Are Young Religious Stars Making Christianity Cool?
What do young superstars Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato, and Tim Tebow have in common?
They believe in God, and they don’t mind sharing.
Over the weekend Justin Bieber made news with his new tattoo — a large portrait of the face of Jesus Christ inked on his calf. Bieber’s ink happened to dovetail with the Denver Broncos unlikely win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the latest in a string of unlikely victories that their 24-year old quarterback, Tim Tebow, regularly and publicly thanks Jesus Christ for helping him achieve.
And off in the Twitterverse on Friday, the troubled former Disney star and singer Demi Lovato, 19 years old, took to the social network to talk to her fans how she has put her faith in God to get her life back on track after a stint in rehab.
So are these young, hip and very public Christians in the worlds of music, television and sports are making it cool for the highly connected Generation Z to embrace Christianity?
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Christianity has always been cool.
-Mike_ShieldsWhat could be "cooler" than knowing the Love of God by experience, having been born again by His Spirit and you sins washed away by the Blood of Christ Jesus the Savior. It's good, Amen, I know my Redeemer lives!!!
-AlexLiving in the real world, not an imaginary one is far cooler.
-Jeff DixonYou are right – we are praying for you to come out of yours and over into reality. The fact that you keep hanging around these forums is evidence that you are interested in what we have whether or not you admit it.
-KnowTheTruthTodayNo, it is a constant source of amusement for me.
-Jeff DixonSo happy to know that we're amusing you, Jeff. But, at the same time, the idea that you have nothing better to do than post your snarky comments on this website … Well, it's sad, really. I guess that life of yours isn't very fulfilling. Is it?
-Linda F.Since you have no idea what my life is like, your comment is pointless. Actually, your posts are generally pointless. You actually offer no real dialogue, you make a post and disappear. If and when you want to discuss the absurdity of your beliefs, I will be right here.
-Jeff DixonWell, praise God that you're still hanging out here, Jeff. There is still hope that God will get hold of your heart and drag you, screaming and kicking, into the Kingdom of God. No, actually, that's not the way it works. If it's God's plan to save Jeff, his heart will be changed so that he will come willingly, and gladly accept God's free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Stranger things have happened…..
-keyboardsharkDelusions cannot do anything but make people believe in the imaginary. Do not ever believe I will ever be part of your delusion. Ever.
-Jeff DixonPART 1
Jeff sez: "Delusions cannot do anything but make people believe in the imaginary." Quite true, Jeff. But the eternal God of the Bible, who created the universe and everything in it, can turn even the most hardened unbeliever into a child of God. Usually when they least expect it.
For example, John Newton (1725-1807), started out as an atheist slave trader who had commanded an English slave ship. He described himself as "flagrantly profane", and he would curse and blaspheme so terribly that sometimes even the men were surprised at his depravity. Yet he became converted to Christ while aboard ship and went on to write one of the most beloved hymns, "Amazing Grace", and he became a minister of the Gospel for a number of years. http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/bnewton7…. http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/bnewton4….
-keyboardsharkPART 2
-keyboardsharkI'm still holding out hope for you yet, Jeff, and whether you realize it or not, I and others on this site are praying for you. Doesn't matter if you're as bad as Newton was, or whether you consider yourself a fine, moral, upstanding citizen, or something in between, God can certainly change your eternal destiny if He so chooses.
God does not go against anyone's volition. God can' t make anyone believe in Him. We can give the gospel to an unbeliever and they have to be positive towards Him before they can listen or make a decision. God knew in eternity past who would believe but no one knows. God does NOT want anyone to perish but come to know Christ but He does not MAKE anyone believe or capture them or drag them in. This includes Jeff. We all should continue to pray for any unbeliever that they will get the clear message of the gospel of salvation but we cannnot pray that they will believe. That goes against their volition. God is just and righteous and cannot go against His decrees.
-msjallenPART 1
I agree mostly with what you're saying, msjallen, but we have to be a little careful when dealing with God's sovereignty vs. man's responsibility. Man by nature hates God, so if we, at least from our perspective, wait until someone becomes "positive" towards God, then humanly speaking, it will never happen.
