97 ARIZONA | LAUREN WINNER | LEVI LUSKO DR. ERIC MASON | YOUNG THE GIANT | BLAKE MYCOSKIE KHALID | DEREK MINOR | ANNIE F. DOWNS 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
Tori Kelly It took making it as a pop superstar for Tori Kelly to realize that her true calling was something else altogether.
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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
JAN/FEB 2019 // ISSUE 97
January/February 2019, Issue 97 New year, new issue.
Publisher & CEO | CAMERON STRANG Brand Director | JESSE CAREY Senior Editor | TYLER HUCKABEE Senior Writer | TYLER DASWICK Copy Editor | KATHY PIERRE Contributing Writers: Sarah Renny, Jessica Stevens
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Creative Director | JOHN DAVID HARRIS
Features
Designer | JORDAN WILLCOX Director of Web Development | DANIEL MARIN Audio Editor | CHANDLER STRANG Video Editor | CLARKE FLIPPO
Tori Kelly
Contributing Photographers: Myriam Santos, Fabian Guerrero, Eric Brown, Wesley Yen, RoLexx,
p.32
Zackery Michael, RCA Records Sales and Partnerships Director | HEATHER COOK
The white-hot singer has achieved the sort of soaring mainstream success most artists only dream of. So why is she risking everything to release a gospel album? In this raw conversation, Tori Kelly explains why she returned to the genre where she first stretched her wings, and what she found along the way.
Account Manager | FELICHIA WRIGHT Traffic Manager | CAROLINE COLE Marketing Director | AME LYNN FUHLBRUCK Operations Manager | JESSICA COLLINS Operations Coordinator | GABRIELLE HICKEY
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2 8 // WINTER GE AR GUIDE
Levi Lusko
As things heat up, we bring together all the gear you need to thrive this season.
p.50
4 0 // GENER ATION CHANGE Millennials have some things to learn from their savvy, conscious successors.
Want to have your best year yet? It starts with being the best possible version of yourself, and Levi Lusko’s got a plan to help you figure out how.
4 6 // YOUNG THE GIANT
6 4 // DEREK MINOR
The indie-rock icons are determined to be themselves—whoever that is.
The pastor, artist and activist gets candid about authenticity.
5 4 // TOO LATE TO APOLOGIZE?
6 6 // CONSPIRACY THEORIES
What does forgiveness mean in the digital era, where your past is just a click away?
Flat earth. Deep state. Why are millennial Christians so susceptible to conspiracies?
6 0 // SAVING SUNDAY
7 2 // ARIZONA
Lauren Winner says it’s time the Church owned up to its unseemly history.
Finance Director | MICHAEL BOWLES
This indie act’s key to success is staying true to where they’re from (not Arizona).
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1 0 // FIRS T WORD
7 6 // RELE VANT SELECT S Our curation of the best in music, books and
1 2 // CURRENT In this issue, we talk about the ethics of self-driving cars, the new mission of TOMS
film. Come for the names, stay to learn how Anderson .Paak is saving hip-hop.
Issue #97 January/February 2019 (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., 55 W. Church St., Suite 211, Orlando, FL 32801. Periodicals postage
Shoes, a guide to having your best year yet,
8 4 // L AS T WORD
Michael B. Jordan, Kristen Bell, Dr. Eric
Annie F. Downs on the long process of
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learning to truly understand your uniqueness.
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RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
FIRST WORD a letter from the publisher
The obituary talked about two things: His strong faith in God (it turns out he designed many of the more notable mid-century
YEAR, WE ARE ALSO MINDFUL
churches in our area), and that in
THAT GOD HAS
his early 20s he had a stroke that
US WHERE WE
left one arm paralyzed.
ARE FOR A
Still, he became an architect, and though he was never able to
New Year, New Architect
WHAT IF THIS
REASON, AND
use computers or the normal tools
IT’S NOT
of the trade, he was known for
JUST THE NEXT
doing every drawing by hand with perfect precision. When asked how, he said he “could feel God pushing the pencil.” He created every building as an act of worship to the Lord.
THING THAT WILL FINALLY, REALLY MAKE US FULFILLED?
Decades later, my life is being impacted by his work. Every wall, every angle, was intentional and
I
t’s our first issue of the new year, so you’re
done because God was pushing the
going to see a lot of hints of “new” in this issue.
architect’s pencil.
Tori Kelly going in a new, unexpected direction
Sometimes the temptation in
with her sophomore album. Levi Lusko talking
life, especially in a new year, is to
about a new way to see self-improvement as a spiritual
throw out the old and pursue the
discipline. There’s even a curated guide on page 22 of new
shiny new, next thing.
stuff to watch, listen to, read and do to have your best year ever in 2019. I like new. Something I’m well aware of about myself is
But what if this year, we are also mindful that God has us where we are for a reason, and it’s not just
I hate maintaining where things are. I want to always be
the next thing that will finally,
pursuing where we’re going, what’s next.
really make us fulfilled? God wants
But over the years, I’ve also learned that while that can be a good thing (Hey, the world was changed by people asking “What if ...?”), it can also be a distraction. When we’re always pursuing the next thing around the
to use the difficult things, too. This new year, let’s embrace today, not just tomorrow. The journey, even the hard parts, is
corner, we can lose track of what’s really happening today.
good because the Lord can use all
It can hold us back from being truly present, truly healthy,
of it, even the stuff that’s not in
truly content. We can miss what God might be trying to do
our ideal plan.
in our lives if we’re always looking for something else to happen. Last year I moved into a unique mid-century home that
It’s easy to just move on to the new. But this year, I want to be mindful in the present. In the big
sat empty for fifteen years. It was in terrible shape. But if
things and small, to ask God to
you could see past all the ugly wallpaper and odd smells,
push the pencil. I want Him to be
you could see it also could be something really special. So,
the architect, not me.
this past year I’ve been living in a construction site as we did a complete renovation. It’s been a lot more work and cost than I expected, but there was something about this funky old home I wanted to preserve. It was worth saving. I did a little research and found the original blueprints
and looked up the architect. I found his obituary from
C A MER ON S T R A NG
when he passed away in 2009.
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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
Blake Mycoskie’s New Mission for TOMS: Universal Background Checks The buy-one-give-one company has given away 86 million pairs of shoes. Now its founder is turning attention to reducing gun deaths.
B
“She said, you know, ‘Someone has to do something about it,’” he recounts. “And I was sitting in the back of an Uber just on my laptop, and I just had this—I would say now—kind of a divine inspiration. It was just so clear to me that that someone was me.” To start, Mycoskie made a $5 million donation to gun control groups, but he didn’t stop there. TOMS has also launched a
ACK IN 2006, Blake Mycoskie
says. “And here’s an opportunity.
“NO MATTER WHAT YOUR
was struck with a business
If I could convince everyone to
idea that made no sense: For
join me, we could align our whole
POLITICAL BELIEFS, WE
every pair of shoes he sold,
audience on something that,
he wanted to give a pair to
frankly, 90 percent of Americans
someone who needed them. TOMS became a sensation. All told, Mycoskie’s company has given away 86
BELIEVE THIS IS A HUMAN ISSUE.”
are for: universal background checks.” Mycoskie got the idea from his
million pairs of shoes. And now, he is setting
wife, who called him in the immediate
new initiative on their website that makes
his sights on a new issue: gun violence.
aftermath of November’s mass shooting in
it easy to send a physical postcard to your
Thousand Oaks, California—just minutes
government representatives in support of
from their home.
universal background checks.
“The whole reason I built this company was to make the world a better place,” he
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MISC. ”This is the Bad Place!”
Kristen Bell Thinks Disney Is Sending the Wrong Messages to Kids
An investigative team known as BASE has uncovered information suggesting the Ark of the Covenant might be hidden at a secret Ethiopian
ACTRESS KRISTEN BELL, the voice of
church, guarded by
Anna in Disney’s Frozen, said fellow
an order of monks.
Disney character Snow White might not being sending the best message to children, especially when it comes to the idea of consent. In an interview with People, she noted that the classic movie hinges on a man kissing a poisoned woman in a coma. (Yeah, we know, pretty creepy in hindsight.) She told her two young children: “Don’t you think it’s weird the prince kisses Snow White without her permission? You cannot kiss someone if
Kanye West remains
they’re sleeping!”
a tough guy to
Responding to a backlash from Disney
figure out, but at least one thing
loyalists on Twitter (evidently, people are
about him is pretty
super invested in a 90-year-old cartoon),
straightforward:
Bell explained, “I’m a mom who wants
his favorite app.
my girls to possess critical thinking and
According to a
ask a ton of questions. So that’s what we do
December tweet, it’s
when we read books.”
YouVersion, the Bible app.
Welp, Five of the Museum of the Bible’s Dead Sea Scrolls Were Fake
JAN-FEB
WASHINGTON, D.C.’S Museum of
the Bible is an impressive place, but it recently discovered some of its most priceless displays were fakes. The museum hired a German company to analyze its collection of Dead Sea Scrolls— some of the earliest written forms of Scripture ever discovered. What they found wasn’t great: Five of its 16 scroll pieces were fakes. In
a statement, the museum said, “Though we had hoped the testing would render different results, this is an opportunity to educate the public on the importance of verifying the authenticity of rare biblical artifacts, the elaborate testing process undertaken and our commitment to transparency.” The fake scrolls have since been removed from the exhibits.
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In Chick-fil-A news: The fast food chain announced it will be testing a mac and cheese side dish in certain locations. If it’s popular, the cheesy goodness will go nationwide.
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THE HOT LIST The Definitive Cultural Power Rankings
Now you will always be ghost ridin’ the whip.
R EA L P RO G R E S S ... [Hottest]
Despite the midterms, it’s exciting that the U.S. now has a record 112 women in Congress. N E T F L I X M OV I E S [Hotter]
Roma and Buster Scruggs have given the platform new clout.
The Ethical Dilemma of Self-Driving Cars Can we expect machines to make literal
GEN Z EPS [Hot]
life-altering decisions?
Vince Staples and Billie Eilish brought fire this fall.
he technology for fully
T
MIT developed a study called “The Moral
is already here, but there’s
Machine Experiment.” People from an
something preventing you
array of cultures were asked to choose
from being able to read a
whose safety should be prioritized in
book on your morning commute. R E B O OTS A N D
To answer that question, researchers at
autonomous self-driving cars
One of the challenges facing the creators
various imminent collision scenarios. Strollers, girls, boys and pregnant
R EV I VA LS
of artificial intelligence softwares is the
women ranked at the top of the list, but a
[Cold]
prospect of the machines having to make
“male doctor” ranked higher than a “female
ethical decisions. For example, if another
doctor,” and homeless individuals ranked
car pulls out in front of your autonomous
lower than most other people (dogs ranked
really are out of ideas.
one, your car must decide whether or not to
higher than cats). These are troubling
veer off into a group of pedestrians to avoid
questions and ethical dilemmas, but ones
RETURN LINES
a collision. Does the passenger’s life take
that must be addressed for the self-driving
[Colder]
priority over another driver’s?
car revolution to commence.
New Breaking Bad, Walking Dead and Shrek movies? I guess they
Don’t tell dad, but yikes, did he really think we were a size XXL?? Line up a podcast to listen to while you wait in line with that receipt. ... B U T A LO N G WAY TO G O [Coldest]
The U.S. still ranks 104th
Witches Now Outnumber Presbyterians in America
CHRISTIANITY MAY BE ON THE DECLINE among millennials,
but another spiritual practice has seen a massive rise: witchcraft. The number of self-described Wiccans has exploded from 8,000 in 1990 to more than 340,000 in 2018, and it continues to rise. Wicca is “a modern religion, based on ancient witchcraft traditions,” according to their official site. Pew found the number of Americans who identify as Pagans or Wiccans is about 1.5 million; more than Presbyterians.
out of 190 countries in female representation in government.
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04/09
CURRENT
Joshua Harris Is Kissing ‘I Kissed Dating Goodbye’ Goodbye IF YOU GREW UP GOING TO YOUTH GROUP, there’s a good
Turns Out Working Too Many Hours Is Really Bad for You Maybe that sounds obvious, but the consequences of overextension are worse than you think.
chance that you encountered the book I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Josh Harris, which sold more than a million copies. Critics say the book’s harsh stance on relationships
THE PHRASE “WORKING
and physical health issues
YOURSELF TO DEATH” turns out
including depression, anxiety,
to be legitimate. Researchers
relationship problems and
from NYU Langone Health
even high blood pressure
recently examined data from
develop. Moral of the story:
the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Don’t be afraid to clock out and
and found that consistently
don’t forget about the idea of
working more than 40 hours
Sabbath.
a week can have some really
To avoid burnout, set clear
negative health consequences.
boundaries and find a hobby or
Once work starts cutting into
pastime that feels restful and
your ability to get the adequate
respiteful instead of another
amount of rest, a chain of other
outlet for your energy and
both negative psychological
stress.
damaged young Christians’ ideas of healthy expectations while preparing for marriage. Today, Harris is apologizing. Now a pastor, he told RELEVANT he remembers a church member telling him “your book was used against me like a weapon.” The moment led a to revelation: “My thinking has changed about this book.” It will be discontinued from print.
