEAN TO BE

at long distances? What if we could see virtual projections of a brain tumor to better

HUMAN IN THOSE TECHNOLOGICAL

understand ways to treat cancer? What if

CONTEXTS? WE HAVE TO BE OPEN

augmented reality interfaces could help hu-

TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION.”

manitarians better assist victims of disasters?

“This is not all taking God by surprise,

- NIGEL CAMERON

you know,” Cameron says. “I think we have to work on the assumption—[that whatever you believe about] creation and evolution— humans have not been around for that long at all, and we have to make the assumption

software—it’s to better understand the

And, for Nigel Cameron, that’s a rea-

that we are likely to be around in a thousand

son not to be fearful; but to be hopeful.

years time, and possibly in a million years

ongoing

“We have to have non-naive opti-

time, and possibly a billion years time. What

debate with “transhumanist” philos-

mism in these discussions,” he says.

will it mean to be human in those technolog-

ophers, who are proponents of the

“I think we need to have an optimism

ical contexts? We have to be open to having

possible benefits of a future humanity

and look to the future as a human fu-

that conversation.”

merged with technology.

ture, and have this fundamental crite-

This is a big conversation that can’t be ig-

“I would always say to them, ‘Why

ria: What is good for humans? What

nored, but it’s about more than technology.

are you not more interested with this

makes us more human rather than less

It’s about bringing together the world of the

human thing and what we could do

human? And how can technology ulti-

unseen with the one in front of our eyes.

with this human thing before you want

mately serve the purposes which Scrip-

to leave it behind?’” he says. “It seems

ture tells us, as Christians, that God has

to me if we can see these technology de-

had—that we might indeed flourish as

velopments essentially as ways to hack

a human community and serve Him.”

brain God has already given us.

Cameron

references

an

into humanness, and discover more

The message of the Gospel requires

about our humanness and our human

that Christians seek the merger of two

abilities ... If the intent of this is to en-

worlds: On earth as it is in heaven.

able us to be more fully human and de-

Augmented reality is based on the

velop our human characteristics, then

idea that the digital can merge with the

I think that will be all well and good.

organic, and the world of the unseen

057

JESSE CAREY is the brand director for RELEVANT. He lives with his wife and two kids in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

1001 0 010 1 00 1

A N

I S S U E

O F

L I F E

A N D

D E A T H TH E I N CO NVE N I E NT TR UTH TH AT C LI M ATE CHANGE IS THE LIFE ISSUE THE CHURCH I S N ’ T TA LK I N G A B O UT.

en years ago, An Inconvenient

documentary’s predictions came

Truth debuted. The

true, including 2015 being the

groundbreaking, Oscar-winning

hottest year on record (which, of

documentary showed the world

course, wasn’t predicted down

the devastating effects of climate

to the year). But notably, one of

change on the Earth. For many it

the film’s most incredulously

signified an important moment

received predictions was the

of awareness, education and

most specific. An Inconvenient

action, but in my family it was

Truth predicted that a storm

viewed with ridicule.

surge combined with the rising

In my home and the

sea level would flood the 9/11

community I belonged to—and

Memorial site. And in 2012, it

to millions like it around the

happened precisely that way

BY

United States—Al Gore was just

with Hurricane Sandy—a fact

KIM HUNT

trying to capitalize financially

that the sequel is not afraid

off of a ruse while he flew

to acknowledge. The new film

around the world in his private

documents these things, and

jet that produced more carbon

presents progress being made to

emissions in a year than I could

reverse climate damage.

in a lifetime.

This new film is markedly

Unfortunately, this film

more positive as it shows the

that sparked a movement also

ways different places around the

alienated an entire segment of

world are adapting and taking

the population that could have

steps to reduce their footprint.

been one of the movement’s

“This is a hopeful cause

strongest allies, decidedly

now,” Gore said. “We have the

politicizing the way a lot of

solutions.”

people view climate change.

This time around, the film’s

You know the story: The issue

directors followed Gore for two

became framed within terms

years to see some of the most

of belief (whether you believe

vulnerable people and places

climate change is real or not)

dealing with climate change.

rather than focusing on the facts.

But people from this world,

In a very emotional portion of the film, Gore is in the

which is to say people like me,

Philippines comforting a man

became disillusioned with the

who survived Typhoon Haiyan

whole global warming-climate

in 2013—its severity could be

change plight.

attributed to climate change—

This summer, more than 10

and is still recovering.

years later, Gore is at the center

“I’ve met so many people with

of a sequel documentary called

burdens on their hearts that are

An Inconvenient Sequel. It’s a

just impossible to imagine,” he

film he’s sad was necessary

has said.

because he thought the facts

JULY-AUG

Still, An Inconvenient

were so clearly laid out in

Sequel retains the original’s

the original. In the decade

aggression—the politicization

that followed, several of the

that made it so controversial

060

2017

The No. 1 reason we care about climate change is because it is exacerbating issues we already face today.

— Katharine Hayhoe

During the 2008 hurricane season, Haiti was subjected to four powerful hurricanes in the span of 20 days. This increasing severity and quantity of hurricanes is one of the effects of climate change.

and polarizing. If it’s possible,

attention to climate change—a

change doesn’t often make the

this new movie ramps up the

huge portion of which, in the

list of major Christian social

political parts.

U.S., are Christians.

concerns, one of the country’s

It’s clear that Gore and

And as it turns out, Christians

the filmmakers fear many of

have more reason than anyone

the forward steps taken over

to be concerned—and more

the past decade or so could

impetus to take action.

be reversed in the decidedly

leading climate scientists thinks that’s a big mistake.

“The No. 1 reason we care about climate change is because it is exacerbating issues we

different political world of 2017

BEYOND THE POLITICS

already face today,” says

and beyond.

For as long as Christians have

Katharine Hayhoe, Christian

been a functional part of society,

climate scientist and author

is certainly about science,

the idea of “love of neighbor”

of A Climate for Change. “It is

but less so than before. And,

has been a guiding ethic. These

taking all the risks that used to

unfortunately, that could mean

days, American Christians

be natural and it’s weighting

it will face an uphill battle in

express that most recognizably

the dice on them. Storms are

reaching people who don’t

in charity for the poor and pro-

getting stronger, more extreme

see the importance of paying

life advocacy. And while climate

and more frequent, and we care

An Inconvenient Sequel

061

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

about it because it affects us. It affects our energy, our water, our agriculture, our food, our health, but it disproportionately affects people who are already on the edge, who are already struggling to get by.”

The crux of the matter is, climate change is affecting people now. Most notably, it’s affecting those living in poverty and those who are already vulnerable. And Hayhoe thinks it’s central to almost all global concerns for life.

Ben Lowe, senior adviser to Young Evangelicals for Climate Action and author of Doing Good Without Giving Up, echoes this sentiment precisely: “It is the poor and vulnerable who will continue to suffer the most—such as the communities I work with around Lake Tanganyika who are struggling from climate-driven declines in this critical inland fishery.

They’re among the smallest contributors to climate change, yet they bear some of the greatest impacts and have the least capacity to adapt.”

When you live day to day for subsistence, there are few to no options for you when that routine is interrupted. As scientists track the impacts of climate change with the changing weather and precipitation patterns, the subsequent droughts and floods permanently harm subsistence farming, forcing people into extreme poverty.

Lowe and Hayhoe are clear: Climate change exacerbates many of the other issues in the Climate change in the Arctic Ocean leads to shrinking of the sea ice cove

world we’re already seeking to address: poverty, war, disease, trafficking and care for refugees.

