On Being Counter-Cultural

7 Jun, 2024

Mark Ramsay, Principal

In the face of what seems to be an unrelenting cultural assault on our young people, what can we do?

This was the question that a room full of parents and community members were confronted with on Monday night as renowned speaker Melinda Tankard Reist (founder of Collective Shout) presented parents with a disturbingly long list of examples of the sexualisation of contemporary youth culture. I am sure I was not alone in feeling shocked at what our children and young people see in advertising, music, movies, gaming and social media.

At Kuyper, we desire for our students to grow up confident in the knowledge that God knows and loves them and that their value does not lie in a particular form of ‘attractiveness’ to another. We also want them to be other-centred, understanding how to act with integrity and treat others with respect.

So, the question is confronting: In the face of what seems to be an unrelenting cultural assault on our young people, what can parents and educators do? Is it a hopeless situation?

Awareness is crucial, and there are many practical things that parents can do to help their children navigate the particular dangers of the digital world. The Australian Government eSafetyparents site is a great place to start, and many other excellent resources are available for parents. I’ve included a list of recommended readings below.

There is no doubt that the task is daunting. However, as Christians, we have good reason for hope. We know that we are not alone in navigating this world. Jesus promised to be with his followers at all times (Matthew 28:20) and that the Holy Spirit would be a helper for them (John 14:16).

Even more, we know that Jesus is the victor over all the challenges confronting us in this world. He encourages us to “take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Whatever evil and sinfulness we see around us, we can have great confidence that Jesus’ death and resurrection have achieved victory over all things, including this sexualised culture.

So, let me encourage you to do three things:

Be aware – know what your children are viewing and doing.
Talk to one another and to us – we are stronger together.
Pray for all young people, particularly those in our community.
Pray that they will know that their value is not determined by their external appearance; pray that they will not be tempted to focus entirely on the online world; and pray that they will know that God’s love for them is greater than any other force or experience in this world.

On Being Counter-Cultural

Recommended Reading