MISC.
JAN-FEB
It must be that time of year: The pope
Idris Elba became just the third
In a new poll, 43 percent of Americans
has been invited to North Korea by
non-white man to be named People
said #MeToo has gone “too far,” voicing
leader Kim Jong-un in the hopes
Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive, joining
concern over rushing to judgment and
Francis will highlight peace efforts on
Denzel Washington and Dwayne
spoiling careers (responses were split
the Korean peninsula.
Johnson.
along party lines).
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05/09
CURRENT
MISC.
[G L O B A L V I E W ]
Climate Change = A Vanishing New York City
New research into the future effects of climate change on New York City finds that they may not be that far into the future at all.
Instagram is now the most used app among teens (85 percent of the population), surpassing Snapchat (84 percent). Remember back when people used Facebook?
Leading experts at the World Wildlife Fund released findings that humanity has wiped out 60 percent of the world’s animals since 1970. That’s birds, reptiles, mammals and fish. A map of New York City in 2100 CURRENT COASTLINE
T
HE LATEST
be a little tough to wrap your
feet. This would have major
REPORTS
mind around, which is why
repercussions for the United
on climate
predictions for one single place
States’ Eastern Seaboard,
change
can be useful.
resulting in a New York City
continue
JAN-FEB
Take the case of New York
that looks like the map above.
to paint a
City. One major issue facing
bleak picture of where our
America’s largest city is the
scientists predicted that the
world is headed if political
fate of the Western Antarctic
ice sheet would fall between
leaders don’t take bold action
Ice Sheet, the collapse of
2200 and 3000. But new, more
and take it fast. Sometimes,
which would cause the world’s
aggressive studies suggest that
the scope of devastation can
oceans to rise by five or six
it could come as soon as 2100.
020
For decades, climate
New Google data indicates the most popular Halloween costumes this year were Spider-Man and characters from the video game Fortnite. Hey, on a night like Halloween, it could have been way worse.
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[G E T Y O U R 2 0 1 9 O N ]
A Curated Guide to Having Your Best Year Ever ou’re going to have two
Y
questions throughout 2019: “How do I work on myself?” and “What should I be listening to, watching or
reading?” We’re here to answer both. We’ve assigned a theme to each month of 2019 to help guide your focus throughout the year. We give a few recommendations to help you engage with the theme and by doing so, become the best version of yourself. Here’s your road map to the Best Year Ever.
January RENEWAL
It’s a new year, so kick things off with some energy. UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT will give you a spark on television, but if you need a devotional, NEW MORNING MERCIES by Paul Tripp is like a cup of coffee poured by Jesus Himself. You should also head over to BRIGHTPEAK, who has tools to help get your financial life in good shape.
February LOVE (EVERYO NE ) BET T ER
The month of Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all about doting over a S/O. Austin Channing Brown’s I’M STILL HERE teaches you about one woman’s journey to “loving blackness” while THE GOOD PLACE dares you to
JAN-FEB
think about what you can do more in service to others. In a tough spot? Turn on BLUE by Joni Mitchell. It’s immortal.
April
March
MINGLING OF
S PIR ITUAL R E FR E S HM E NT
Coming out of winter feels like finding your second wind. Tapping into new things to be excited about is easier when you’re guided by Francis Chan’s CRAZY LOVE and the podcast THAT SOUNDS FUN WITH ANNIE F. DOWNS. It’s like a shortcut to seeing God everywhere. And if you need a soundtrack to your month of refreshment, check out Jesus Culture’s LIVING WITH A FIRE. It’s full of big anthems and bold proclamations about God’s ability to renew all things—including your personal life and your own spiritual journey.
022
C OM M ITM E NT
Ring in spring? Lock down your life by diving into Matt Chandler’s SOULS, but turn on NPR’s HOW I BUILT THIS
podcast to be inspired about other kinds of long-term endeavors. ATLANTA on FX will teach you a thing or two about devotion, too.
May ORGANIZATION
We’re almost halfway through the year, so hit reset on your situation and put some order back into your day. Expert-driven podcasters like DAVE RAMSEY or TIM FERRISS will school
2019
you on practices that can structure your life, but if you want the discipline to back up all those ideas, better give David Platt’s RADICAL a close look.
June HUMI LI T Y
Serving others begins with checking your ego at the door. The Comedy Central classic NATHAN FOR YOU has huge thoughts about assigning purpose to a platform, and Andy Mineo’s 2013 debut, HEROES FOR SALE, enters the fight against pride head-on. For a more sobering read, Donna Tartt’s THE SECRET HISTORY chronicles the dark consequences of ambition unchecked. You’ll think about the ending for a long time.
July DI S C OVERY
The dog days of summer can run long and burdensome, so we like to keep things fresh by devoting a month to discovering something new. Inspire yourself with the always surprising and engaging podcast 99 PERCENT INVISIBLE, about the hidden elements of design in everyday life, or our own UNEDITED WITH CAMERON STRANG and keep your adventurous spirit alive with a rewind of THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY.
August J U S TICE
You have to believe you can make a difference, so crack open THE HATE U GIVE (follow it up with the movie) for some inspiration on causing change. THE WIRE is something bolder viewers should be watching every year, but if you haven’t caught up with season three of SERIAL, it’s as mandatory as the first.
September S CHOL AR S HIP
Since everyone’s going back to school, hit the books with TEAM OF RIVALS by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Keep the history trend going with the humanizing podcast AMERICAN HISTORY TELLERS before watching Ken Burns’ docuseries THE VIETNAM WAR. Remember: History requires us to respond to it, so don’t stop your learning now.
October
November THANK S GIVING
Posturing yourself to give thanks is no easy task, so it was important to us that we find things in which people overcome challenge with attitudes of generosity. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA is a crushing but hopeful movie, and Lauren Daigle’s LOOK UP CHILD offers an uncommon look at how to worship in the midst of dark places. Need some spiritual direction? N.T. Wright’s EVIL AND THE JUSTICE OF GOD is honest and convicting about grace amid challenges.
C OU RAGE
Though October ends with facing other kinds of fears, our focus is on how self-perceptions and fear of judgment inhibit our ability to connect with others. Bo Burnham’s EIGHTH GRADE brings that anxiety to life on-screen, but then overcome your insecurity with BRAVING THE WILDERNESS by Brene Brown. Nobody researches vulnerability better than her.
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December GE NE R O S IT Y
Want a heart toward others? Watch SHORT TERM 12, read THE HELP (but skip that movie) and listen to Chris Gethard’s BEAUTIFUL STORIES FROM ANONYMOUS PEOPLE podcast. The first is about a group home and the last hears deep stories from random callers. It’s proof everyone is going through something.
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
08/09
CURRENT
MISC.
Even ice cream is political these days. Ben & Jerry’s has released “Pecan Resist,” a chocolate ice cream flavor with fudge, walnuts, pecans and chocolate-covered almonds. Can social justice movements do this more often?
Michael B. Jordan’s Next Movie Will Tackle the Death Penalty One of Hollywood’s biggest stars portrays civil rights hero Bryan Stevenson. The Centers for Disease Control and
CTOR MICHAEL B.
blockbuster turns in Black Panther
JORDAN has quickly
and the Creed franchise. Now, he
become one of
is turning his attention toward a
Jordan plays the defense attorney
Hollywood’s most
movie with a cause. Author, lawyer
and founder of the Equal Justice
recognizable faces,
and activist Bryan Stevenson’s Just
Initiative, who is on a mission to
whether you’re familiar with his
Mercy is a landmark meditation
revolutionize the justice system,
early work on stone-cold television
on the systemic racist injustices
one wrongful conviction at a time.
classics like The Wire and Friday
embedded in America’s industrial
The drama, which costars Jamie
Night Lights, his critically beloved
prison complex, and is particularly
Foxx and Brie Larson, is due to hit
indies like Fruitvale Station, or his
interested in the abolition of the
theaters next year.
A
Most Christians Don’t Drink (Even If They Think It’s OK to Do So)
death penalty. In the coming film adaptation,
Prevention reported that one-third of Americans eat fast food every day. The younger you are, the more likely you are to hit up a drive-thru. Guilty yet?
LUTH E R AN S
A NEW SURVEY from
LifeWay has found most Protestant Christians still abstain from alcohol despite modern attitudes moving in the other direction. Fifty-nine percent of respondents said they never drink at all and
87 percent said they believed the Bible was against drunkenness (most agreed the Bible didn’t restrict drinking in general). The research also indicated the denominations most likely to drink, which can be seen to the right.
76% Hate crimes are on NON - D E NOMINATIONAL
43%
the rise in the United States, according to the FBI. Last year saw a 17 percent increase in reported
BAPTISTS
hate crimes, with
33%
a 37 percent surge among anti-Jewish incidents.
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[ T H E R E L E V A N T Q + A]
Wake Up With Dr. Eric Mason The alarm is ringing, and this pastor doesn’t want you to hit the snooze button. ERIC MASON SEES
DR.
a difference between the Christianity of the Bible and the Christianity of
the world around him, especially regarding race issues. In his new book, Woke Church, the Philadelphia pastor talks about how the Church can address issues of race in a way that’s true to the restoration promised by the Gospel. He explained what this all means in an interview with RELEVANT. THE WORD ‘WOKE’ CAN ME AN DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. HOW DO YOU DEFINE IT HERE?
In Ephesians 5:14 the Bible says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Christ awakens us to reality, so when you look at the word woke, it’s a natural revelation where you know justice needs to be done. When somebody is murdered, you know a person needs to serve justice for that. You don’t have to be a Christian to understand, but what Christianity does is broaden the bandwidth of justice based on the character of God and the word of God. Wokeness points to the end of injustice. WHAT KEEPS CHRISTIANS FROM THAT WOKENESS YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT ?
JAN-FEB
The way we are educated does a disservice to our ability to know where our problems come from as a Christian and human family. We learn history from a white Western perspective, and from a patriotic triumphalism perspective, so it’s not holistic. We have to know history is more than that.
of Jesus Christ is a sign that God looks at the issues and deals with them. He doesn’t ignore them and just run to the resurrection. WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO ENGAGE IN A DELICATE ISSUE LIKE THIS AMID TODAY ’S POLITICAL CLIMATE?
HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THOSE WHO SAY WE DON’T NEED TO DISCUSS R ACISM IN THE CHURCH?
A lot of white Christians live in a privileged world where it’s easy to say racism doesn’t exist. But the black Church exists because the white Church refused to be their church. It’s tough when people won’t humble themselves and listen so we can be on the same page and see what God can do in this narrative. Biblical unity is not to be blind to the issues. The cross
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Like Paul leveraged his Roman citizenship in his day, we can leverage our human citizenship for eternal reality. Christians have always been in politics, so the question isn’t whether we engage or not, it’s: Are we working within politics just in a way where we agree with everyone in our camp, or are we actually accounting for the implications of our vote within our communities and relationships?
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RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
The RELEVANT Winter Gear Guide T
HE BUSTLING HOLIDAY SEASON MAY HAVE
this post-holiday grind, but it still can be with
come to an end, but winter is still upon us,
the right gear. We’ve got everything from the
meaning we’re forced to face the facts: It’s
coziest socks to the best candle to keep your
cold outside. Winter might not seem as fun in
snow days enjoyable. Stay warm!
Krochet Kids Beanie These beanies are lifechanging. With each purchase, you’re encouraged to visit the profile and learn more about the woman who made your product by hand. $19-24 KROCHETKIDS.ORG
S’well Tumbler These eco-friendly tumblers were made to keep your drink warm through even the harshest winter. The triple-walled stainless steel won’t sweat, so you don’t have to either.
Bombas Socks Did you know socks are the most requested item at homeless shelters? With Bombas, your feet can be warm and so can someone else’s. One pair purchased equals one pair donated. PRICES VARY
$25-35
BOMBAS.COM
SWELLBOTTLE.COM
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R ELE VA N T G E A R G U I D E
Buffy Comforter
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2019
THE UNPLANNED S U P E R S TA R D O M O F
Tori Kelly BY J E S S E C A R E Y
W
hen Tori Kelly first
its follow-up meant trying to cre-
began working on
ate an album that would somehow
the follow-up to her
exceed its predecessor’s success
acclaimed debut al-
and acclaim.
bum,
Unbreakable
At first, she was nervous to bring
Smile, she had an unexpected idea:
the idea to include a gospel tune to
She would include a gospel song.
her team. “I didn’t know how they
For many artists, a sophomore
would react,” she remembers.
album is even more important
Even though Kelly has always
than a debut. A debut introduces
been open about her faith, she’s
you to the world, but its follow-up
not what most listeners would
shows if you have what it takes to
consider
stay long term.