Take, for example, the Syrian

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

civil war, which has partial roots

“Many of us who are among the most privileged and

see climate change for what it

hit the country causing people

insulated people in the world

is: an injustice imposed by the

to migrate and quarrel over

will often get to ignore the

wealthy upon the world’s poor.”

water access. The World Health

impacts of climate change the

Organization and scientists

longest,” Lowe says. “But we

have built our prosperity on

across the globe are seeking

can’t hide forever.”

the use of fossils fuels, but our

to prepare for the increase in

In the West, most have the

Hayhoe explains it: “We

prosperity is not free. The bill is

infectious diseases expected due

opportunity to visit grocery

coming due, and right now, that

to climate change. When people

stores and enjoy water straight

bill is being disproportionately

are forced to move because of

from a faucet, but many will feel

paid by those who did nothing to

war, lack of food or water, or

the impacts of climate change

contribute to it.”

any number of other reasons

soon if they haven’t already.

based in survival, they become

Hurricane Sandy was the

If you look at a global map showing countries with the

much more at-risk of being

largest Atlantic hurricane ever

highest carbon emissions next to

taken advantage of or trafficked.

recorded due to abnormally

a map of the areas of the world

The impacts of climate change

warm ocean temperatures. It

that are most vulnerable to the

already have and will continue

completely devastated parts of

effects of climate change, it

to ripple across many justice

the East Coast.

becomes glaringly obvious how

issues we already care about.

But we will feel the effects eventually, too.

I’d like to believe that the American Church will begin to see climate change for what it is: an injustice imposed by the wealthy upon the world’s poor.

— Brian Webb

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released

much of a justice issue this is.

The wealthiest in the world

multiple reports on the subject

(which includes us) contribute

with information on mitigation,

the most to climate change with

adaptation and cost estimation

our cars, planes, electricity

as climate change is expected

and wasteful habits, while it is

to greatly impact both crop and

the most impoverished areas

livestock production here in the

that are most vulnerable to the

United States.

negative effects with little to no

Why does climate change matter so much? Because it’s

ability to adapt.

Our choices can be

not just apocalyptic predictions:

oppressive, whether or not we

It’s affecting people negatively

realize what we’re doing.

now, it will aggravate issues we

Christians, therefore, are

already care about and it’s going

once again mandated—not

to more strongly impact us and

recommended or asked nicely—

those closest to us, soon.

to care for the poor, the orphan, the widow, the oppressed; it’s

CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN

One of the most basic reasons

the Christian duty.

Humankind is destroying

we as Christians should care

God’s creation, causing

about climate change is because

irreversible changes in climate

God entrusted the care of His

and weather patterns, and in

creation to His people (Genesis

doing this, we inadvertently find

2:15). But beyond that simple

ourselves further oppressing the

imperative to care for the Earth

poor and vulnerable. You simply

as God commanded, according to

can’t escape that climate change

Brian Webb—who is the director

must be considered a Christian

of Climate Caretakers—climate

ethical issue.

change is increasingly becoming a justice issue.

“I’m an optimist by nature, and I’d like to believe that the

JULY-AUG

American Church will begin to

in the massive drought that

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WHAT CAN WE DO NOW?

Webb thinks, for Christians concerned about the climate,

2017

2005

2 016

work needs to be done to grow

Eat less meat. Install LED bulbs.

them to tighten fuel standards

beyond the divisive legacy An

Carpool. Buy reusable items

and support a carbon tax. Ask

Glacier shrinkage

Inconvenient Truth left among

instead of single-use. Cut down

them to join the international

Island

Evangelical Christians. Instead,

on your plastic usage. Invest in

community on efforts to tackle

he suggests, the motivator

clean energy.

climate issues.

needs to shift from panic and

All of these are relatively

It’s easy to get bogged down

even guilt to acting on the

easily integrated into your

in political propaganda, but you

biblical imperative to care

everyday life, and they will make

can instead prepare and aim to

for God’s creation and for the

a difference. The more difficult

mitigate the impacts of climate

impoverished.

task—and more impactful in the

change. After all, aren’t elected

long term—includes political

officials supposed to represent

that Christians can do to

involvement. The consensus of

your interests (that’s their job!)?

decrease their contribution to

experts is that the government

global warming, but it all starts

must act, and that means those

organization like Micah

by paying attention,” he says.

looking for change must reach

Challenge USA, Climate

out to elected representatives

Caretakers or Young

and implore them to take action

Evangelicals for Climate Action,

on climate change.

and join their communities as

“There are a million things

So what does paying attention look like?

If you google “What can I do about climate change?”

Webb suggests simply letting

hundreds of lists show up. Drive

your politicians know you

smaller, more fuel-efficient cars.

care about climate change. Ask

on South Georgia

You can also find an

they take political action on these important issues.

Lowe says, “The most

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Village in Bangladesh where climate change has triggered tidal surges, floods and the loss of land for growing crops.

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important thing we can do to fight climate change is to know and follow Jesus with obedience; to seek, by the power of the Spirit, to live out the gospel across all aspects of our lives.

This isn’t just a short list of climate-friendly actions we can check off. It’s a lifelong journey to grow into our calling as God’s people doing God’s work in God’s world.”

But if the task seems too vast, Lowe says there are actually abundant opportunities to take a stand—if only we open our eyes to the needs around us. Yes, there may be a lot of doom and gloom out there regarding climate change—have you listened to S-Town?—but Christians cannot let that stop us from taking action now or in the future.

Mike McHargue (aka, Science Mike), while visiting his elected officials in Washington along with some of the Micah Challenge team, connected the issue of climate change to his faith in terms beyond the ethical: “My faith tells me it’s never too late, no matter the political climate or how many parts per million of carbon there are in the air, it is never too late to work for a better tomorrow starting now,” he says.

Despite where you have come from ideologically and regardless of the dim view many parrot about our future, Christians can make a difference. We’ve been called to make a difference.

KIM HUNT is an activist and writer living in Portland, Oregon.

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RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

A Real-Life Guide to Not Burning Out From Church BY B O N N I E G R AY

T

here’s a secret among

experienced—or are experiencing—too.

out on church and ended up leaving the tradi-

certain Christian millen-

Across the board, millennials are opting

nials: More than a few

out of church in record numbers. The of-

“I was burned by the way the leadership

Sundays have passed,

ten-cited 2015 survey by Pew Research Center

treated other people,” he says. “Seeing some-

and they, well, haven’t

revealed that of the massive portion of people

thing happen hurts me because you’re hurt-

been to church. Maybe

leaving organized religion, more than a third

ing my close friends.

the intention was there,

are millennials.

but

something

tional church setting.

“What made me burn out the most was a

kept

Yes, loss of faith and general apathy are

lack of community and authenticity. They

them away from the

factors here. But for people like Nik Bartunek,

were saying one thing, but the reality was

very place they found themselves week after

a musician in the San Francisco area, the ap-

reflecting something different. They said they

week for between two and three decades.

propriate way to describe it is burnout.

wanted to be open to the way God moved, but

But they’re just burnt out from church. It’s

Bartunek has been a Christian for most of

any time that happened and it went against

a very real experience, likely one you have

his life, but several years ago, he got burned

the way they felt—they took a hammer and

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shut it down.”

In Christian culture, feelings of church burnout are often met with well-meaning en-

holds a doctorate from Harvard and is the

look like losing sleep and having less patience

author of Fried: Why You Burn Out and How

than usual to serious physical symptoms.

to Revive.

Borysenko points out that, ironically, burn-

couragement like, “Going to church shouldn’t

“Burnout, like a lot of things, has a gra-

out happens because of intense hard work

be based on a feeling. It’s what God com-

dient from feeling tired and overwhelmed,

and wanting to do well, and is often mistak-

mands His people to do.”

to a complete loss of motivation,” she says.

en for the same initial symptoms as clinical

The Church is for real people. And people

“Things you used to be passionate about, you

depression.

sometimes get burned out. If that’s you, here

just can’t get into anymore. That’s when your

When it comes to church, this can be mag-

are some things you can do.

work really falls apart because you’ve killed

nified: Borysenko actually says people who

off the inner root of what’s most important

are passionate about changing the world and

and don’t know how to restart it again.”

making a difference are the most likely to

BURNOUT IS REAL, AND IT IS A PROBLEM

Burnout doesn’t just happen; it’s multidimen-

Psychologists have come up with a 12-stage

burn out. “Idealists actually burn out before

sional, according to Joan Borysenko, who

scale for burnout and in its mild forms, it can

anybody else,” she says. “They really, really

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RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

want to make a difference in the world and work very hard to do that and have a great work ethic.”

perceived value we assign to church.

“From laypeople and from pastors, they wonder what the significance is of getting together for an hour. If it makes any differ-

The pressures you face are valid.

Embrace your journey with Jesus and share your stories, instead of withdrawing.