It has to be ALL God's work in changing that persons volition, because in his natural state, he will NEVER choose to follow the God of the Bible. Oh, he may choose a 'god' of his own making to follow, one that is more palatable to his own sins and autonomy, that he has dreamed up in his own mind, or is the creation of some other false prophet, like Mohammad, or like the evolutionist/atheist who worships mother earth.
-keyboardsharkkey, God has given us free will. If any person has even one spark of positive volition God makes sure they get the gospel even if it is in deepest Africa or the Amazon rainforest as has been done. Since man was made in the image of God, so matter how depraved one is there is a desire to know someone more powerful than they are. However, if someone is not positive towards the gospel you can talk to them until doomsday and they will not believe. I also believe that it is the power of the Holy Spirit to make the gospel message clear that is given and "acts" as the unbeliever's human spirit to understand spiritual things so they can make a decision.
-msjallenPART 2
-keyboardsharkBut the God of the Bible? Heh, heh, no way, because it smacks him in the face with the realization that he is a wicked, corrupt sinner before the Holy, sinless God of the Bible, like we all are, and that he can do nothing to save himself or hide himself from God's wrath against his sin. Furthermore, it means that since this Holy God has created him, He has a claim on the man's life, so he can no longer go on living his life as he always has, and that is unacceptable to natural man, who wants to be the master of his fate, the captain of his soul, the architect of his destiny.
Notice, no reply from Jeff when the answers require real thought! Like I'm surprised : D
-Joe AnzilottiAs always, you post nonsense. I make comments on here on my own time and your absurd concern over when I post is irrelevant.
Focus on what I post, not when I post, if you have any ability to make a post worth reading.
-Jeff DixonWhenever you begin to seriously address the thoughts of others I would be glad to carry a conversation with you.
-Joe AnzilottiNo you won't. You will post nonsense or wait until your mentor gives you permission to express an opinion.
-Jeff DixonYour kindness Jethro is only surpassed by your narcissism
-Joe AnzilottiJoe,
We need to buy this book for imam Dixon on his birthday… "Christianity For Dummies"
LINK: http://amzn.to/xbCp5r
I will personally add to it this: "Logic For Dummies"
-DespevilleLINK: http://amzn.to/ze4dRP
Buy yourself a book on ethics. Perhaps you can learn how to apply them.
-Jeff Dixon13th imam of ignorance it is the other way around.
-DespevilleJeff, you're seeking heart longs to know God.
-tboneNo it does not. Check with Romans 3:10-18 or 8:7-8
-DespevilleNothing beats your shenanigans oh imam of ignorance.
-DespevilleYour bald faced lies do.
-Jeff DixonI am proud of these young people who openly embrace the Lord. I disappointed in the way the writer of the article exploited the youngsters. Think about it and you will understand my point.
-MagieI praise God that these individuals, realized that they – as so many others before them – were not going to be "cured" by any therapy (you can't fix a sinful nature by talking about it or medicating it). That they learned that only the Savior who crucified their sin so that it no longer has power over them, the Savior who gives them a new nature that desires righteousness, God's righteousness, was the answer.
-PaulI don't believe young people need all the "cool" teen language or any other language to discover the greatness of God. Teach them how to be confident in God and what His grace provides. They don't need to be entertained at church like the world expects to be entertained. Since we did not have a church to go to for many years here in CA we are on our church's CD & DVD ministry along with the literature they are taught by us. All four of my children and now my grandchildren are being brought up without all that "cool" stuff and they respond to the Word of God with respect learning how God can work in their life and applying it where they go. They are NOT perfect and still need a lot of training but we put God first in our home.
-msjallenTechnically, Jeff is only looking for real delusions. It is difficult for us to grasp these.
-Joe AnzilottiHe is a delusion himself. A prisoner of a prison he cannot see, touch or smell and therefore fooled into thinking he is free. Nothing more sadder than this kind of a delusion soon to be buried.
-DespevilleYou realize thus considerably relating to this subject, made me in my view believe it from so many varied angles. Its like men and women don’t seem to be fascinated until it is something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your individual stuffs excellent. Always maintain it up!
-Kalkulator kredytowyPracujesz w bankowsci?
-Despeville