Fresh off of a tour with another
a
“Christian
artist.”
There aren’t many artists who
pop superstar Sam Smith, there
have had a first album as big as
were expectations that her new
Kelly’s. Debuting at No. 2 on the
project should be another big, ra-
Billboard charts, it featured col-
dio-friendly blockbuster.
laborations from hitmakers like
However, when she told her
songwriter Max Martin (who has
team that it needed to include a
22 No. 1 songs to his name) and
gospel song, she says they were
pop superstar Ed Sheeran. It even
automatically on board, and even
garnered her a Grammy nomina-
had a suggestion: She should col-
tion for best new artist. Planning
laborate with gospel legend Kirk
Franklin. After all, not only has Franklin been
Kelly entered another high-profile
a gospel music powerhouse for more than two
singing competition: American Idol,
decades, he also has a knack for collaborations
then near the peak of its TV ratings
(like recently, Kanye West and Chance the Rap-
dominance. After beating out tens of
per) that bring church to mainstream audiences.
thousands of contestants, she made
“I grew up listening to him,” she says. “So,
it through to Hollywood week, only
hearing that name represents my whole child-
to be cut before being named to the
hood.” For her, the plan started coming together,
top 24.
and Franklin signed on.
Plans changed again.
But what Kelly planned to be a single song for
“I heard a quote somewhere that
a new album, Franklin—and maybe even God—
said, ‘Doubt is not the opposite of
had different plans for.
faith,’” Kelly says. “I just really like that just because you are doubting,
PLANS CHANGED
you’re still coming to God … You’re
Tori Kelly has always understood what it’s like
still
to change plans. As a 12-year-old, she gained
what’s going on, and that’s not the
recognition after winning the TV competition
opposite of your faith. That’s actual-
show America’s Most Talented Kids. Soon after,
ly the working out of your faith and
she was approached by Geffen Records and
learning to trust God.”
in
and
wondering
signed a recording contract. However, within
Still a teenager, Kelly had already
months, both parties ended the relationship, cit-
seen a major label deal disappear
ing creative differences. It was a difficult time
and had gotten voted off one of the
for the young singer.
biggest TV shows in the world. But
Kelly, then 14, changed course. Instead of trying to impress a label, she decided to make music
that didn’t cause her to doubt her calling for long.
for herself, posting YouTube videos of covers for
Kelly began playing small shows
the fun of it. The song choices were as diverse as
with music she’d written, and a
her influences and included everything from the
young talent manager began show-
classic spiritual “Go Tell It on the Mountain” to a
ing up, having seen her viral You-
Frank Ocean single.
Tube performances. It was Scooter
Emboldened by the response to the videos,
JAN-FEB
leaning
Braun, who today represents Justin
034
2019
Bieber,
Kanye
West,
Ariana
Grande and Carly Rae Jepsen, among others. As his roster shows, he has an eye for finding breakout talent. It wasn’t long before Braun introduced her to executives at Capitol Records, and, despite her hesitations, she decided to change her plans from being a successful independent artist, to once again signing with a major label. But
no
one
could
have
planned for what would happen later in her career. THE GOSPEL TRUTH
When Kelly entered the studio with Franklin last year, the idea was to record one song for her new album. Franklin had written four songs that he wanted to play for Kelly, presumably so she could choose one for the record. But then, he told her something that changed that plan. “He said God gave him these songs specifically for me,” Kelly remembers. And when she
035
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
heard them, she believed him.
of the gospel tracks, they needed something that
“I love being involved in every detail of a song,
was worshipful.
so it’s really rare that someone can play me a song
“We looked at all the songs we had, we were
that’s finished and I’ll just be totally fine with it,”
probably about six songs in at that point, and we
she says. “This was one of those times where ev-
realized we didn’t have a song that’s just straight-
ery single song he played me …” she pauses for a
up worship,” she says. “All the songs were either
moment. “Those four songs … I was like, ‘This is
talking about God or talking to God, but we didn’t have a song that was like straight-out-of-the-Scriptures
“It’s just been amazing to know there is a God who knows me and cares about every little thing that I’m going through.”
direct worship—kind of the song that you could teach to a congregation or to a church and they can all sing along with it.” As Franklin sat at the piano, Kelly picked up a Bible and began flipping through the Psalms, eventually landing on Psalm 42. “I want to say it started with the chorus—as the deer pants for the water so my soul thirsts for you, God—and that was really the anchor for the whole song,” Kelly remembers.
incredible.’ They feel like I wrote them.”
The result of the collaboration is the eight-
It wasn’t long before the songs sparked some
song album Hiding Place (including the worship-
ideas from Kelly herself, and she and Franklin
ful track, “Psalm 42”), which has been released
realized they weren’t just working on a song,
to crossover acclaim. It debuted at No. 1 on the
they were working on an album.
gospel charts and in the overall top 35.
Then, they decided that in addition to some
JAN-FEB
036
The album may be a detour on Kelly’s expected
2019
career path, but it’s a chance for her to be honest
she says. “Just because you believe in God
about the thing most important in her life: faith.
doesn’t mean your life is all rainbows. But it’s just been amazing to know that there is a God
A PROFOUND CHANGE
who knows me and cares about every little
Kelly grew up going to church, but early on,
thing I’m going through.
faith was more of a label and an excuse for her to hang out with friends at church than any-
“It’s something that I grew up with, but also as I’ve gotten older, I’ve made it more my own.”
thing really personal.
In Hiding Place, this idea—that faith isn’t al-
“I grew up in a Christian home, and always
ways easy—continually comes through in the
grew up knowing about this God and learning
music. It isn’t a collection of platitudes or corny
about this guy named Jesus,” she says. “I just
hooks. The album is about asking tough questions.
thought it was the best thing ever to go to church
“We tend to kind
and be with all my friends ... For me, church was
of be afraid to ask
just fun.”
questions or afraid
But as she grew older, she started to feel the
to even doubt God,”
need to dig deeper, and an experience at church
she says. “I’ve defi-
camp would soon change her life forever.
nitely been there,
“It wasn’t until around high school that I real-
but the more I read
ized this is something that needs to be my own;
the Psalms, there’s
I can’t just be going through the motions and do-
so much doubt. You
ing what my parents do—this is a real relation-
know David’s cry-
ship one-on-one with Jesus,” she reflects. “I went
ing out and being
to this camp through my church, and really had
like,
an encounter with God. He kind of just met me
you God? Why is this happening? When are you
right there and just revealed Himself in a pow-
going to come and help, and what is your plan
erful way.”
here?!’ I love that because it’s just so real. I think
‘Where
are
The experience profoundly changed her. But
we can all say that we’ve gone through that, and
just because she had an authentic experience
there are so many things in life that I wish I had
with God, it doesn’t mean things went as she
answers to, but I just don’t. That just makes me
planned.
lean into God more, saying, ‘I have no idea what’s
“Since then, it hasn’t been necessarily easy,”
HIDING PLACE
going on, so I have to trust You.’”
037
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
Kelly is still making plans, but now she’s
be me,” she says. “The lyrics are kind of some-
learned it’s OK to not know what’s coming next.
thing that pulls everything together. You know,
She’s still at a pivotal moment in her career,
that’s really the constant thread throughout ev-
where she—and her fans—are trying to deter-
erything. I’m always going to sing about stuff I
mine what kind of artist she is.
believe in.”
But she does know one thing her fans can expect: conviction. “No matter what the genre is, it’s still going to
JAN-FEB
Now, more than ever, that conviction grounds her. As her fame grows, she says it’s more important than ever to live the faith she sings about.
038
2019
“That just makes me lean into God more, saying, ‘I have no idea what’s going on, so I have to trust You.’” “[Jesus] people
loved perfectly,
myself today, but to just think about You and other people.’ I think that’s really all I can do.”
and He served other
She learned that relying on Him is better than
people, and I think
making plans on her own. But that doesn’t mean
that’s what it’s re-
she isn’t working on what comes next. When
ally
asked about what comes next, she gets excited—
about,
trying
to put other people
at first.
first, especially in an
industry
“I’ve been writing a ton the last couple years,
that
and honestly I was already kind of writing for
puts you first as the
the next album and then this gospel album sort
person who is kind
of just made its way in,” she says. “There is a lot
of front and center
of music that is waiting to be heard.”
on stage,” she says.
She pauses, thinking about revealing more
“It’s easy for every-
of the plan, hinting at what’s coming next—but
one else to come
stops herself. “That’s all I’ll say for now.”
around that and put you on this pedestal. But for me, my challenge is to constantly try and not
She’s learned that at this point, sometimes, it’s better not to make too many plans.
be on that pedestal, and instead say, ‘No, it’s not about me; it’s not about me,’ and try to focus as much as I can on other people. “It is hard. It’s a daily challenge, and it’s a daily prayer too, to wake up and just be like, ‘God, I need your help today. Help me to not think about
JESSE CAREY is the brand director at RELEVANT. You can find him on Twitter @jessecarey.
039
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
How Gen Z is poised to reboot the modern Church BY T Y L E R D A S W I C K
T
he numbers don’t look good. Of
is, “Can we blame them for not
Generation Z—people born after
showing up?”
1996—34 percent identify as athe-
The trend we’re seeing with
ist, agnostic or nonreligious. It’s
Gen Z started with millennials.
the highest figure of any genera-
Only 30 percent of millennials say
tion ever.
attending church is important.
When naming key components
Among millennials who grew up
of their identity, only a fifth of Gen
in church, almost 60 percent have
Zers name religion, a low number
dropped out.
compared to profession and edu-
“We’re finding evidence that
cation (43 percent), hobbies (42
millennials have been out of
percent) and gender and sexu-
church longer than previous gen-
ality (37 percent). The data from
erations,” says Roxanne Stone,
the Barna Group report is clear:
editor-in-chief at Barna. “So by
Young people are drawing back
the time they had kids, [millenni-
from, if not running from, church
als] didn’t feel it was important to
as their predecessors know it.
go back [to church]. Gen Z hasn’t
But maybe that’s a good thing.
grown up with that foundational
Here are more numbers: Nine
church value.”
out of 10 people say the Amer-
The data indicates the Church
ican Church is too judgmental,
has a serious perception issue
and 85 percent described it as
with Gen Z, whether it comes
hypocritical.
from their parents, their peers
A third of people said the Amer-
or the institution itself. Taken at
ican Church is characterized by
their worst, the numbers depict
“moral failures” in leadership,
a church culture that’s not only
and a startling 70 percent found
running in opposition to many of
the Church “insensitive to others.”
the core values and beliefs cham-
The question here isn’t, “How
pioned by Jesus—compassion for
can we draw the next generation
the marginalized, service to the
back into church?” The question
poor, grace for everyone—but
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
M I N D T H E [G E N E R AT I O N] G A P There might be obvious generational differences between millennials and Gen Z, but it’s not all in your head. Raw data backs up the cultural changes we’re seeing in everyday life.
MILLENNIALS [B O R N 1 9 8 1 - 1 9 9 6]
also running against
“Gen Z is worried
the values of the up-
about their finances
CONTENTMENT
and-coming
genera-
and making sure they
tion that’s supposed
have a viable career
Percentage who said they were content with their lives.
to sustain it. At best,
option,”
the numbers show a
“Their highest goal for
church culture with
life is happiness, and
a presentation issue.
when we asked them
The values might be
what that looks like,
there, but the message
they pointed to pic-
isn’t being communi-
tures of people hold-
cated well.
ing stacks of money.
Data people 1996 and
shows born
are
that after
Stone
says.
They want to be financially independent.”
ambitious
The temptation is
open-minded.
to chalk this up to
While
millennials
materialism, but they
were motivated by a
want the resources to
“follow your dreams,
make an impact: 70
you can do anything”
percent of Gen Z be-
mentality,
Gen
PURPOSE
Percentage who said their life has purpose.
Z
lieves they should ori-
views things more vo-
ent their lives toward
cationally due to their
making a difference
upbringing amid the
in the world.
Great Recession. They
They demand the
value a future defined
same out of the brands,
by stability and free-
companies and orga-
dom instead of the
nizations they align
passion-driven, ideal-
with. Roughly two out
istic future pursued
of three members of
by millennials.
Gen Z believe for-prof-
SEX
Percentage who claimed to be sexually active as teenagers.
O R I E N TAT I O N
Percentage who identify as straight.
FA M I LY
Percentage who said family is important to their sense of self.