BE AWARE OF SIGNS OF BURNOUT

ence. It’s hard for people to commit to a par-

To avoid burnout, Solomon Rexius, who

ticular hour as it has become increasingly

pastors and trains college students at Cor-

difficult in a culture where schedules are

nerstone Church in Ames, Iowa, keeps an

so fragmented. For families with kids with

eye on the posture of his heart, even when

sports events and people who are drawn to

he powers through in obedience to do min-

work projects all the time—they find it hard

istry work.

to commit their one free day.”

“Religion is not a good enough motiva-

Your journey to find value in church may

tion,” he says. “It’s continual grace to be

not be Point A to Point B like previous gener-

loved by God and become more like Jesus.

ations growing up going to church services.

So, if I find myself wishing I was sick be-

Phillips refers to what anthropologists call

cause I felt fatigued to do church, or I’m not

“cultural transmission.” Our view of the

as patient with people, I figure out what the

church experience was shaped by personal

energy-givers and the energy-takers are.

choice, as we went to Sunday school engag-

“I ask myself how is my personal devo-

ing in a variety of activities, while the adults

tional life. Is it vibrant or dutiful? I confess

experienced church service more as a spiri-

to a mentor—‘Here is how I’m feeling.’ I ad-

tual discipline.

just the way I pray, or switch up how I spend

Basically, the pressures you face are val-

time with God—playing music, exercising or

id. Embrace your journey with Jesus and

pulling out to spend time with my family.”

share your stories, instead of withdrawing.

To encourage his leadership team from burning out, Rexius reminds them: — Be the squeaky wheel (that gets the oil). If your church has overworked you and

IDENTIFY WHAT YOU WANT FROM CHURCH

Phillips asks people to reflect on their church experience.

used up your time, ask for clarity. Confide

“I help them notice what they are truly

in someone. Let them know you want to get

desiring,” she says. “And see how they can

motivated, but also that you need to be re-

find a community of other Christians who

minded why this matters.

are expressing and pursuing the same de-

— Forgive them, because we are grace people. God will use you and use them.

Borysenko stresses the importance of setting boundaries in our personal rela-

sires. Some of them find small contemplative worship experiences, some get involved with an enormous social justice component rather than the worship piece.”

tionships. “We all have needs and people

Here’s her point: Your needs shift during

are happy in a relationship with each other

different seasons. You don’t have to love ev-

when they are able to express what their

ery aspect of church.

needs are in a kind way and get them met.”

That means being strong enough to verbalize your needs to the people around you.

LET IT GO

Like Borysenko, Joshua Becker, author of The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want

WATCH THE CLOCK

Under Everything You Own and founder of

Sociologist and Christianity professor Susan

BecomingMinimalist.com, says Christians

Phillips, author of The Cultivated Life and

often don’t see church burnout coming be-

executive director of New College Berkeley,

cause it happens subtly.

validates the impact of time stress on our

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070

“We don’t realize we’ve dedicated so

2017

much of our energy toward working hard to make more money and buy more stuff, we start cutting things out of life ... like church and community,” Becker says.

And begin new.”

Ortberg sees burnout among church leaders as just as common.

“To the church leaders—who are often

“We are constantly pursuing upgrades in

as burnt out as the people we’re trying to

our lives—we’re so busy managing the stuff

serve,” Ortberg says. “It will be very difficult

we have—we don’t have time to focus on

for a burnt-out pastor to bring good news

our spiritual life and our soul pursuits.”

to a burnt-out listener. You’ll work as hard

He suggests taking an evening or week-

as [you] can to be successful—right up the

end to soul search and take inventory of

point of burnout. Instead you should say, my

your stuff and why you’re doing what you’re

goal is becoming the right person. Resting

doing. Rate how happy or well-rested you

[with Jesus].”

are. Be bold. Make radical changes to create space in your life for what really satisfies:

DO A SPIRITUAL DETOX

loving and being loved in a faith community

One thing Ortberg is working on these days

of different people.

is engaging with the Alcoholics Anonymous

Borysenko agrees that the first step in any

community and looking to the 12 steps as a

case is to take time to journal—what you

practical way of following Jesus or pursuing

think the problem is, how you’re feeling—

discipleship in a transformational way.

and then take inventory of the things that make you happy and bring you joy.

Spiritual sobriety, he says, is the concept of being honest about your needs and strug-

She cautions that it may not feel good

gles with others. Once you can be honest

when you start at first, but it will feel better

and express these things, Ortberg suggests,

as you continue.

community is formed.

“Just get it out. You will feel bad doing it

This is also personal for Ortberg. He says

but within two weeks you’ll actually start to

that once, when he himself was asking ques-

feel much better.

tions about the reason to go to church, his

“Some of the gloom clouds will leave.

mentor Dallas Willard replied that, “The

You’ll have more insights. We know now

main reason to go to church is to find people

even the immune system will start to im-

to love.’

prove [through] expressive writing.”

“The central commitment is to love God with all your heart and love people,” Ort-

REST IN JESUS

berg says. “The main reason followers of

John Ortberg, author of Soul Keeping and

Jesus just inevitably find themselves gath-

senior pastor of Menlo Church in Northern

ering together over the centuries is to find

California, encourages burnt-out believers

people to love and with whom they can re-

first by validating what some church lead-

ceive help to love God more.”

ers often leave unspoken.

He suggests community is a fruit of being

“People struggle with being burnt out

transparent and vulnerable—not something

generally,” he says. “Problems of feeling

churches can just create or produce. And it’s

stressed, sickness, exhaustion, depression,

not something you can consume as a prod-

meaninglessness and boredom. The greatest

uct or feature of church.

difficulty is that most people don’t feel like the Church has something to say that can help them with those problems.

“Often our churches add onto the treadmill of more, instead of helping people to step back. To see what they need to let go of.

BONNIE GR AY is author of Finding Spiritual Whitespace.

Connect with Bonnie online via Twitter/FB/IG @TheBonnieGray. www.TheBonnieGray.com

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RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

BY ROB FEE

MAY-JUNE

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8

S U R E F I R E

W A Y S

T O

F I N D

Y O U R

B O A Z

T H I S

S U M M E R tremendous. It’s much better than hanging

someone as incredible as ME on an app.

out in a booth at TGI Fridays all day hoping someone picks up on the chill vibes you’re

6. ASK OUT A FRIEND

putting out. Plus you’re going to meet

A lot of us have tried asking our friends

someone who genuinely cares about others

to set us up on dates, but those rarely end

instead of someone who eats at a chain

well. Sure, asking out a friend is a gamble

restaurant at 3:30 p.m. on a Tuesday.

because if they say no, it’s going to be a little awkward, but it’s summer! If they say no,

3. HIT CAMP MEETING

just blame it on a heat stroke or ultraviolet

If you don’t want to give up a Sunday at

rays. Not only will it give you an out, but it’ll

your church to visit a different one, you can

spark an important dialogue on the effects of

just wait until camp meeting rolls around,

global warming.

The best things about summer are the

because it’s basically what would happen

beautiful nights, a slew of fun movies on the

if Jesus threw an eHarmony event. Singles

7. GO TO A SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL

horizon and that you can finally shake off all

from all the churches in your area come

Nothing says, “This relationship is only going

those emotional shackles of winter like Mary

together and, best of all, they weren’t around

to last for the summer” more than meeting

Mary composed the soundtrack for your

a few years ago when you declared your love

at a music festival. There’s just magic in the

psyche. It’s been long enough since your last

to the children’s pastor by doing a human

air, and by magic I mean the overwhelming

breakup. It’s about time you go find a true

video to “Be My Escape.”

evidence that no one in your immediate

love of your own. Worst-case scenario you’ll

vicinity wore deodorant. But you’ll never be

have a nice, little summer love just like John

4. SHOP THE FARMERS MARKET

cuter than when you’re dancing to Toby Mac

Travolta in Grease. Here are eight surefire

This one is an absolute no-brainer. If you’re

with one of those flower crowns on, so why

ways to find your Boaz this summer:

single and not going to the farmers market,

not parlay that into a full-on summer love?

you’re seriously missing out. It’s a great 1. GO TO A NEW CHURCH

origin story for your relationship. Which

8. OR JUST DON’T DATE

During summer, church attendance drops

would you prefer: “We met at the farmers

You’re a strong, independent woman who

because of vacations and travel, so your

market when we both reached for the

can take care of herself and doesn’t need a

pastor isn’t going to think much of it if you

same container of organic, farm-to-table

man to complete her. And you, sir, are the

miss a service or two. This is the perfect

blueberries” or “We met at Walmart when

opposite of everything TLC mentioned in

opportunity to try out a new church. Now

we were both stuck in line for 30 minutes

“No Scrubs.” So why would you waste your

obviously you’re there to lift His name on

because this lady insisted on price-checking

time searching for someone to be your other

high and whatnot, but it’s also a great chance

every box of Marlboro cigarettes they had so

half when you’re whole on your own? When

to meet new people. It’s like being the new

she could fully utilize her Marlboro Miles”?

you’re not looking for a relationship, that’s usually when you find one. You can go into it

guy in school. They’ll be all like, “Oh wow, did you see the new guy? He knows all the

5. TRY AN APP

because you want to, not because you need

words to that Hillsong United song without

When I say, “try an app” what I really mean

to. But if that’s not your thing right now,

even looking at the screen. I must love him.”

is, “Try any app that’s not Tinder.” That

then enjoy the summer, do whatever you’d

thing is a cesspool of broken dreams, but

like and buy a used Kia with the money you

2. VOLUNTEER

there are good apps out there. Hinge is really

saved by not going on all those dates.

It’s funny when people complain about not

fun because you can actually communicate

being able to find a good person when the

instead of just swiping through humans

only place they look are spots where garbage

like they’re thirst-trap Pokemon cards. I

humans would reside. Volunteering is great

just started seeing someone from it and

because even if you don’t meet someone

she’s funny, smart, kind, beautiful and just

you like, you’re still doing something

an amazing person. See, you can even find

073

ROB FEE is a writer and comedian. Follow him on Twitter @robfee for more jokes.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

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2017

rare achievement today that speaks to alt-J’s creativity.

Unger-Hamilton appreciates their unique path at this point, even if he’s not quite sure how to explain it. alt-J’s origins as a four-piece at University of Leeds, including

After three years, the British rockers are back with a twist on their world-famous sound.

BY M AT T C O N N E R

ALT- J’ S FIR ST S IN G L E in three years comes

then-guitarist Gwil Sainsbury, were like that

in movements.

of most young bands, a distraction from

Eschewing any verse-chorus-bridge-chorus

schoolwork or what Unger-Hamilton calls

structure, “3WW” enters as some pleasant

a “musical hobby.” After school, the band—

bass-heavy Bedouin instrumental and exits

then

just the same, all the while interweaving

record a four-song demo and reached a deal

guitar distortion, layered acoustics, strings

with Infectious Records.

from the London Symphony and additional vocals from Wolf Alice’s Ellie Rowsell.

It darkly yearns and pulses, lingers and

called

Films—decided

to

properly

From there, the music did the rest. Hypnotic singles like “Breezeblocks,” “Matilda” and “Tessellate”

formed

the

foundation

for

passes as vocalist Joe Newman sings, “I just

their debut, acclaimed album, An Awesome

want to love you in my own language.”

Wave, which won the coveted Mercury

If that seems an odd place to start, both

Prize and three Brit Awards. Global touring

with an album and an interview, it is, except

opportunities came calling as word of mouth

to say that alt-J has always allowed their

kept spreading, all without the typical social

music to do the work. Forced into some vague

engine or publicity machine.

categorization, the London-based trio could

“I think we were lucky enough that on

be considered a globally renowned rock

our first album, things really took off for

band. Beyond that, however, they’re nearly

us,” Unger-Hamilton says. “At that point, we

impossible to describe, and they never play

didn’t really appreciate how well things were

a part.

going, how lucky we were and what a unique

“That was always our foreign policy, really,

position we were in. I feel like it’s only really

to let the music do the talking,” explains Gus

now, on our third album, that it’s starting to

Unger-Hamilton, vocalist and keyboardist

sink in a bit. ... At the time we thought we

for the trio. “I think we’ve always put our

were experiencing the path that every band

best into a song, so to explain it any further

was going to experience, but now we realize

is not a very useful exercise. Of course, you

that’s not the case.”

can’t really do that in this job, so we’ve gotten

Relaxer is the band’s new album, an

used to talking and letting our personalities

eight-song suite that includes more classical

be a bit more exposed to the media and the

leanings than before and features singles

public. However, we still feel that we express ourselves best through the music. A little bit of mystery goes a long way.” alt-J is on the verge of launching a large-

R E L AX E R

scale North American tour, with dates coast

The band’s third

to coast already sold out. Yet its members—

album showcases a

Unger-Hamilton, Newman and drummer Thom Green—could walk down virtually any

totally new approach to songwriting.

street in their own hometown without being recognized. Success without fame—a very

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like the aforementioned “3WW” and “In Cold Blood.” Unger-Hamilton believes the band is able to get away with their musical experimentation because they’ve set the tone from the outset. After all, if your band is

sound is present, yet new flavors have been

difficult to categorize then you can willingly

added—an already inventive band intent on

defy categorization.

pushing the boundaries even more. Green’s

“We made a name for ourselves on our

own solo work as an electronic artist has now

first album, which was to be eccentric,

entered the band’s catalog as well as other

experimental or left-field or other words like

recent influences.

that,” Unger-Hamilton says. “Because it was

“I think Relaxer is influenced by a lot of

that kind of an album, we now feel that we

what we’re listening to,” Unger-Hamilton

have a license to be as unusual as we want

says. “For example, Thom, our drummer, has

and to try to do new things. We have a fan

been listening to a lot of electronic music. I

base that appreciates that, that actually

think some of the production values that

seems to like that instead of being afraid of it

he’s added to this album have clearly been

or freaked out by it.”

influenced by his own listening habits. Joe,

He remembers a distinct point when the

between albums two and three, listened to a

band realized their experimental style was

lot of contemporary classical music like Philip

spreading faster than expected. In the fall

Glass, which you can hear on this album.

We made a name for ourselves on our first album, which was to be eccentric, experimental or left-field. ... We have a fan base that appreciates that. of 2011, a music magazine, Loud And Quiet,

Then again I think it’s also about our musical

had partnered with alt-J to release a vinyl

upbringing, which is a clash of classical and

single of two songs that would become live

folk from my side, some Americana and

favorites, “Bloodflood” and “Tessellate.”

singer-songwriter from Joe’s side, and then

“We had just done a little single deal with a music magazine called Loud And Quiet

some drumming from Thom that makes up alt-J, really.”

to release a limited-edition vinyl single of

Their confidence in the studio has also

a couple of our songs,” he says. “We had a

translated to the stage, where alt-J will be

launch party for it in a pub in East London

busiest in 2017. A summer European tour that

and the place was absolutely rammed. People

includes a festival appearance at Glastonbury

couldn’t fit into the room. They were spilling

cascades into a North American tour with

out onto the street and standing out there

stops at Red Rocks and Lollapalooza before

watching through the doors. At that point, we

heading back to Europe and then back to

were just like, ‘Hmm, this feels like it might be

the U.S. in the fall for Austin City Limits

a little bit more than just our hobby while we

and a year-ending set in Mexico City. Unger-

were students.’”

Hamilton says he’s ready for it, since, as

Relaxer is a natural next step after 2014’s This Is All Yours, which hit No. 1 in the U.K. and landed in the top 10 in 12 different countries. The band’s experimental dub-folk

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2017

usual, the music will do most of the speaking

“We’re now in the position of being able to

for them. He’s also much more self-assured as

make quite a comfortable living while making

Thom Green

a performer than he was in those early days

music,” he says. “That’s a huge, huge blessing.

Joe Newman

around London.

We never thought that was going to be

LEFT TO RIGHT: Gus Unger-Hamilton

“We have room to improve on all fronts

the case. We were a university band who

still, but we do finally feel now that if

thought we’d enjoy making music together for

someone comes to a gig, we’re confident they

a few years and then maybe go our separate

will be impressed and not like, ‘Oh I hope

ways. I think now we’re actually doing what

they don’t judge us too harshly. I hope they

some people dream of doing, which is to have

buy the album and judge us on that,’” Unger-

this as our sole job. Now that means we get

Hamilton says.

to live in London, spend our time traveling,

Despite the critical acclaim, the headlining slots at global festivals and the chart-topping

writing songs or hanging out at home. That’s pretty awesome.”

albums, the members of alt-J are still able to describe their lives as “normal,” at least as much as possible given their vocation.