JAN-FEB
042
60% 67% 54% 90% 40% 2019
G E N E R AT I O N Z [B O R N 1 9 9 7 - 2 0 1 0]
47% 53% 41% 73%
it companies should take a stand
solutions to this ideological clash. In
on social issues, and 72 percent say
the immediate sense, churches can
brands should care about broader
adapt the way they communicate
issues like eco-friendliness and hu-
to young people. Of course, Gen Z
manitarianism.
is very tech-savvy, and while many
If that’s what young people want
churches engage with social media
out of their for-profit businesses, it
and technology in a practical, non-
follows that they would ask the same
try-hard way, the approach to Gen Z
of places like churches, which they
has to be less toward the thing they
know to be founded on attitudes of
have and more toward the thing
service, creation care and generosi-
they need: community.
ty. When churches don’t deliver on
A 2018 Cigna survey reported Gen
those fronts, well, that’s when we
Z is the loneliest generation, by far.
read that 66 percent of people find
While 46 percent of adults reported
not just churches, but churchgoers,
feeling alone, that number was 69
to be hypocritical. Young people dis-
percent among Gen Z. Those born
sociate with things (and people) that
after 1996 also reported higher lev-
don’t reflect their values.
els of feeling shy (69 percent) and
“Gen Z isn’t really hurt by the Church,” Stone says. “But they have
feeling like no one knows them well (68 percent).
a strong sense of tolerance. They’re
This is where the Church can
the most diverse generation in
meet Gen Z where they are. Just by
American history racially, sexually
being a physical space where they
and theologically. With that comes
can come together with people their
a higher regard for pluralism, tol-
age (and adults—research from Bar-
erance and equality, and they see
na shows Gen Z places high value on
the Church as [intolerant] in terms
mentorship and adult role models),
of LGBTQ rights, immigration, the
the Church can provide community
environment and women’s and gen-
in a way a smartphone can’t.
der equality.”
But in the long term, it’s clear
There are short- and long-term
those inherent-seeming value dif-
34% 043
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
ferences need to be ad-
ly active, the same figure
age drinking among high
trusted source of infor-
dressed, and the people
among Gen Zers is just
schoolers when compared
mation. You could accuse
to instigate that change,
41 percent, according to
to peak years. Marijuana
them of living in a bubble,
ironically, might be those
Business Insider.
use among teenagers is on
but it’s worth wondering
Furthermore, The Wall
a five-year decline as well,
how
beyond
Street Journal ran a sur-
according to the National
affects their thinking if
those who identify as re-
vey that reported a 60
Institute on Drug Abuse.
they’re smart enough to
ligious, Gen Z carries core
percent decrease in under-
in Gen Z themselves. As
a
whole,
Z
smokes
less,
the
bubble
know where and when to
drinks less and has less sex
values that po-
than just about any gener-
Could these numbers be
sition them well
ation before them. Cynics
all talk and no action in
to take action
might point out these num-
terms of Gen Z actually go-
for the things
bers could be a product of
ing out into the world and
a more lonely and isolated
doing something? Doesn’t
generation—these “rebel-
seem likely. The Atlantic
lious” behaviors tend to be
reports 26 percent of 16- to
social, after all—and while
19-year-olds already vol-
plenty of reporting does
unteer on a regular basis.
Gen
Z
isn’t
here to mooch, party or scroll through
Ins-
tagram.
They
want to make a difference. The numbers to support these statements, as opposed to the data about emptying pews, would ly
actual-
make
your
grandmother proud. 54
While
percent
teenagers 1991 being
of in
reported sexual-
“CHURCHES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REACH A GENERATION THAT’S THINKING ABOUT ISSUES DIFFERENTLY.”
convictions and
they care about.
JAN-FEB
Gen
much
support those feelings of isolation
among
look outside of it.
For a more specific case
young
study, the aftermath of the
people, it’s a fallacy to as-
Stoneman Douglas school
sume those feelings would
shooting indicates Gen Z
inhibit Gen Z from creat-
can not only be a leading
ing change in their world.
voice in activism but can
Young people are savvy
back up their talk.
with social media and the
TargetSmart, a political
internet, but they’re also
data firm, released num-
savvy to its influence on
bers in July that showed
their lives. One hopeful
voters aged 18-29 saw mas-
indicator: 49 percent of
sive registration increases
women in Gen Z, one of
in key swing states. Reg-
the most represented de-
istration rose 8 percent
mographics on Instagram,
in Florida, 11 percent in
say they don’t see social
New York, 17 percent in
media influencers as a
Pennsylvania and 8 per-
044
2019
transparent, compassion-
terms of activism.” Today,
that
means
a
ate
and
ac-
critical juncture for the
tive
in
the
cross-generational Church,
surrounding
one that’s looking to bring
communi-
back millennials—who left
ty.
Best-case
at higher rates than any
scenario, the
previous age group—and
Gen Z Church
foster an environment that
looks
like
appeals to young people
an active re-
with no experience in the
sponse—a
Church tradition.
pushback,
So if the Church wants
really—to
to be transformed, change
the critiques
will come out of its abil-
churches face
ity to redeem itself. If it
cent in Arizona. Gen Z isn’t
interest in activism are be-
backing a party; they’re
coming super important,”
“Churches are going to
term, it will be relying on
backing policy. Injustice,
Stone says. “They’re put-
have to figure out how to
a slim portion of religious
as they see it, galvanizes
ting a face to important is-
reach a generation that’s
Gen Zers to revive things
them to act.
sues, and Gen Z is going to
thinking
once they age.
connect with them in those
differently,”
the
passion areas. There’s true
“Gen Z is growing up with
have lost their founda-
Church, the first step in
value in Gen Z growing
friends who are gay and
tions, but as they stand
involving them with the
up in society instead of
have been out for longer,
now with the way young
Church might be to meet
church. They can step into
they have more ethnically
adults
them in spaces apart from
that space and make it less
diverse friends, and girls
them, that might be the
the Church itself. This isn’t
racist and more inclusive.”
are growing up hearing
first step in changing for
an “if you build it, they will
Speculate for a moment
they can be whoever they
the better.
come” situation. It’s closer
what might happen if the
want to be. Gen Z will be
to “they’re building it al-
religious members of Gen
turned off by a homoge-
ready, so join in.”
Z grow up and stay in the
neous church. We should
“Organizations that are
Church. A projection of all
expect them to maintain
school-based, out in the
this data points to church-
their values by the time
community and taking an
es that are more diverse,
they age up, especially in
So if Gen Z is already acting
apart
from
right now.
045
doesn’t change in the short
about Stone
issues says.
Many
churches
are
may
perceiving
T YLER DASWICK is the senior writer at RELEVANT. Follow him on Twitter @TylerDaswick.
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
Y O U N T H E G I A N JAN-FEB
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2019
BY S A R A H R E N N Y
“O
ur bodies don’t work the same way,” Sameer Gadhia says, laughing at his own joke. He’s
talking about touring with his band, Young the Giant, who’ve developed one of the most enthusiastic followings in indie-rock over the course of nearly a decade of making
G
some of the most addictive music in the game. They did it the oldfashioned way: great songs and a killer live performance, and Gadhia says it’s taking a toll as they are getting older. “We get used to living at home and stuff, or trying to have an adult life, and it does become harder to be on the road,” he admits. “But then, at a certain point, it doesn’t really matter. We play the show at the end of the night, and then it all resets again. And then you do the same thing the next day. Playing the show always makes it worth it.” It’s worth pointing out that Gadhia is only 29. There’s no sign
T
of any sort of world weariness or veteran saltiness in his tone, despite any occasional post-concert soreness or fatigue. His band’s latest release, Mirror Master, is self-assured but far from grim. This isn’t exactly Tom Waits we’re talking about. But Gadhia is an honest guy, and his band is honest, too. It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot in music: honesty. But for all its popularity, it remains a little nebulous. Just how can music be honest? What’s the difference between art that’s honest and art that isn’t? Young the Giant have spent L-R Jacob Tilley, Francois Comtois, Sameer Gadhia, Payam Doostzadeh & Eric Cannata
047
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
their career trying to navigate that
their California hometown, landing
band that is keenly aware of the
question, and while it may have
coveted opening gigs for Minus the
complexities of the current moment
aged them a little prematurely, it’s
Bear and Steel Train.
and is determined to say something
made for some awfully fascinating music along the way.
After that came the first album, the accolades, the late-night spots, landing gigs like a performance
much in culture around us is not. “Even with Home of the Strange,”
Honest Success
on MTV: Unplugged and singles on
Gadhia says, referencing the band’s
Young the Giant formed in Irvine,
the Billboard Hot 100. But to hear
2016 effort which focused on
California. After noodling around
Gadhia tell it, it’s also where the real
Gadhia’s personal identity as the
on guitars in various garages for
struggle begins.
child of immigrants, “that was a
several years and toying with
How do you find what makes
“MORE THAN ANYTHING, WE JUST WANTED TO SHARE OURSELVES THROUGH THE MUSIC.”
record that we did before Trump
you authentic
was even in office—before we really
when your entire
started seeing the follies of what was
career is pushing
going on in America. In the wake
you toward
of all of that, there is this obvious
bigger, flashier
notion of trying to describe the
performances?
experience and that can be difficult
“Having that honesty became
to do in a unique way.” This is the point Gadhia sticks on.
our driving factor,”
You’ve got to be honest before what
Gadhia says. “More
you say can be truly valuable. You
than anything,
have to say something that provides
we just wanted to
a clearer perspective for you having
share ourselves
said it because nobody else could
through the music,
have said it just that way.
to try and get other
“More than anything, it was kind
people to share
of that honesty that led us home,”
with each other
Gadhia says. “The band said if we
about who they
were going to say something, and
are, what they are,
it came from what we were really
and have control
feeling, then it would be a unique
of that image that
message. It would be a holistic
different lineups and one name
they put out into the world. That,
message that could be applied to
change (they started out as “The
and trying to write really good
the self.”
Jakes”), the band caught some
songs.”
traction with songs popping up
On their latest album, Young the
Their Aim Is True
on LA. radio and The Real World.
Giant made sure to deliver on the
For musicians, honesty is often
But things really broke through at
latter: The record feels burdened
reduced to a matter of lyrics. Is what
South by Southwest, where Gadhia
with real purpose.
started turning heads well outside of
JAN-FEB
coherent, despite the fact that so
Mirror Master is the work of a
048
you’re saying true, or is it not true? But Young the Giant’s quest takes the
2019
MIRROR MASTER [ELEKTRA]
We were
philosophy that people are in
like, ‘Let’s
search of something honest
band deeper than just the words
just plug that in and see what
and true,” he says. “[It’s] not
on a page, all the way to the
happens.’ It brought in this whole
necessarily what’s been listened
actual sounds. It’s not enough to
other aesthetic.”
to, but what they want to listen to
just speak the truth. It has to feel true too. “It can be easy to get caught up in what’s popular, what’s
It was a decision to take
in the future.”
something that felt real, that felt honest, and bring it into their art.
Worth the Risk
“It did feel natural,” he says.
“It’s amazing, because I think,
being played on the radio, but I
“We’re going to incorporate these
especially in this day and age a
think for this record it was like,
instruments because this is what
lot of people tend to think that
‘We want to sound like Young
we’re listening to.”
people should cater to the lowest
the Giant,’” he says. “And I think
This might sound like winging
common denominator,” Gadhia
Young the Giant is discovery. It
it and, in many ways, it is. But
is just like gravitating toward
Young the Giant is a band that
things. Writing music in an
considers “winging it” part of
perils of honesty. You can be
inspirational way, like, just
what they do.
misunderstood, misconstrued
trying to pick up random things
It feels more natural to them
says. “We don’t think that.” This is another one of the
and maybe even see what you
around—not consciously, just
to follow their gut instincts than
say manipulated into a message
absentmindedly. Kind of seeing
to overthink their direction. And
you never intended. That’s a real
what happens with it.”
they believe it makes for music
risk, but it’s another part of what
that feels more authentic.
makes Young the Giant work as
As an example, Gadhia recounts the story of recording
“For better or for worse, I think
an exercise in honesty: It’s a risk
“Superposition,” the first single
that that’s been a great thing for
off Mirror Master. You can hear a
us,” he says. “This whole record
charango—a stringed instrument
is about that idea of this image.
fans,” Gadhia says. “We know
popular in South America—on
This feeling that you have to
that they understand nuance.
the track. It’s a savvy production
be something you’re not, or be
They understand making a
decision, adding just a slightly
perceived in a way that is not
message that isn’t just a party
unique lilt to the song’s building,
authentically you.”
atmosphere. It’s been what our
anthemic vibe. But in Gadhia’s
But Young the Giant wants to
they’re willing to take. “We obviously put trust in our
fan base is about: trying to search
recounting, it wasn’t a production
be about something better than
for something, just find some
decision at all.
that. They want you to be you.
meaning from something. And
At the end of the day, that is
I think that message has most
in a matter of like, 15 minutes, or
every person’s responsibility, and
definitely hit home.”
30 minutes,” Gadhia says. “And
that’s every person’s right, and
it was just a little charango that
the band’s popularity is proof to
[guitarist Eric Cannata’s] brother-
Gadhia that their way is working.
“We actually wrote that song
in-law had given him when he was traveling in South America.
“It’s very exciting because it affirms our beliefs in a
049
SAR AH RENN Y is a music writer and critic who lives and works in Seattle.