Unger-Hamilton says he hopes the band can

M ATT CONNER is a writer and editor living in Indianapolis.

continue to stay grounded even as they enjoy the fruits of their labor.

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RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

BY AARON CLINE H A N B U RY A N D JESSE CAREY

“Please block me. You are welcome. Signed, your mom.”

That actual sentence—which preceded a long Facebook comment referencing several, highly charged political issues— popped up on Craig’s feed (not his real name) shortly after he shared an article of Bible verses

of political arguments and

commanding Christians to help

heated debates between 20- and

immigrants. The story related

30-somethings and their parents.

the Scriptures to the modern-day

But what happens when these

refugee crisis.

differences don’t just serve as

It was followed by: “Block

punchlines or fuel for social

me, please! I am tired of your

media feuds? What happens

dishonor.”

Then, a concerned Facebook-

when they start to threaten real is the author of The Next

families and even threaten to

lurking bystander chimed in:

America: Boomers, Millennials,

divide the Church?

“With all due respect, you’ll

and the Looming Generational

have to block him in order to not

Showdown.

see what he posts.”

The exchange highlights an

Taylor says the strength of

A REAL DIVIDE

A recent Gallup poll found that

his methodology is that it allows

77 percent of Americans now

increasingly common situation

researchers “to tell stories with

believe the country “is divided

for millennials—and even more

numbers.” And the story it’s

on the most important values.”

for millennial Christians: Adult

telling is one of a growing divide

That number is at an all-time

children and their parents are

between two generations who

high. And, in many cases,

becoming divided. (And not just

share different values about

those divides are falling on

in their understanding of how

race, religion, politics, marriage,

generational lines.

“blocking” someone works on

family and money.

social media.) “[In looking at] attitudes

It’s also playing out in pop

“It is impressive how consistent the differences are

parents. Because of this, they’ve become very different people, with very different values.

culture. Sure, “kids these days”

across multiple realms,” Taylor

toward religion and politics,

plot-lines have long been staples

says. “I think these differences

realm is this more apparent than

what you see is a very consistent

of sitcoms and family movies,

and lifestyles, economic

when it comes to religion.

pattern: that today’s young

but one of the most contentious

circumstances and values kind

adults across all of these realms

election seasons in recent

of reinforce each other.”

are leading different lives from

memory has taken generational

the boomer generation,” Paul

differences from playful jokes to

different values “reinforcing”

difference between millennials

Taylor says.

genuine anxieties.

each other is that there is a

and boomers,” Taylor explains.

sort of domino effect of social,

“Millennials are notably less

What he means by the

And perhaps in no other

“If you ask people ‘How important is religion in your life?’ you will see a big

Taylor spent more than a

Throughout the holidays, a

decade studying generational

running joke on Saturday Night

economic, technical and

religious than older adults. Not

demographics and data as

Live was people attempting

cultural changes that have led

just older adults now, but older

the executive vice president

to escape holiday dinners,

to millennials growing up in a

adults when they were the age

at Pew Research Center and

which had become a minefield

very different world than their

that millennials are now. Now

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RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

million times in the 14 days after its release and mobilized it’s interesting, society in general

thousands of millennial activists

is becoming a little less religious

in an effort to bring down

so there’s an impact of time on

warlord Joseph Kony. The

people of all ages, but this is a

video—and its effectiveness—

phenomenon where millennials

has since been debated by

are sort of in the lead.”

critics, but one thing isn’t

What’s caused this observable

debatable: It struck a nerve with

difference in faith and religion?

many millennials.

Experts point to a variety of

Through his work with

factors, but Taylor has observed

the organization he founded,

a correlation: Millennials are

Invisible Children, Russell has

marrying much later in life than

seen thousands of millennials

their parents did.

dedicate their time, talent and

“This is why all these things

even money to helping orphans,

are somewhat interrelated

foundation to get married.’”

and by the way, being married

One domino falls (debt and a

supporting public awareness campaigns and becoming

is correlated with religious

tough job market), and another

politically active. He says that

behavior,” he explains. “Married

is knocked over (getting married

this value—this sense of being

people are more likely to be

later in life) and suddenly,

able to enact big change in

affiliated with a church and to

values start to shift (giving up on

far corners of the world—was

attend church, etc. Although the

more traditional church settings,

shaped by something unique in

correlation doesn’t necessarily

often ones geared toward

this generation: being raised in

indicate causation, these things

families and couples).

the era of social media.

tend to go together.”

But along with data-backed

Taylor says the reason for

He says that this “sense of

information, there could

connectivity” to be able to help

getting married and starting

also be some additional, less

people was fostered, in part,

families later isn’t simply a

quantifiable factors at play.

because “of the way they could

shift in values, it’s a matter of

navigate the world through the

practicality. Millennials—who

THAT’S NOT HOW ANY

are frequently strapped with

OF THIS OF WORKS

debt after graduating college—

“What I witnessed firsthand

engagement with the millennial

often simply can’t afford to settle

by the hundreds, if not the

generation, specifically at

into adult life as soon as their

thousands, is young people who

Invisible Children and even all

parents once did.

were able to commit themselves

the communities that they went

to something larger than

out into,” he says. “I had a lot

adults has had a very tough time

themselves for people who are

of hope—and still do—that the

getting started,” Taylor says.

not really their neighbors, but

millennial generation can and

“As they came out of school,

also at the same time take care

will change the world in a very

whether high school or college

of their neighbors or like people

profound way.”

in the last 10-12 years, [it’s been

affected by homelessness in the

a] pretty tough economy. They’re

community; really intelligent

having trouble finding their

and driven and sacrificial,” says

first career job. They’re having

Jason Russell.

“This generation of young

trouble making a career wage

internet and social media.”

“That was my experience and

Russell understands what

and they’re saying to themselves,

makes millennials tick. He’s

‘I don’t have the economic

probably most famous for masterminding the “Kony 2012” viral video, a short documentary that was viewed more than 83

JULY-AUG

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This time of connectivity has led to an exposure to new ideas and new perspectives at volumes never experienced by any generation in history.

“I do believe that when we look back, we will see it as a generation that is not only deconstructing everything that they have been told from the generation that came before them—their parents, their bosses—but they’re also waking up in a way that no generation has ever been able to experience

“I t al k to my grandfat h er, I t a l k to my d a d , I t a l k to my ba by c ou s i n s a n d w hat we a re t ry i n g to get at i s t h at we a re go i n g to h ave d ifferent st rate g i es t h ro ug h out t h e yea rs . ”

in the world and that is largely

that we are not each other’s enemies,” she explains.

Though many millennials are members of increasingly diverse communities, racial injustice is still prevalent. And fighting it means coming together across racial lines and generations. For her, it starts with real dialogue.

“We have intentionally prioritized moving across generational lines and moving those boundaries,” she explains.

Higgins directs an annual kitchen-table talks.

and the connectivity that they

white Europeans. The majority

have,” he says.

is Hispanic and Asian. So racially

that exposes millennials to new

“Ethnic solidarity is participation in [the] statement

conference where they have

in part because of technology

But it’s not only technology

is the idea of ethnic solidarity.

“We start with these large-

it’s different.”

MICHELLE HIGGINS

This change in demographics

scale events, and we move down to [the church’s] old folks, young folks, [and ask], ‘How do we get

ideas and worldviews—often

has led to a core change

ones that are very different

in values and worldview:

than their parents. According

Millennials celebrate their

UNITING ACROSS THE DIVIDE

table conversations where we

to research, millennials are

generation’s diversity instead

Michelle Higgins is an activist

actually do real talk. I talk to

surrounded by more diversity in

of taking the approach of

in the Black Lives Matter

my grandfather, I talk to my

the real world than most in their

being “colorblind” to racial

movement who serves as

dad, I talk to my baby cousins

parent’s generation ever were.

differences, like many in

the director of worship and

and what we are trying to get

previous generations.

outreach at South City Church

at is that we are going to have

in St. Louis. She’s also been a

different strategies throughout

As Taylor explains, millennials are the “transitional

past this?’” she explains. “And then we move into kitchen-

“One way to summarize this

generation to a majority non-

is in the 20th century, the phrase

speaker at the Urbana missions

white America … because of the

and metaphor that was used to

conference, which is popular

decadeslong immigration wave.”

describe an immigrant-driven

among millennial Christians.

He breaks down the new,

population was melting pot,”

Higgins, self-described as

changing face of America: “Most

Taylor explains. “People come

“between millennials and

of this is driven by our modern

from all over the world but in

boomers” in age, says that one

immigration wave, which is now

the course of a generation or

of the most important things for

50 years old and unlike previous

two we all melt together, we

millennial Christians to engage

immigration waves which were

all become American. That’s

almost all white European, this

the American ideal. In the 21st

is only about 10-12 percent

century, I would say the value is more mosaic.

“People come from all over the world, together we build a beautiful whole but not by losing our individual identities.”

These ideas about race, diversity and multiculturalism have been the cause of major cross-generational divisions. And it’s recently even divided some within the Church itself.

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the years.”

These types of crossgenerational conversations allow for real connection

“I t i s i m p res s ive how c o n s i s tent t h e diffe ren c es a re a c ros s mult i pl e rea l m s . A n d I t hi nk th es e d ifferen c es and l ifes t y l es , ec on om i c c i rc u m s t a n c es , va l u es ki nd o f rei n forc e eac h ot h er. ”

because they are based on

honest about both the known and the unknown.

“Authentic and transparent is not that I’m airing my dirty laundry. I want people to actually go, ‘You know what Chris, you can connect. You’re honest, you’re adopted, you were broken. You’re not this angry, bitter old woman.’ You’re saying, ‘Look this stuff happened to me and I can’t change it, but Jesus has redeemed it and look at the victory on the other side of it.’ …

“You couldn’t preach what I preach and have that many

finding areas of agreement

Propel. “One really good thing

young people still listening if

and can help each generation

about just being around this

there wasn’t something deeper

understand issues from the

long is I don’t really freak out

spiritually going on.”

other’s perspective.

much—because there is nothing

For Caine, that’s where the

Often times, this can lead

new under the sun. … You tell

disparity is: Generational divide

to greater understandings on

me anywhere in history where

seeps in where one—or both—

important issues.

one generation has not thought

party thinks the other isn’t

that the other one is entirely evil

practicing what it preaches. It’s

or doesn’t understand.

an issue of the personal actions,

“Older folks in my tradition really don’t want to grapple with

PAUL

TAYLOR

mental health,” she explains.

“Younger folk, especially since

“I’m 50 years old now and

something younger Christians

I’m being asked—which is not

have a lifetime of opportunity

the Ferguson uprising and

all, everything—how you look,

surprising but it’s making me

observing in the generations

maybe even toward the early

how you talk, how you say you

press pause—to do more both

ahead of them.

2000s as well, you’ll see more

feel—matters.”

student and college-age ministry

folks really coming to terms with

It’s when they engage from

“If you lived abandoned to

events on like large scales,

Christ and laid down your life

their need for mental health

across the generational lines

like from Passion to Motion to

and there was not a disparity

services, for accountability for

that these types of issues can be

Forward, than you would think

between your telling everyone

their emotional survival. I think

exposed and explored.

a 50-year-old would be being

to love everyone and then you’re

asked to do.”

blurting offensive negativity

that a lot of our older folks were at one point hesitant because it

THE UPSIDE OF

She takes this as a solid

all over social media and your

GENERATIONAL TENSIONS

indicator that generational

kids are hearing you gossip and

This isn’t exclusively an

divides aren’t fundamentally

slander at home and you’re full

American phenomenon. Just

about, well, generations.

of fear and doubt, well then,

ask Christine Caine. She spent

“I actually think young people

her first 15 years of ministry

want to hear from older people

working with youth (which

who are still running their race

in Australian contexts usually

and still very committed to

includes college and early

running their race on mission

professional ages).

toward Jesus,” she says.

“I think not being able to

She’s talking about

vote in America is great for me

authenticity—the idea that you

because it gives me a different

are still learning and you’re

perspective and you’re even looking at the whole process very differently,” says Caine, an internationally sought speaker, and the founder of A21 and

JULY-AUG

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sake of my rights then we’re just like the world. There’s nothing different about us.” to connect and see how a BREAKING THE MOLD

shared goal might help them

If there’s a takeaway from

understand each other better

Taylor’s research, it’s that

and find ways to work toward

while this generation owns

a common goal—whether that’s

singular points of disagreement

helping refugees or simply

and differentiation from its

trying to live your life based on

predecessors, the phenomenon

biblical premises.

is not a millennial one. Of

Essentially, they’re

of course, they’re not going to

course, as he says, a whole slew

follow you.”

of factors shape each generation.

Still, Caine’s point only

JASON

But Caine pushes back against

diagnoses the problem. How

the idea that insurmountable

do Christians of this—and the

divisions are inevitable. It’s just

older—generation actually learn

the opposite; Christians are free

to come together?

to see tensions as a way to grow.

This is essentially the same

posture: “Remember the issue

thing Higgins is getting at when

here isn’t that, ‘I want to be

she talks about her community

heard and have my rights!’

demoting the import of

In fact, Christianity is quite

generational divides in order to

the opposite,” she says. “The

focus on a common need or goal.

The public doesn’t know

especially those older in the

whether or not “Craig” ever

faith. I think within our faith

resolved things with his mom.

community and our Christian

Maybe there’s a genuine

community, we need to really

ideological or theological

take a look at how we’re talking

division there, or maybe they

to each other.”

stopped being Facebook friends.

Bridging the generation

But you can see in that

gap is important, but Caine

example how the dynamic

doesn’t think that necessarily

Higgins and Caine describe

means focusing on dissolving

could play out: Craig sharing

generational tensions.

an article about God’s concern

In fact, learning through the

for refugees is the opposite of

tension might actually be the

dishonor, but for one reason or

whole point.

another, his mom perceived the

“I’m not saying to be

talking about extending their connectivity tendency to relationships outside of

Caine says it’s an issue of

battle of this is do good to all,

RUSSELL

“ Wh at I technology.

When that happens, w it n es s ed generational tensions offer a chance to grow—and if a f i rs t h a n d generation of Christians can eschew the us-vs-parent norm, by t h e the resulting change in the h u n d red s , world could be, as Russell says, profound. if n ot t h e t h ou s a n d s , i s you n g p eop l e w h o were a b l e to c om m it t h em s elves to s om et h i n g l a rg er t han t h em s elves for p eople t h at a re n ot rea l ly t h ei r n ei g h b ors . ”

post as a political affirmation

abused,” she says. “But I think

of something that has almost

the dismissive, and almost

nothing to do with refugees.

condescending, attitude

Whatever else is going on,

sometimes of the younger

this thread opened up an

toward the older doesn’t serve

opportunity for Christians from

them well. Because what you

different generational influences

have to also accept is that through older processes, Jesus is trying to form His image in us

JESSE CAREY A ND A ARON CLINE HA NBURY both write and edit for RELEVANT. Jesse lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia; Aaron lives in Winter Park, Florida.

as well. Sometimes that tension is part of our sanctification process. If we throw out the need to be sanctified for the

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C O

BY M AT T C O N N E R

JULY-AUG

W

S

D

R K I D S

ix studio albums in, Nathan Willett has learned to live in the tension.

and evil, love and loss, and life.

Over the last few years, Willett’s unstated

The Cold War Kids frontman and principal

yet obvious belief that diligence in crafting

songwriter has always stood in the middle,

meaningful music that will eventually break

so to speak, not capitulating to either side on

through has come true. The band has always

a number of fronts: He’s been upfront about

enjoyed just enough success to make music

his own spiritual pursuits even while eschew-

full time, tour nationally and enjoy solid re-

ing conservative or fundamental beliefs. He

sults. However in 2015, nearly a decade after

wrestles openly about light and dark, good

their debut, Robbers & Cowards, Cold War

084

2017

Kids found the mainstream as “First” became

not explain? / If this life is all that we get / We

their highest-charting single, landing at No. 1

better hope something good comes next.

on the Billboard Alternative charts.