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
JAN-FEB
050
2019
T H E L AW S OF LEVI New year, new you. Here are pastor Levi Lusko’s keys on how to be your best self in 2019.
“S
elf-help” tends to get
advice from people with questionable
It’s handed to us in a thousand
a bad rap. For many,
motives. But just because the genre is
metaphors all across the pages of
the topic recalls
in a bad place, doesn’t mean it has to
Scripture. Athletic competition and
vaguely New Age-y
stay that way. Lusko is reclaiming the
soldiers in military warfare are the
“speak your destiny” Oprah talks and
idea of self-improvement but looking
two most common analogies that Paul
platitude-heavy books that promise to
at it through a biblical lens—one that
likes to employ to talk about what it
unlock your hidden potential.
isn’t focused on how you can change
means to be a Jesus-follower.
Author and Fresh Life Church
yourself but on how the Bible teaches
So if we’re running a race and we’re
pastor Levi Lusko understands that
us profound truths about how God
fighting a good fight, that means even
skepticism. When he posted a few
changes us. To hear Lusko tell it, the
as we try to better ourselves by God’s
pages from his book I Declare War:
war on the self is a winnable one—as
grace, we’re going to have to fight. But
Four Keys to Winning the Battle with
long as you know who’s really sending
it shows it’s not going to be easy. It’s
Yourself to his nearly 50,000 Twitter
you into battle and what the real
not going to be over quickly.
followers, one reaction stood out. “One
objective is once you’re there.
statement—a thousand verses support
With a new year upon us, many
Someone I have long respected is [theologian] Warren Wiersbe, and I
what the statement was saying—and
people are looking for fresh starts,
remember reading that he said, “The
the first comment was, ‘Where’s the
useful tips and healthy practices to
Christian life is not a playground. It’s
Gospel in all of this?’” he remembers.
work into their 2019 routines. Here are
a battleground.” The moment you
Lusko’s thoughts on new ways to go
underestimate your enemy, he’s going
about that and actually help yourself.
to take you out. He’s a roaring lion, and
“There’s a whole lot of moral teaching in the Bible that shows what it looks like when the Gospel has taken root in your heart.” Lusko realized that while the notion of “self-help” is a positive one,
we can’t play with kid gloves on. We WHY DO YOU USE THE METAPHOR OF
have to be willing to go to blows, and
“WAR” WHEN TALKING ABOUT SELF-
that’s true in every area.
IMPROVEMENT?
I want to be gracious. I don’t want
it’s largely been overrun by treacly
to be huffy. I don’t want to be hurt. I
051
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
Levi Lusko and his family
want to be vulnerable and confident
INCORPORATE? WHERE DID YOU
control of your thought life, I can
in the authority that God’s given
LEARN THEM FROM?
take control of your whole life. And
me, but at the same time be gentle
I think the enemy knows this, and
and be someone people want to be
It’s funny, I wish I could say, “Oh
that’s why he’s got us living lives of
around. That took a fight.
yeah, bro. It was St. Francis of
worry and anxiety and stress and
Assisi”—but actually it was my
comparison.
WHAT ABOUT WHEN THE ENEMY IS
boxing coach. I was out of breath
The more we can take control
YOURSELF—YOUR OWN SELF-DOUBT,
between rounds. I’m doing a two-
of our thoughts, we’re putting our
FEARS, BAGGAGE, ETC.?
minute round with a 30-second rest,
hand on the rutter, because out of
and in that 30-second rest, usually
the thought springs forth action.
They have this saying in the
my lungs are screaming, and he
That’s why Colossians says set your
military: “Two is one and one is
always goes, “Stop, Levi. Breathe
mind on things above. That’s a
none.” What they mean by that is
deeply.” I noticed that the less I felt
choice. That means choose what you
equipment and preparation: If they
like I needed to do it, the more I
think about. And again, Jesus said
have two, they count that as one,
actually did.
love God with all your heart, all your
and if they count one, that is zero
I started to incorporate these
because they assume something is
ideas into my life. When I actually
going to go wrong.
take the time to literally get down
your mind and love God in that
My plan is to seek God, but then
soul but also all your mind. What does it look like to control
on my knees, I think the posture of
way? I think, and this is my theory,
I have to have a backup plan. If my
humility can become a ritual. It also
that it’s positive thinking—I think
goat gets got, my backup plan in that
can put you in that position that is
that’s part of it. It’s funny because
moment is a deep breath.
going to help you have the mental
people I know who sneer at the
state you want.
idea of positive thinking tend to be
Most of us go without a deep breath most days. We sit hunched
If you stand with your hands
the most negative. And yet when I
over our laptops and phones, and
on your hips or up in the air, that
look at Scripture, and I hear about
we’re breathing shallow. If you’re
has been found to cause your body
a God who anointed my head with
not breathing deep enough for your
to secrete confidence-building
oil and set the table before me in
belly to extend a little bit, you’re not
hormones. It’s no wonder that in the
the presence of my enemies, and
getting enough oxygen for critical
Psalms, we’re told to raise our arms,
He goes before me with thoughts of
thinking, and your body will always
shout and clap our hands.
goodness and not of evil, that sounds
prioritize life-saving functions ahead of handling emotions properly. So, in those moments where you
All through the Psalms, the
pretty dang positive! Revelation
worship that God wants is full of
ends with a banquet that lasts 10,000
body posture that is going to cause
years. That’s pretty dang positive too.
might want to fly off the handle
you to be in a state of mind that you
and tweet something you’ll regret
want to be.
If you examine every thought that goes through your head and run it
or hurt someone, if you instead
through that Philippians 4:8 filter—
choose a backup plan … you can find
WHAT ROLE DO YOUR OWN
if it’s not good, if it’s not helpful, if
yourself avoiding those situations.
THOUGHTS PLAY IN THIS?
it’s not kind—you take it captive. I
ARE THERE ANY SPIRITUAL
The Bible said as a man thinks in
PRACTICES YOU’VE STARTED TO
his heart, so he is. So if I can take
think you’re going to find your life a
JAN-FEB
052
bit better.
2019
FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP TOWARD THIS KIND OF BIBLICAL SELF-BETTERMENT, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?
You can’t win a battle you won’t admit you’re in. When you come to that decision of, “I’m actually going to do this,” something changes inside of you, and it shifts how you think about it and how you speak about it. What I encourage people to do is to get before God and show Him—because nothing sanitizes like light. I also encourage you to show YOU ALSO TALK A LOT ABOUT THE
another form of abuse would be just
it to someone who loves you and
POWER OF WORDS. WHY DO YOU
neglecting a powerful area God gave
can be a little bit of accountability
THINK UNDERSTANDING THIS IS SO
us, and that is the words we speak
to you.
IMPORTANT?
can cause life or death.
I think there’s this incredible
The way I speak [of a situation]
power that enables a switch to flip
That’s a topic that I think has been
changes my mentality. I think the
inside of you when you’ve dragged
abused. Any time there’s an abuse
same is true with marriage and kids
that into the light and say, “No, I’m
there’s always another side of it, and
and everything. You can talk about
going to oppose this with all of my
that is neglect.
your crappy car or you can say,
might.”
When it comes to a subject like
“Thank you God that I have a car.”
Why is it that God spoke of Joshua
the positive confession movement
“I hate my job,” or “Thank you, Jesus
and Caleb as having a different
where we would say, “Oh, my Prius
that I have a job.”
spirit in them? I think it’s because
just turned into a Ferrari!” Well,
I think the No. 1 thing that
they wholeheartedly followed the
when I walk out to that car, I don’t
we should put into our words
Lord, and I think so many of us run
think it’s going to be a Ferrari. That
is gratitude, and we will watch
around doing so many things that
kind of power of positive confession,
mountains move both inside our
we forget to do that one thing that’s
that’s one form of abuse, but
hearts and in our lives as well.
needed.
053
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
Too Late to Apologize? Y BY T Y L E R H U C K A B E E
Ugly tweets. Bigoted behavior. Inexcusable conduct. What does forgiveness look like in the modern era?
ou could have mis-
pleted, and Louis C.K.’s story
taken the celebra-
has become a common one.
tory vibe at New
Apologies are frequent, and
York City’s iconic
easy enough to deliver, but
Comedy Cellar for a royal
what about what comes after
homecoming and in a way,
the apology?
it was, but for a deeply dis-
We, all of us, live in public
graced king. On Aug. 26, nine
now—with our distant pasts
months after Louis C.K. pub-
just a click away via social me-
licly apologized for mastur-
dia. This means old mistakes
bating in front of numerous
are being brought to light
unwilling women, the fallen
with
writer/actor/multi-hyphenate
and Louis C.K. is far from the
toast of the American comedy
only person apologizing for
circuit delivered a 15-min-
what he’s done. Aziz Ansari,
ute stand-up set to a raucous
James Franco and James Gunn
standing ovation.
have all had to reckon with a
What plays well in the dingy
variety of allegations, while
halls of a Manhattan comedy
men in positions of political
club doesn’t necessarily work
power like President Donald
the next morning, and Louis
Trump and Supreme Court
C.K. was widely criticized for
Justice Brett Kavanaugh will
a comeback attempt, less than
be spending their respective
a year after he became one of
careers trying to stay ahead of
the most prominent faces of
the allegations against them,
American men’s sexual mis-
like President Bill Clinton and
conduct reckoning.
Supreme Court Justice Clar-
But a reckoning begun does
ence Thomas before them.
not mean a reckoning com-
increasing
frequency,
But in an age of increasing
LOU I S C . K . After years of fending off rumors about sexual misconduct, widely beloved stand-up comic, actor and filmmaker Louis C.K. confirmed that the allegations made against him by three women in The New York Times were true.
055
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
accountability, the pleas
been hurt are not going
argued
Weinstein
thing didn’t sound quite
for forgiveness and re-
to be impressed with
deserved forgiveness was
as bad as that thing. Can’t
demption loom large too,
you. They might not for-
Weinstein himself (in a
these people be forgiven?
which
ques-
give you. In fact, it might
statement to The Times,
tions about what justice,
actually make your life
he blamed his behavior
mused
restitution
more complicated.”
on coming of age in the
actor
Bryan
Cranston whether
prompts and
second
chances ought to look
that
“It would take time,” Breaking
Bad
‘60s and ‘70s, saying “that
when
asked
like as well. An increas-
SORRY FOR WHAT?
was the culture then”)
Kevin
Spacey—accused
ing
prioritiza-
There can be no honest
and virtually no one lis-
of making inappropriate
tion of oppressed voices,
cultural
conversation about for-
tened to him. The allega-
sexual advances against
who’ve
giveness
tions were too ugly, the
his underage costar—de-
gained
ground
until
there’s
in their fight to be treat-
been an honest one about
evidence
damning
served another chance.
ed equally, are bringing
wrongdoing. The #MeToo
and the remorse too obvi-
“It would take a society
along with them a new
movement was brought
ously hollow to warrant
to forgive them, and it
question: What does for-
to
lending his pleas any se-
would take tremendous
giveness look like in the
in 2017 by the multiple
rious traction.
contrition on their part.
national
attention
too
And a knowingness that they have a deep-
“Your apology needs to match the level of what
ly rooted psychological
and
emotional
problem, and it takes
you think you’ve gotten wrong, and you need to
years to mend that.”
really measure that.” -Josh Harris
chances
The bid for second has
been
even louder in the political world, where the
threat
of
up-
heaval is frequently digital era? “You are going to upset
JAN-FEB
women who came forward
with
accusations
former
Holly-
But soon after, men
contained only through
with more positive social
herculean effort. Trump
cache
Weinstein
became the most recent
people,” says Josh Harris,
against
a pastor and author who
wood movie mogul Har-
were toppled by allega-
commander in chief to
knows a thing or two
vey Weinstein, with twin
tions, and you started
skirt
about apologizing (see
takedowns in The New
hearing rumblings about
a bevy of sexual mis-
page 18). “If your goal
Yorker and The New York
things going too far. Some
conduct allegations that
is just to make people
Times. The only person
of the allegations were
broke during the 2016
happy, people who have
in that case who really
from a long time ago. This
election
056
than
consequences
cycle.
for
White
2019
RO S E AN N E BA RR The actress and comedian’s eponymous sitcom was the
evangelical voters, 80 per-
of someone who has apol-
cent of whom voted for
ogized and said something
Trump, rationalized their
terrible, or has done some-
fired and the entire show
support in various ways,
thing terrible, in the public
without any involvement from
but the idea of forgiveness
space,” she says. “We can
was a big one.
forgive them, but what does
comeback story of 2018, until a racist tweet got her was canned, and later revived her whatsoever.