“I think people often think about relation-

“Love is Mystical” is the lead single from

ships as something that requires you to set-

Cold War Kids’ newest album, L.A. Divine, and

tle, as if you have to have your dream or you

it followed suit by jumping to No. 3 overall,

settle,” explains Willett about the album’s

the first two top 10 hits for the SoCal band.

approach to love songs. “I think having both

Success, it seems, has arrived in a much

and dealing with the sacrifices and messiness

bigger way for Cold War Kids—which also

and vulnerability and the unorthodox way

includes Matt Maust, bassist; Joe Plummer,

that you stay together is everything that’s in-

drums; Matthew Schwartz, multi-instrumen-

teresting to me.

album in nearly

“I’m not interested in a love song about

that’s rewarded the band’s long-held commit-

someone who just met someone else or a

first to have wide

ment to substantive style.

one-night stand or new love,” he continues.

mainstream success.

“There’s Leonard Cohen on one side and

“I think people are bored with that. From Tin-

pop radio on the other,” Willett says about his

der to every magazine cover to everywhere

songwriting approach. It perfectly illustrates

you look, people are more interested in

the balance he’s committed to achieving. Pop

something that answers what happens when

music can be enjoyable but also escapist. Wil-

you get past all of that. I think as a culture,

lett wants to capture the former while creat-

we’re struggling with not wanting to sacrifice

ing something lasting for the listener—some-

enough to get to that place but also wanting

thing valuable rather than vapid.

deep, deep intimacy and everything that

three years and the

comes with that and how to get there.”

songwriting,” says Willett. “If it’s too person-

Willett found some literary inspiration

al, it’s not good songwriting. That’s one thing

for L.A. Divine in the fiction of Italian-Amer-

I’ve learned. ... The most important thing is

ican author John Fante and popular theolo-

that I want people to be able to hear some-

gian-author Richard Rohr.

thing and have their own experience and

“Spirituality is a huge part of where my

own interpretation without being necessarily

head’s at,” says Willett. “I recently discovered

told upfront what it’s all about.”

a writer, Richard Rohr. He’s one of those peo-

Willett points to the new Dirty Projectors

ple who I read and the whole time I’m think-

self-titled record as one example of art that

ing, ‘I can’t believe no one ever told me about

walks the fine line he’s most interested in cre-

this guy after all these years.’ Falling Upward

ating. And Kanye West.

had a huge impact on me, as did Breathing Un-

“Doing things that feel very modern and

der Water, which is sort of about 12-step pro-

contemporary but not cheesy is very hard,

grams. Thinking about his work is so broad.

but that’s the space you want to walk,” says

There’s so much psychology and philosophy

Willett. “The new Dirty Projectors record

and spirituality and religion, and those are all

does this, and I know Dave [Longstreth, front-

things I’ve always been interested in.

man for DP] listened to a lot of Kanye making

“In a way, I want to take some of these Rich-

that. Kanye does that thing that makes ev-

ard Rohr depths or, in the case of the new re-

erybody wince. ... We need it. We need to en-

cord, L.A. Divine, the writer John Fante’s Ask

gage with more than just what’s immediately

the Dust or his L.A. stories that are 100 years

around us.”

old but very much deal with the same stuff.

L.A. Divine is undoubtedly Cold War

He’s a writer in L.A. struggling with doubt,

Kids’ most mature record to date, an album

struggling with vanity and the highs and lows

steeped in SoCal clichés. It includes dream

that come with finding and losing God. All

LEFT TO RIGHT:

chasers and fame seekers, but doesn’t reduce

that stuff is in there. You just have to find it.”

Matthew Schwartz

them to two-dimensional tropes. Instead it

As Cold War Kids continue to gain ground

explores their longings and asks their ques-

on the charts and stay true to their substan-

Nathan Willett

tions, bringing them to life in meaningful

tive ethos, Willett and company will undoubt-

David Quon

ways and, in turn, allows the listener to find

edly occupy the same influential roles for

themselves in the story. As Willett sings on

newer artists filled with the same hope to fill

“Free to Breathe,” What kind of father leaves

the spaces of popular culture with meaning-

his kids in the rain? / What kind of god would

ful work.

Matt Maust

War Kids’ first new

talist; David Quon, guitarist—a breakthrough

“If it’s not personal enough, it’s not good

Joe Plummer

L . A . DIVINE L.A. Divine was Cold

085

M ATT CONNER is a writer and editor living in Indianapolis.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

MARCH-APRIL

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2017

A conversation with the author of The Message about really following God.

T

here’s a poem Eugene Peterson can’t get out

pressive knowledge of Hebrew, Greek and English (yes, he

of his head. It’s a brief, difficult poem called

did all his own translations from the original languages).

“As Kingfishers Catch Fire” by 19th-century

Before The Message, Peterson was a seminary profes-

poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, just the kind

sor and pastor in upstate New York, where he first began

you might expect a thinky, reclusive person

to recognize the disparity in Christians’ lives that would

like Peterson to like. “Kingfishers” layers on simile, point-

simultaneously haunt and fuel the rest of his career. Lat-

ing to a “just man” (seemingly “just” as in “moral”), whom

er, he planted a church in Bel Air, Maryland, where he’d

it describes as one who “Acts in God’s eye what in God’s

spend almost 30 years before turning more attention to

eye he is—Christ.”

academics—as a professor of spiritual theology at Regent

“As Kingfishers Catch Fire” is about things—or people—

College—writing and doing translations.

acting within their nature—behaving like what they are.

At first glance, Peterson’s career may look eclectic, and

Today, you’ll hear this called authenticity. And that’s what

that’s certainly true. But that doesn’t mean he’s not fo-

lingers with Peterson.

cused. If you look for it, you can see a uniting thread to

You see, he spent his life in the Church, pastoring,

Peterson’s work and ministry, and it all centers around

preaching and (famously) writing. But if you talk to him

answering—and helping others answer—the question,

about it, he’ll readily tell you not all of his career accom-

what does it really means to be a follower of Jesus?

plished what he now thinks it should have.

The problem, as he now sees it, was that he wasn’t teaching people how to truly be who they are: Christians.

***

Opposite from the kind of authenticity in Hopkins’ poem,

If you’re only a little bit familiar with Christian culture,

church life stood disconnected from Monday through Sat-

you know Peterson’s work. He’s the author of some 30

urday life. Sermons didn’t help people live. As a result,

books of theology, poetry and commentary, all of which

people listening to Peterson didn’t understand what it re-

are worth your attention. But one book in particular

ally means to be followers of Jesus. They were Christians,

promises to make up his legacy. In 2002, Peterson pub-

yes, but they didn’t grasp what that means beyond the

lished his defining work, The Message.

points of salvation.

This groundbreaking idiomatic (read: casual and high-

In Peterson’s words, he failed.

ly colloquial) translation of the Bible made Peterson a household name among Christians. The Message now ex-

***

ists in countless forms and editions (remember The Mes-

Peterson has a name for the problem he encountered all

sage Remix?). Incredibly, though not free from derision,

those years ago: “incongruence.” The idea is that what

The Message finds an audience with people normally in-

he preached and the way he lived were out of alignment,

timidated by the Bible and, on the other side of the spec-

incongruous. He doesn’t mean hypocrisy, though, at least

trum, scholars who recognize Peterson’s deep and im-

not the way Christians typically conceive of it. He means

BY A A RO N C LI N E H A N B U RY

087

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

AS KINGFISHERS CATCH FIRE In May of this year, Eugene Peterson published a selection of sermons he preached during his 30 years as a pastor.

something more like disconnected. The problem, he says,

people, which is usually what they do.”

stems from how people encounter the gospel message.

The “entertaining” he’s talking about is the same thing

“I think the way we present Jesus and the whole story

he saw in himself back at the beginning of his ministry.

of the gospel is adapted in individual ways,” he says.

“I wasn’t preaching,” he says. “I was entertaining, I was

The kind of individualism Peterson means crops up, most clearly he says, in American Christianity. When the

looking for things that would catch people’s imagination for 20 minutes, and that’s it.”

seeker-sensitive church model took off in the mid-20th century, the Church began thinking of salvation almost

The “that’s it” part is key, and it captures everything Peterson fears about incongruence.

exclusively as something individuals experience on a

Peterson doesn’t deny the applications of the gospel for

deeply personal basis. The problem comes in when the

individuals, far from it. But the true mark of the Christian

Christian life comes across as a one-size-fits-all package.

life—what he calls the “essential Christian life”—is a fo-

You could say it’s incongruous.

cus on salvation, yes, and then how following Jesus affects

“I’m not a Christian the same way you are, although we

others around you.

accept the same basis of fundamental truth and relation-

This is Peterson’s solution to disconnected ways of liv-

ship,” Peterson says. “That’s why spiritual formation is

ing the Christian life, and practically, it looks a lot like be-

so important in this whole process because you can’t just

ing a good neighbor.

copy it; you can’t just copy other things the people or the pastors are doing.”

“I mean treating the people in your home, in the neighborhood, in your congregation as fellow Christians or

Once he realized this, he spent the rest of his career as

fellow non-Christians, instead of having a programmat-

a writer, theologian and pastor—the past 30 years or so—

ic-style church life,” Peterson says. “I’m after something

trying to fix the problem, connecting people to what (and

that has much more integration to it.”

who) a Christian really is.

JULY-AUG

It’s something he’s been after in his personal life.

“Since I was a pastor, I knew the names of everyone in

***

the neighborhood,” he says. “It didn’t mean they all came

When you talk to Peterson about where the American

to church—but they were all influenced by the way I con-

Church got off track, he gets prickly.

ducted my life.”

“The megachurch is the biggest perpetrator of the

This influence flows directly from the Bible, but it

disbanding of a congruent place,” he says. “If you pack

doesn’t stop with just listening to a sermon. The person

5,000 people into a church, the pastor doesn’t know a sin-

preaching—or believing it—has to live it out.

gle person’s name and as a result, when people come to

“Scripture is at the core of this,” Peterson says. “Every

church talking about how great the sermon was, the pas-

sermon has some sort of application and you don’t get the

tor doesn’t know what he’s done. He’s just entertaining

application just by listening to the sermon—but by watch-

088

2017

“I’m not a Christian the same way you are, although we accept the same basis of fundamental truth and relationship.”

ing the man who is saying it.”

something special, it’s that it specifically points to God’s relationship with his people. Because Abraham himself

***

isn’t special at all.

Christianity, he says, isn’t something you can reduce to a

“There’s nothing in Abraham’s life that is spectacular,”

Sunday morning service. And the imaginations of Chris-

Peterson explains. “It’s all faithfulness and doing good

tians don’t need tickling, they need expanding. That’s a big

work. I mean, all those altars he built, what does he get

project, one that stands against the tide of thousands of

out of that? But they are acts of devotion, acts of obedi-

American churches. But big and ambitious doesn’t mean

ence and relationships. You know, you don’t just build an

complicated.

altar for yourself. It’s for your family or your community

“I’m trying to provide an imagination that develops

around you.”

congruence,” he says. “I don’t think it’s anything compli-

And that’s it, in a nutshell. What it means to be a Chris-

cated: It’s just a matter of developing an imagination that

tian is living shaped by God’s word, obedient to Him and

gathers things together rather than just setting them apart

prioritizing others over yourself. For Peterson, it’s just

in different things.”

that simple, which is why he keeps describing the Chris-

He’s talking about a Christian life that fragments

tian life as “not complicated.”

church life from the daily life. And the problem there is

For him, this is what it means to be a Christian: “To be

the myriad influences that shape—Peterson would say

a person who knows how to worship, how to be faithful. I

“capture the imagination”—Christians’ lives.

think just those central things.”

And like everything in Peterson’s imagination, he sees the solution as something simple.

“They realized the depth of the Christian faith and that it wasn’t just about getting saved but they were also find-

“There’s no trick or nothing that allows you to do it,”

ing out how this whole salvation relationship worked.”

he says. But he will say there’s a big indicator, an often-ig-

You can see why Hopkins’ “As Kingfishers Catch Fire”

nored idea Christians miss in the pursuit of authentic

captures Peterson the way it does. The poem forms an

Christianity: friendship.

imaginative but simple look at the Christian life. In this

“We are people who have feelings, and friendships are a big thing to me,” he says. “When you’re treating the peo-

way, “Kingfishers” represents a microcosm of Peterson’s whole career.

ple in your neighborhood and congregation as friends,

And it all comes down to this: The poet and the pastor

you made the first big step in having a congregation that

leave the world with an individual-reducing, yet simple vi-

knows how to worship and how to love their neighbors.”

sion for what it means to follow Jesus: It’s a community of

Peterson actually says friendship is fundamental to the

people who live exactly like God sees them—as Christ.

Christian life, which you can see by looking, for example, at Abraham. The point for Peterson isn’t that Abraham is

EUGENE PETERSON is a world-renowned author and theologian and pastor. He’s most famous for his translation of the Bible, The Message.

089

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LAST WORD A Thought Before We Go

The Unexpected Power of Mentorship Why you should be a mentor ... and a mentee.

one-directional knowledge trans-

and offices in San Diego, at his

fer but about learning from one

lakehouse in upstate New York

another. There are a handful

and on the virtual land of Skype,

of important best practices that

we worked on a book that told a

make great mentoring happen.

story of why mentoring matters

The most important one of them

in work and in life.

all? The relationship. Doing the

When we started writing, I

daily work of making that rela-

was already well-versed on the

tionship as strong, resilient and

power of mentoring and was

trusting as possible is key.

known for shouting its magic

Ken thought I could teach

from rooftops. I had several key

him. And I did. And along the

business mentors in technology

way I saw the very best mentors

and social innovation that had

always learn from those they

gotten me to where I was in my

teach. In the end, I may have

career, and I had also been a

written the book on mentoring,

mentor to a Kenyan boy.

but I learned all the things.

Yet I didn’t fully understand why the best of mentoring

2007, I was living on the ground

IN

story of mentoring. At his home

floor of an orphanage in Kenya when a volunteer for the scrappy nonprofit organization I was trying

to get off the ground lugged over a treasured hardback book from the U.S.

relationships are two-way

DOING THE

streets. When I started working

DAILY WORK OF

with Ken I thought I understood the lay of the land: He’d be

MAKING THAT

my new mentor, and I’d be his

RELATIONSHIP

bumbling and loyal mentee.

AS STRONG,

Starting in our first meeting, Ken made it clear that was not

RESILIENT AND

the case. Despite the 40-year

TRUSTING AS

lead he has on me in business,

POSSIBLE IS KEY.

he told me I had things to teach That book, Leaving Microsoft to

Twitter could be a force for

him; putting humility aside for a

Change the World, was the story

good in the world. The nonprofit

moment, he was right.

of Microsoft executive John

organization I chose for our

Wood’s journey to start Room

first initiative? Room to Read,

knows well what it means to be

to Read, the premier nonprofit

of course. The day I met John

a mentee—despite his success

organization improving girls’

Wood, I knew I had come full

and all the fancy frames he

literacy in Asia and Africa today.

circle. A mentor who started

could have hanging on his walls.

through the pages had become

Similarly, when asked why he

one in the flesh.

co-authors so many books, he

It was a game-changer for me, and made me rethink everything I knew at the time

The story of my connection

As he has since said, he

is quick to reply, “Because I

about becoming the social

with Ken Blanchard, with

already know what I know. I

entrepreneur I wanted to be.

whom I recently co-authored

value learning.”

Using premises I learned

One Minute Mentoring, shares

That value of learning is

in that book, I soon went on

a similar arc. Three years ago,

something we both share, and

to business school and then

after an introduction to Ken

something I believe all great

became an early employee

Blanchard turned into a book

mentors must long for. At its

at Twitter, where I had the

idea turned into a proposal, Ken

core, powerful mentoring

opportunity to show how

and I began collaborating on a

relationships are not about

JULY-AUG

096

CL A IR E DI A Z- OR T IZ is a speaker and tech innovator. Her new book is

One Minute Mentoring.

2017

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