“We are all equally bad,
that forgiveness look like?
we are all sinners, we need
The only people that can
Christ’s forgiveness,” Lib-
truly answer that question
erty University President
with any sort of authority
Jerry Falwell Jr. told CNN
are the victims: the people
when pressed on his sup-
that accused them of what
port
despite
happened. But, as a society,
his multiple indiscretions.
we have ask the questions
“That’s
evangelicals
too. Like, what does it look
are so quick to forgive Don-
like to forgive a person of
ald Trump when he asks for
influence and power? And
forgiveness for things that
what do we do with the fact
happened 10, 15 years ago.”
that they have influence
and director of sexually
This, perhaps inadver-
and power, that they want
behavior in an explosive piece
tently, raises a key ques-
to come back into the pub-
tion: Who gets a do-over in
lic eye?”
modern society? And who
This is a common senti-
gets what they deserve?
ment among people who’ve
for
Trump
why
JAM E S FRA N C O Four of James Franco’s former students and one young woman who called him her mentor accused the actor inappropriate or exploitive in the Los Angeles Times.
been hurt by those in powFORGIVE ME?
er. An apology is made,
Nish Weiseth is an author
but it’s often just taken
and activist. She says that
for granted that a contrite
society needs to understand
spirit is enough to warrant
that there’s a difference be-
being brought back to the
tween individual forgive-
same position of authority.
ness, which happens be-
It’s an easy assumption but
tween two wronged parties,
not, perhaps, a safe one.
and communal forgiveness,
This was illustrated in
in which public restitution
March 2018 by Highpoint
caustic humor felt a line
is granted corporately.
Church in Memphis, Ten-
Ivanka Trump an unprintable
“ Let’s take an example
nessee, where pastor Andy
S AM ANT H A B EE Full Frontal with Samantha Bee has a reputation for
057
snarky clapbacks, but even devotees of Bee’s brand of was crossed when she branded obscenity. Bee apologized.
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
AZIZ ANS AR I Aziz Ansari had developed a reputation as a keen and witty navigator of modern relationships until a testimony on babe.net accused of him of aggressively pressuring a woman into sex while on a date.
Church at large.” It’s like
stories these
that
demonstrate the difference
“Can we forgive both
be-
the person, while not for-
tween lip-service
giving the structure that
apologies
has caused the damage?”
of
incident”
eventually swayed by her
something more substan-
Weiseth
with a high school student
protests, and he resigned
tive, in which not only is
that’s
named
from his position.
the personal failing re-
we’re feeling right now.
Jules
Woodson
from two decades prior,
asks.
the
“I
tension
think that
pented of, but a broader
We should be able to for-
for
carelessly
analysis is conducted of
give the person and allow
tion of leadership.
turned the topic to my
what exactly went wrong
that person to be able to
accusa-
own story of moral change,
at a systemic level.
rehabilitate and figure out
tions, which he had pri-
as if getting my own life
“We have to evaluate
how to make things right,
vately
Savage
in order should help to
what restitution or what
while still not giving space
went on stage at Highpoint
make up for what she went
rehabilitation
for those oppressive struc-
and acknowledged what
through and continues to
looks like,” Weiseth says.
happened. Not unlike Lou-
go through,” Savage wrote
“How can we forgive a guy
In other words, the per-
is C.K. at the Comedy Cel-
in a statement. “Apologies
for the harm that he has
son who committed the
lar, he received a standing
are important, but more is
done, while simultaneous-
actual abuse is not neces-
ovation. “Forgiveness,” as
required. I know that step-
ly saying just because we
sarily the only one at fault.
it were, from the church.
ping down once, or even a
forgive him doesn’t mean
But not from Woodson.
second time, still doesn’t
he should continue to be
SORRY TO WHO?
“We as a church, of all
make things right for Jules.
in the place of power and
All of this is made more
places, should be getting
But addressing my own
influence?”
complicated by the fact
this right,” Woodson told
acts of abuse this way ac-
The Times in an emotional
knowledges
video and
the
disclosed,
interview. the
rest
Savage of
the
“When Jules cried out
and
when he’d been in a posiFollowing
JAN-FEB
that keep abusers safe.
leadership
“sexual
were
power structures in play
Savage faced accusations a
team
tance and forgiving the
justice,
I
actually
tures to continue.”
The key, according to
that abusers often have
impor-
Weiseth, is differentiating
a vast network of power-
tance of confronting abuse
between forgiving abusers
ful supporters to fall back
in our culture and in the
who show genuine repen-
on, while their victims are
the
058
2019
“Can we forgive a guy for the harm he’s done while simultaneously saying just because we forgive him doesn’t mean he should continue to be in a place of influence?” - Nish Weiseth required And
consequences.
while
God’s
grace
might be offered freely, there is still real hurt that more vulnerable and iso-
an apology.
would be made whole.”
needs to be addressed in
lated. Needling questions
Louis C.K. released a
“But I don’t know if
about why victims don’t
longer, less cautious state-
we’re at a place, societal-
meaningful
God’s promise of forgive-
ways.
Using
speak up sooner or why
ment after the allegations
ly, that we can allow for
ness as an excuse to ignore
they can’t remember spe-
against him. “These sto-
that,” she continues. “I’m
those consequences is an
cific details with more clar-
ries are true,” he wrote.
just not sure.”
abuse of grace. Learning to
ity fail to grasp the realities
“The hardest regret to live
of trauma and embolden
with is what you’ve done
FORGIVELESS
has been key for Harris’
abusers to maintain their
to hurt someone else. And
“I do think that one of the
own evolution.
claims of innocence, for
I can hardly wrap my head
most beautiful parts of the
“I think especially in
which the public’s bar is
around the scope of hurt I
Christian faith is that it ex-
the Church, we’ve been
far easier to clear.
brought on them.”
let go of that requirement
plains the cause of the evil
so focused on being right,
accused
And then less than a
that we see in the world,
looking
abusers frequently can get
year later came Louis C.K.’s
and it tells us that God is a
momentum.
away with offering neither
appearance at the Come-
God of justice, but then it
kinds of things, that the
a flat denial nor a sincere
dy Cellar. Is nine months
also gives us this amazing
weakness that comes with
attempt at repentance. As
enough time to warrant a
pathway
admitting
an example, Spacey re-
comeback?
and
This
is
why
of
redemption
reconciliation
strong, all
you’re
keeping those
wrong
with
seems counterproductive,”
leased a statement follow-
“Is there space for rec-
God,” Harris says. “I think
he says. “But I think it’s ac-
ing the allegations made
onciliation and restoration
where
have
tually the opposite. I think
against him in which he
within institutional power
gotten off track in differ-
that weakness and a sense
wrote: “If I did behave as
structures?” Weiseth says.
ent times is mixing those
of vulnerability and even
[the accuser] describes, I
“I don’t know. I want to
things together. Thinking
that sense of dying is a pic-
owe him the sincerest apol-
say yes, because I feel like,
that
forgiveness
ture of what the Christian
ogy for what would have
especially as a Christian,
should somehow sidestep
message has always been
been deeply inappropriate
we would hope that all
the consequences in the
about.”
drunken behavior.”
things would be restored
legal system, for example.”
This leaves open the
Christians
God’s
into wholeness, and that
This is the crux of the
Spacey’s
includes power structures
complication with forgive-
accuser is either lying or
and institutional influence
ness. At all times in history,
confused about what hap-
and all of that. So I would
there has been an under-
pened. It barely counts as
hope
standing that wrongdoing
possibility
that
that
those
things
059
T YLER HUCK A BEE is the senior editor at RELEVANT. You can find him on Twitter @tylerhuckabee.
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
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S
A
V
I
S
U
N
D
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BY T Y L E R H U C K A B E E
The history of Christianity has a very dark side. Can we make it right?
Y
IN
1860, a 57-year-old woman named
that convinced Brevard to take the
Keziah Goodwyn Hopkins Brevard
issue of her disobedient slaves to
took to her journal to joyfully make
God in prayer. “When we teach our
record of an answer to a prayer.
servants to serve God, they serve us,
“The Lord has been pleased to
of course,” Emilia had said, accord-
bless my supplication,” she wrote.
ing to Brevard’s recollections. “For
“For I always knew the work was
obedience to their earthly master
too great for my feeble powers to
is one branch of their duty to their
accomplish, and I have left it to Him
heavenly King.”
who does all difficult things for His creatures.”
Emilia’s words impacted Brevard deeply. “I never omit to pray that
The source of Brevard’s divine gratitude was the newfound obe-
God may give me good servants,” she later wrote.
dience of the enslaved people, of
This story, in which pious lan-
whom she owned about 200. She
guage and spiritual discipline are
was frequently irritated by their be-
twisted into a thing of almost un-
havior and kept record of her efforts
speakable wickedness, is far from
to be nicer to them. “Negroes are as
alone in even recent church history.
deceitful and lying as any people can
Prayer, like any other spiritual dis-
well be,” she wrote in another racist
cipline, is a gift. And like any gift, it
entry. “Lord give me better feelings
can be distorted. These distortions
towards them.”
can be immense, and leave an ugly
According to her journal entries, it was the influence of a friend and fellow slave owner named Emilia
061
legacy that no amount of hasty rug sweeping can cover up. “When something is damaged in
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
the way that all things are because
into the history of the belief to which
would use the blood of Christian
of the Fall, sometimes the thing is
she’d just converted threw her into
babies in the preparation of Pass-
damaged in a way that appears to be
a tailspin. “I knew in some gener-
over meals. Host desecration was
arbitrary, and sometimes things are
al way that there was anti-Judaism
perhaps even more bizarre, involv-
damaged in a way that is about the
in the Church and that the Church
ing high-minded medieval debates
thing itself,” says bestselling author
had done violent things to Jews,” she
about the theology of Communion
Lauren Winner.
says. “I knew in a general way that
that could descend into church-sanc-
there had been a lot of violence in
tioned ethnic cleansing.
Winner is an associate professor of
“There began to be a pattern in the Middle Ages of Christians falsely charging a
“I think repentance and lament for Christians go hand-in-hand.”
Jew in their community or in their town with stealing a Eucharistic wafer and trying to destroy it,” Winner explains. The story only gets more horrific from there: “The Eucharistic wafer magically or sacramentally resisted being destroyed, and then the false story would get told that Jews were stealing and trying to
Christian spirituality at Duke Divini-
the medieval era. But I knew nothing
destroy a consecrated Eucharistic
ty School, and she’s taken an interest
about the specifics.”
wafer,” she explains. “And that be-
in these sorts of damaged goods.
JAN-FEB
It’s true that a lot of the ugliest
came the discursive rationale for
In her most recent book, The Dan-
chapters in Christian history involve
Christians in that community to com-
gers of Christian Practice, Winner
specific and systemic instances of
mit horrible acts of violence. Some-
examines the tainted histories of
of racism and bigotry, but it’s often
times just killing the one Jew in ques-
baptism, the Eucharist and prayer
underestimated just how deep the
tion but sometimes killing the entire
(from which the above journal en-
toxic legacy of prejudice extends into
Jewish community, often burning
tries were excerpted) and grapples
Christianity.
down Jewish buildings, homes or the
with a question few are asking: What
“I knew about blood libel church-
is the appropriate way to repent of
es,” Winner says. “But I didn’t know
these things?
about host desecration.”
synagogue, and building chapels in their place.” Acts like this were tragically com-
To define the terms, both blood li-
mon for more than 500 years, with
A LEGACY OF BLOOD
bel and host desecration involve sin-
the most recent documented accusa-
For Winner, the question has a per-
ister rumors European Christians in
tion taking place in 1836, in Romania.
sonal dimension. She was raised Jew-
the Middle Ages would spread about
When Winner began to explore
ish and became a Christian in the late
Jews to stoke racist animosity. Blood
the real history of Communion, she
’90s. To hear her tell it, her research
libel was the accusation that Jews
was rattled (“I think ‘devastated’
062
2019
is not too strong of a word”)
er Christians who find the sac-
In other words, lament has to
and anxious to know more. She
raments refreshing, Winner is
come with an attempt to be better.
became convinced that, “We have
concerned not enough is being
“If we can know which sins are
to find a way of talking about
done to repent of their respective
characteristic for our commu-
Eucharistic practice in a way that
histories.
nities, we can at least be on the
didn’t pretend that this history
be
lookout for them,” Winner says.
scrubbed out of any of our Chris-
“And we can at least then some-
tian communities until God is fin-
times avoid falling into them or
LAMENT
ished redeeming all of creation,”
embracing them. And if we’re on
“I’m really glad that Protestants
she says.
the lookout for them, we can per-
hadn’t happened.”
“I
don’t
think
sin
can
have recovered this category of
But, she says, the mistake would
haps more quickly notice when
Christian practice, but I felt like I
be to give in to cynicism and aban-
we have nonetheless fallen into
needed to sort of critique my own
don the work of redemption alto-
or embraced them and we can ask
gether. And she says the first step
God to allow us to enter into God’s
is simply recognizing that some-
work of repair.”
thing needs to be repented of.
Lauren Winner
Winner maintains that ancient
“I think lament is a very im-
Christian practices are good gifts,
portant part of any response to
but that sin has damaged them.
noting patterns of patriarchy, sex-
That doesn’t mean they should be
ism or noticing any other charac-
abandoned, but that we should be
teristic of sin,” she says. “I think
aware of our ability to damage
repentance and lament for Chris-
things—and own up to those ugly
tians go hand-in-hand. We hope to
truths, how they’ve reared their
repent of those things for which
heads in the past and how we’re
we have responsibility and agen-
determined to make things right.
cy, but lament is a needed part of
These are gifts worth fighting for.
our whole choreography, because
“There’s no perfect church on
lament is what we do when we
Earth,” she says. “And there’s no
come face-to-face with the recog-
escaping any of our characteristic
nition that some of the sinful be-
sins. However, I do think that we
havior is going to go on.”
can become attentive to the par-
Lament is a good start—a good
ticular deformations that we are
deal better than doing nothing at
inclined toward. That’s what I’m
all—but it’s just a start.
really interested in.”
“Lament without repentance is sort of rosy use of the category,”
a mistake,” Winner says. “But re-
Winner says.
pentance or an attempt to change
As some high church practices
things without lamenting the in-
like the Eucharist and baptism
evitable brokenness of a fallen
get more popular among young-
creation, I think is also a mistake.”
063
T YLER HUCK A BEE is RELEVANT’s senior editor. He’s on Twitter @tylerhuckabee.
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
DEREKMI The rapper thrives on the fringe, but that gives him more power to speak truth to the Church. BY T Y L E R D A S W I C K
I
JAN-FEB
have always been in the
provocative–music to date, but, at the same time,
wilderness,” Derek Minor says,
he sees himself and many other Christian hip-hop
reflecting on his career. “I’m
artists at a crossroads.
going to stay there.” As Minor sees it, he is in a
IDEAS AND DREAMS
battle on the fringe of hip-hop.
Ten years ago, when his career was first starting
Minor recently released a
out, Minor was selected to be a part of Reach
trilogy of EPs he calls Up and Away. Though each
Records’ original Unashamed Tour, where he and
have distinct themes, the references found on Your
his contemporaries at the faith/rap intersection were
Soul Must Fly, High Above and The Trap all have
playing to sold-out 7,000-seat venues without any
one thing in common: a blunt look at issues many
radio play to support their music.
Christians face, but are too afraid to talk about.
“That tour was just people with ideas and dreams,”
“My audience has always been the fringe church
he says. “It launched all of our careers: Andy
people,” he says. “I’ve talked about racism, drugs,
[Mineo], Lecrae, KB, it took Propaganda to another
alcoholism and all those different things. That’s not
level. That season gives me hope something like that
really the mainstream.”
could happen again. We [Christians in hip-hop] don’t
The reason he calls it “the wilderness” is because
fit in anywhere. We have everything in common
as he sees it, he is caught between two worlds:
with mainstream hip-hop, except the content doesn’t
the polished world of commercial, Christian
connect. We have to find out where we are within
industry music that avoids difficult topics and more
this space.”
mainstream hip-hop’s conflicted relationship with
It’s not a new conflict for Christian artists. So-
music about faith.
called “crossover” bands (from Jars of Clay to more
Ten years into his career, which has seen him
recent acts like NEEDTOBREATHE) have been trying
release six albums to critical acclaim and even
to navigate that in-between for years, but it’s different
serve as a producer on Lecrae’s Grammy-winning
for hip-hop. Hip-hop is young and at the forefront
Gravity, Minor is creating his best–and most
of social change, and most Christian music, Minor
064
2018
NOR emphasizes, is not young and not all
fringes of society like African
that concerned with social issues.
Americans and Hispanics,” he says.
“People won’t like me for saying
“They’re calling out the hypocrisy
this but Christian music has always
of the Church, and that makes a
been a retirement home,” Minor
rift between the white evangelical
says. “When you look at any other
male and everyone else. People feel
market, it’s about finding the
disenfranchised and there’s been
consumer when they’re 16 or 17,
a falling away of minorities from
but Christian music markets to a 40-
churches. We need to figure out how
50-year-old soccer mom.”
Christianity rebounds from that and
Minor doesn’t agree with industry
affirm we’re about Jesus.”
executives who try to replicate
Minor wants to create music for
the mainstream. To his thinking, if
a new kind of music fan–one that
someone likes Migos, they’re going
is comfortable in the wilderness of
to listen to Migos, not Christian rap.
their own. Those are the people that
“Do you put Christian rappers
Minor believes are really the future.
on mainstream playlists?” he asks.
“The Church has sent so many
“Every meeting we have with
mixed messages,” he says.
mainstream offices says the music
“Christianity has to find out how
is amazing. They don’t know how to
it intersects with today’s culture,
put us after Future.”
and until that happens, we’re in for some dire times. You have to create
WILDERNESS
your own tribe and be OK with your
These days, Minor is comfortable in
tribe. That’s the answer. How you do
the “wilderness,” because he now
that is the question.”
feels free to talk about ideas that make some Christian audiences uncomfortable. And, for Minor, that’s the whole point. “America is becoming more liberal, including people on the
065
T YLER DASWICK is the senior writer at RELEVANT. Follow him on Twitter @TylerDaswick.
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
How far-out ideas have infiltrated the Church— especially for millennials.
BY J E S S I C A S T E V E N S
E
arlier this year, research website
YouGov
released
the findings of a survey compiled by data journal-
ist Hoang Nguyen. Researchers asked participants, “Do you believe that the world is round?” Most respondents (84 percent) said they’ve always believed the basic scientific fact, but surprisingly, five percent said, “I always thought the world is round, but more recently I am skeptical/have doubts.” That may seem like a high number, but skepticism about the Earth’s shape jumps dramatically among millennials: seven percent of 25- to 34-year-olds have their doubts, and 10 percent of 25to 34-year-olds say they are not sure if it’s flat or round. The research also had another interesting outlier: The more religious someone is, the more likely they are to believe the Earth is flat.
According to the research, 52 percent of flat-
far outside the main-
Earthers say they are “very religious” and 23
stream? And what hap-
percent are somewhat religious—a far greater
pens when conspiracy
number than non-religious flat-Earthers.
theories move from the
The flat-Earth movement has grown so
realm of the ridiculous
much in Christian circles that Answers in Gen-
to something much dark-
esis—a multimillion-dollar nonprofit that es-
er and more sinister?
pouses “young Earth creationism”—has a large page on their website dedicated to combating
I WANT TO BELIEVE
flat-Earthers.
“We have many biases in our mind to try and
The author of the piece, Dr. Danny Faulkner
make us understand the complex world that is
(who holds multiple degrees in astronomy and
our world, and one of those biases is confirma-
physics), offers this anecdote about a surprise
tion bias, which is where you just find informa-
discussion with colleagues about meeting a
tion that supports your viewpoint,” explains Dr.
seemingly well-educated young Christian who
Daniel Jolley, a scholar who studies the psychol-
believed the Earth is flat: “Within days of my
ogy of conspiracy theories.
conversation, I had two additional, yet inde-
Experts believe our tendency to fall into the
pendent, conversations with people having
trap of confirmation bias can lead some people
similar concerns about two other Christian
to slip into a rabbit hole of conspiracies. The
young people … With three conversations over
problem is especially prominent in the internet
less than a week, I wondered, ‘Is something go-
era, where people can find information that
ing on out there?’”
confirms whatever value they hold—and ignore
To answer his rhetorical question: Yes, some-
any information that does not.
thing is going on.
JAN-FEB
For example, if someone believes the main-
Conspiracy theories are now a major part
stream media only produces “fake news,” they
of culture, and many share a common prem-
can simply ignore it and seek information from
ise: A powerful group of elite individuals are
alternative sources.
withholding or distorting the truth. Many flat-
“With one quick search, you’ll be able to find
Earthers believe NASA was created to deceive
people who are similar to you, and there you
humanity about the true nature of reality, so
are, you’re stuck in that chamber,” he explains.
only the elites can know how the world re-
“With conspiracy theories being so powerful, so
ally works. Everyone else believes a lie. Flat-
influential, they can change our beliefs without
Earthers are out to expose the truth.
us realizing. We can be in this chamber and
Sure, believing the Earth is flat seems pretty
realize that this conspiracy theory we read on
ridiculous, but why are Christians so suscepti-
this blog or on Twitter has taken over our belief,
ble to believing it and other “theories” that go
and then we stay supporting that. Which shows
068
2019
the peril of conspiracy
cropped back up in modern conspiracy the-
theories really, and how
ory circles. Alex Jones, arguably pop culture’s
they’re potentially quite
most notorious conspiracy theorist, draws an
dangerous.”
audience of hundreds of millions to his site
The danger he’s talking
InfoWars, and has even met and interviewed
about is very real. Many
powerful political figures—including President
modern conspiracy theo-
Donald Trump. (In 2015, Trump told him, “Your
ries—from the flat-Earth
reputation is amazing” in an on-air interview.)
movement to people who think terrorist attacks
Jones professes to be a Christian and fre-
and mass shootings are actually “false flag”
quently talks about attacks on what he sees as
operations coordinated by the government
“Christian” values. However, Jones holds many
to sway political opinions—operate just a few
extreme and dangerous ideas.
steps away from a singular, larger idea: that a
For example, he believes billionaire George
secretive global elite, who some believe are the
Soros is the head of a “Jewish mafia” that ac-
“Illuminati,” are pulling the strings while also
tually worked alongside Hitler. Recently, Jones
pulling a veil over everyone else’s eyes.
was banned from major social media platforms
“If your central belief is that people are con-
after suggesting that the victims of mass shoot-
spiring and you don’t trust the information
ings were actors.
they’re giving to you, you then can endorse
Since then, many parents of children killed
multiple conspiracy theories,” Jolley explains.
in shootings have been harassed by conspiracy
Many of these conspiracies date back to ideas
theorists and Alex Jones fans.
found in a century-old book known as The Pro-
Following the “Unite the Right” white su-
tocols of the Elders of Zion. The book, which also
premacist rally in Charlottesville, Jones took to
contains strange-looking symbols, was said to
the radio to speculate that many of the people
be the meeting notes from a secret gathering
there were “leftist Jews” who incited violence to
of Jewish leaders and Freemasons, “The Elders
make the white supremacists look bad. He said,
of Zion,” who outlined their plan to conspire
“I mean, quite frankly, I’ve been to these events,
to slowly take over the world’s media, govern-
a lot of the KKK guys with their hats off look
ments and banks in an effort to destroy Chris-
like they’re from the cast of Seinfeld. Literally,
tianity. The book, however, is a hoax, and was
they’re just Jewish actors.”
written with the sole intention of turning peo-
But even if an internet user doesn’t know the
ple against Jews. It was used by Nazis and Ger-
more insidious origins of the conspiracy theory
man schoolteachers who taught it to students
they’ve begun to research, the results of buying
during the Holocaust.
into it can be devastating.
Despite being debunked as a fraud decades THE WORST CASE
ago, some of the ideas in The Protocols have
069
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
CONSPIRACY THEORY GREATEST HITS Not all conspiracy theories are dreamed up
On Dec. 4, 2016, a then-
Welch has since been
28-year-old man named
sentenced to four years
Edgar Welch drove sever-
in prison for endangering
al hours from his home in
the lives of the people in
North Carolina to a pizza
the restaurant that day. He
restaurant
Washing-
later apologized, writing
ton, D.C. and stormed in,
that he “came to D.C. with
has gained new traction online, where
armed with a loaded AR-
the intent of helping peo-
it’s rumored that Stanley Kubrick filmed
15 and several other fire-
ple I believed were in dire
the moon landing on a Hollywood set.
arms. Welch believed the
need of assistance, and to
restaurant was actually a
bring an end to a corrup-
front for a child sex-traf-
tion that I truly felt was
ficking ring run by pow-
harming innocent lives.”
equally. Here are some of the most popular:
4 FA K E M O O N L A N D I N G This one pre-dates the internet age but
3 QANON Believers think an anonymous 4chan
in
erful political figures. He
They were beliefs that
had come to save the chil-
formed
dren, and blow a conspira-
about conspiracy theories
while
learning
cy theory wide open.
on the internet.
user named “Q” is actually a government
Along with consuming
Welch’s case is extreme.
insider leaking information about what’s
InfoWars videos, Welch
Most people who encoun-
really going on behind the scenes.
frequently posted about
ter—or
politics, the Bible and his
lieve—conspiracy theories
Christian faith on social
don’t take up arms and
media. It was there
he
storm family restaurants.
first learned about “Piz-
But such actions are be-
D E E P S TAT E
zagate,” a conspiracy later
coming more common.
A broad theory with dozens of sub-
propagated by Jones, that,
This fall, Soros, who
theories spiraling out, all revolving
coupled with his faith and
supports the Democratic
passion to save children,
Party and is the subject
inspired
of many anti-Semitic con-
2
around the idea of a secret cabal of politicians who really run the country.
1 F L AT E A R T H The mother of all conspiracies says scientists and leaders have been
Welch
to
the
storm the restaurant.
even
fully
be-
spiracies, was among the
As he soon found out,
high-profile figures who
there were indeed chil-
had pipe bombs mailed to
dren in Comet Ping Pong
their homes.
pizzeria—eating
dinner
But it’s the more subtle
with their families and
behaviors of conspiracy
other
theorists
customers.
There
was no trafficking ring.
people
that like
concern
Jolley.
He
misleading the public pretty much since the time of Magellan.
JAN-FEB
070
2019
points to people who reject science (beyond just
can actually make you feel more in control and
flat-Earthers) and whose behaviors risk other
less anxious, less uncertain. You know what has
people’s well-being.
happened.”
“We typically find out that if someone believes
Jolley is right; it’s only natural to look for an-
... that the climate scientists affect their data for funding, they’re less likely to reduce their carbon footprint,” he says. Notably, a 2015 Pew Research Center poll on the topic found that the group with the highest percentage of people to not believe that the Earth was getting warmer because of human activity was white evangelical Christians. Only 28 percent believed it. Along with climate change deniers, Jolley also points to people who reject scientific data about vaccinations and refuse to vaccinate their children, leaving them in danger of contracting deadly If the earth is round, how come people on the South Pole
diseases.
don’t fall off, hm? Makes you think.
But Jolley says to truly understand why people believe these ideas in the first place, you have to understand
swers in a confusing world. But Christians should
human psychology. What his team has found is
forgo the temptation to look toward a conspiracy
that at the core of these behaviors and tendencies
theory to make them feel more secure or in con-
is something very simple: a need to feel like you’re
trol. After all, the Bible says, “Trust in the Lord ...
in control.
and lean not on your own understanding.”
“If you imagine, a big event happens—a plane
Conspiracies offer easy answers, and that can
goes missing or someone dies—people want to
be part of the problem.
explain why that’s happened, because it makes them feel uneasy and anxious, which are not good feelings,” he explains. “So we’re looking for answers, and a conspiracy theory finds a really good answer for what happened. That theory
JESSICA STEVENS is a freelance journalist who lives in Manhattan with her husband and newborn daughter.
071
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BY J E S S E C A R E Y
How the indie rockers embraced their roots to shape their future
O
N
A Arizona may be the most ironically named band in music. Despite the stateinspired moniker—chosen because the stylized version, A R I Z O N A, looked cool on T-shirts—the band’s three members, singer Zachary Charles and instrumentalists Nate Esquite and David Labuguen, proudly hail from New Jersey. And, in a way, their home state is the fourth member of the band. “I think there’s something in the water,” Esquite says, only half-joking. Esquite looks back at their early years performing in local basements as formative experiences that shaped the ethos of the band. “That was the thing; you didn’t go to parties, you didn’t go to shows in the city,” he says. “Your friend would be like, ‘Yo, my parents are out of town, whose band wants to play?’ … You all just get together and throw a huge party and play some music. It became very community focused, and I feel like that’s always been the Jersey scene. “Even going back to Bruce Springsteen. His music was very
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RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
community focused.” The name-drop isn’t incidental.
an all-American blonde, like white chick, curly
The legend of the Boss loomed
hair … for us, it was
over the band’s debut album
important to do today’s
Gallery (which earned a spot on
re-imagination of that, and
the Billboard Top 200), and this
feature someone who is
year’s Cold Nights // Summer Days.
a minority,” Esquite says.
The songs not only feature the
“For us, as a culturally
kind of massive launch-off points
diverse band, that’s really,
that Springsteen is known for but
really important to us.”
also the blue-collar, narrative-
After officially becoming
centric songwriting that’s made
a band back in 2015, they
him a rock icon. But these aren’t
started to tour relentlessly.
just any stories—they’re stories of
That’s when they had a
community and the power it has
sort of epiphany about
over people’s lives.
the kinds of songs they wanted to write. Instead of
THE GRIND
first-person confessional
The song “What She Wants,”
ballads, they wanted to
one of Arizona’s big summer
make music for—and
singles, tells the story of a girl
about—other people from
who “sings her favorite songs,
all backgrounds.
does her makeup in the bathroom
year or two on the road,
she don’t even know what love is
meeting people face
like / She been dancing in the dark
to face, not just seeing
throughout her life.”
numbers on Spotify or
With big ’80s-inspired synth,
streaming and things
it’s a fun song starring a person
like that,” Charles says,
you might meet in the basement
thinking of tours with the
of a house show in New Jersey.
indie-rock outfit Coin and
And in the video, they made a
playing large stages on the
very intentional choice. Though
summer festival circuit.
inspired by ’80s movies like
JAN-FEB
“We spent the last
/ She dances in the mirror … But
“And when you meet
Flashdance and Footloose,
these people face to face
featuring a lone dancer in an
that follow your work, you
abandoned warehouse working
realize how personal they
out her pain, the video stars a
make your music, and how
woman of color named Jessica
much they make it their
Castro.
own. And I think for us
L-R
“When you think of the lead
that was such a realization
Labuguen, Zachary
in those ’80s films, and think of
of like, there’s another side
074
Nate Esquite, David Charles
2019
“We produce the songs out, but we always make sure they get stripped back to the bare bones because if the song’s not saying something at its core, then it’s not doing its job.” to it. Because typically
shadow cast by the
want to make music that brings
often-pretentious,
all people together—no matter
and sometimes
what kind of music you like.
impenetrable world
“Accessibility is at the core
of New York City
of what we believe a good song
and its constantly
does,” Labuguen explains. “We
shifting scene that
produce the songs out, but
can define and
we always make sure they get
redefine what’s
stripped back to the bare bones
“cool.”
because if the song’s not saying
This isn’t music for critics and fickle tastemakers.
something at its core, then it’s not doing its job.” Since forming, Arizona has
This is music for
signed to a major label (Atlantic),
the people—for
seen their faces on the digital
community.
marquee outside of Madison
“We are a bunch of kids
Square Garden and played shows
when you think about
from New Jersey who grew up
all over the world. But if there’s
creation, you think
more or less on the downside of
one thing they don’t want to
about creating from
advantage,” Charles says. They
forget it’s where they came from
your experiences … For
grew up leaning on other people
and what that still means to them.
us, it was really cool to
instead of trying to climb a ladder
start writing stories.”
over them.
To hear Charles
“It’s never been competitive in
“Now that we’re lucky enough to be in a spotlight, where people are looking at us, I think when
describe it, using
the sense that people are trying to
they look at us, or when they
narrative-leaning
knock each down to get ahead of
listen to our music, or see our
writing wasn’t a
each other,” Esquite says. “We’re
videos, or see our shows or
creative decision but
all from the same place, and
whatever, we just want to say,
one of obligation. Not
we’re all trying to prove we’re
‘We are exactly the same as you
just to fans, but to the
better than New York” (again,
guys,’” Charles says. “Whoever
communities that made
only half-joking).
you are. Whoever you’re
them want to make music in the first place.
Now, after breaking onto
becoming, whatever you’re
the indie-pop radar, Arizona
coming from, it’s all good, man.
has made a decision: What will
Our songs are for that person.
A NEW JERSEY STATE
ultimately determine where they
That person just happens to be—
OF MIND
go is where they came from.
if we’re honest with ourselves—
There’s a populist spirit
almost everybody.”
that inhabits the art
FOR THAT PERSON
of a place like New
At the center of Arizona’s creative
Jersey, where music
process is an ideal that runs
is created in the long
counter to that current: They
075
JESSE CAREY is the brand director at RELEVANT. You can find him on Twitter @jessecarey.
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R E L E VA N T SELECTS
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Khalid Who picked this kid to reinvent R&B? KHALID WAS RAISED a little bit of
everywhere, which might be why his music strikes such a universal chord. It’s somewhere between Frank Ocean and alt-J, with a dose of early ’90s R&B. And it’s all tied together by Khalid’s unmistakable voice, which can slur from an almost Cartman-like growl to a soaring, angelic tenor as easily as you can change your mind. If all this sounds a little hard to imagine, that’s because Khalid exists in a just slightly different realm of imagination than most artists. His songs aren’t quite R&B, but even “indie,” that all-encompassing umbrella, doesn’t feel quite right. Khalid’s making something too pretty, accessible, creative and idiosyncratic to be thrown into any simplistic genre bucket. But his melodies are so finely tuned and imminently hummable that with one listen, you’ll wonder how a sound like this hasn’t been created before. Coming from Khalid, it sounds as natural as breathing.
SUNCITY [RCA RECORDS]
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ER NAME IS LORELY RODRIGUEZ, but this
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Pop music follows a standard format, which is why Empress Of’s tinkering is such a treat. She knows just how to zig when you think she’s going to zag.
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INSIDER OUTSIDER
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and Gillian Flynn’s
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script that is among
the Church, but pastor
His observations are
entertainment.
2018’s absolute best.
Bryan Loritts makes the
humbling and vital.
Sarah Reeves A LOT OF PRAISE and worship music follows the scent of the Billboard Hot 100, mimicking whatever trend is working for the tween hitmaker set. But Sarah Reeves sounds more like she’s on the bleeding edge, looking not just at where pop music is, but also where it might go in the future. The truths she’s singing about in her
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Sarah Reeves was mentored in the industry by Tiffany Arbuckle Lee of Plumb fame, and it shows in Reeves’ vocal
worship music are ancient, but the music is
confidence and welcome
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that be sonically or lyrically.
and dancy electronica. How
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palette of the music itself, which
expansive enough for all of us.
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most certainly fall in love with his work.
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Studios to put a woman
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080
direction, let’s hope this
2018
Crowder The worship music icon’s latest effort is as good as anything he’s ever done.
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AVID CROWDER has always felt a little larger and more adventurous than his genre permitted;
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Crowder’s daring. Assists by everyone from
and a call to arms.
the Social Club Misfits to Mandisa don’t
The hooks are just a
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welcome bonus.
JUSTICE
INTE R N AT I O N A L
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LAST WORD A Thought Before We Go
rhyme or reason, lying on top of each other, seasons mixed and mingled, I feel sentimental for all the versions of Annie that are
You Are You on Purpose
represented in there and for the way they’ve all blended together to make me. I want you to feel sentimental about you, too. I want you to draw some hearts around your own life too. I want you to look
Old journals are life stories with no accidents.
back on your life—in pictures or
I BELIEVE IN
journals or knick-knacks—and
A GOD WHO
see that you are you on purpose. Yes, you’ve experienced some
BY A N N I E F. D O W N S
I
n my bedroom is a plastic
I have three beside me right
STILL DOES THE
tragedies. Yes, you’ve been
UNBELIEVABLE IN
treated in ways you didn’t
OUR LIVES AND
deserve by other people. Yes,
ON OUR PLANET
hurt exists amidst all the growth
tub full of journals from
now, the three that have lived
and joys and season change.
... I’VE SEEN
the last 20 years. I’m quite
with me throughout these last
Of course it does. I wouldn’t
IT IN MY LIFE.
the journaler during most
few seasons of my life. I usually
pretend otherwise.
I’VE SEEN HIM DO
seasons. I talk a lot, I write a lot,
finish one and then end up
and I tend to journal a lot. I don’t
putting it away pretty quickly,
I’m not asking you to remember
run out of words, for better or
but this hasn’t been the case
your life with rose-colored
KNOW HE COULD OR
for worse. But ever since I was
lately.
glasses. I’m just asking you to
WOULD DO.
a senior in high school, I have
I’m downplaying none of that.
Lately, I’m flipping back
remember your life is yours for
jotted down the stories God was
through them frequently,
a reason. For a purpose. And the
telling in my life, the way the
reminding myself of what I
same is true for me.
deck was being dealt for me.
knew then that maybe I can
They’re all there—the miracles,
still know today. And as I flip
in miracles. I believe in a God
the heartbreaks, the tragedies,
through, I thank the Annie from
who still does the unbelievable
the joys, the changing of seasons
the red floral journal for all the
in our lives and on our planet,
and the moving of time. The
ways she believed, and I thank
things we cannot understand.
faithfulness of God.
the Annie from the black and
I’ve seen it in my life. I’ve seen
gold journal for not giving up.
Him do what I did not know He
If we could all bring our tubs of journals to the same party,
WHAT I DID NOT
I’m also asking you to believe
I haven’t behaved perfectly
could or would do.
they would be different. No two
in my life and I’m not proud
would be the same. Different
of every word I’ve written in
through, even my current story,
covers, different spines. And
every journal. I feel like, as my
is serving a purpose that future
even if by some crazy chance
friend Bill Lokey says, “I’ve done
Annie will look back on when
we’d purchased and written
some things, in some of my life,
these three journals that are
in the same journal, the words
rather clumsily.” But when I look
sitting beside me end up in
inside would be different words.
down into the mess that’s now
the container with the rest of
based in Nashville,
20ish journals stacked with no
them.
Tennessee.
JAN-FEB
Everything I have been
084
A NNIE F. DOW NS is a bestselling author, podcaster and speaker (and cowgirl extraordinaire)
2019
03
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2018