13 Reasons Why - It is Time to Engage the Conversation

For the next couple of weeks, the eyes of the world will be focused upon the election of a new president in France.  The two winners, in what we might call the primary election this past Sunday, seem to be polar opposites.  Both candidates are outside of the normal establishment description.  Emmanuel Macron is viewed as being more centrist. He is pro-European Union and has a focus on improving the French economy.  The other candidate, Marine Le Pen is viewed as being from the far right.  She is opposed to the European Union and offers a "France first" policy that would limit Muslim immigration into the country.  The choice is between the philosophy of globalism versus that of nationalism.  The future of Europe could ride on the outcome of this election.  So, stay tuned.


Yesterday, during our weekly staff meeting, one of our staff shared about a new Netflix series that is the talk of high school kids.  The series is titled "13 Reasons Why" and is the story of a young 17-year old girl, named Hannah Baker who commits suicide, but not before leaving 13 cassette recordings for those she believed caused her to commit suicide.  This staff member described the vulgar language that was pervasive during each episode.  What grabbed my attention was the fact that I had just read a review of that series in the April 29 issue of World Magazine. The review was written by Megan Basham.  Allow me to share just a portion of that review which is pretty revealing of the character of this Netflix series.


"The show's language is similarly amped-up for shock value - scarcely a line of dialogue passes without one of the teens dropping an F-bomb, even when talking to their parents.  This profanity is mild, however, compared with the verbal attacks leveled at Hannah and other girls, which includes describing them in the foulest terms as sexual receptacles.


"While the sex-and-drug fests depicted are, I suspect, vastly overblown from reality, the sickening language probably is true to the experience of many high schoolers.  And that bring us to one facet of modern life that isn't present in '13 Reasons Why.'  No one - not school administrators, not students, and certainly not any of the parents - professes any sincere faith or religious conviction.  Strangely, given the subject matter, the nature of the soul or the possibility of eternity never even comes up."


The reviewer concludes, "I wouldn't advise letting my teens watch '13 Reasons Why', but I would use its popularity as an opportunity to remind them of this."


This is a program that is aimed toward juveniles and young adolescents.  This is what young teens are talking about.  Yes, vulgarity is part of the world of adolescents, but must it be amplified.  Yes, sadly, many adolescent boys view girls as objects to be conquered, but this should not be an attitude that is promoted.  And, yes, sadly, suicide among teenagers today is epidemic.  There is something incredibly wrong when a 17-year old believes that life holds no value for him or her any longer and the only recourse is to escape through death. 


Friends, if there is no hope, then why continue to live and continue to endure a pain that shows no sign of healing?  If this is all there is, then why continue the struggle?  What is needed today is for teens to know the healing and the hope for living that is found in Jesus Christ.  Death, for many teens, looks like the ultimate escape.  But, here is what many of them never consider: death is not the end; it is only the step into the next life.  And that next life and its destination is determined by the choice we make in life today concerning our relationship with Jesus Christ.  If I have no relationship with Jesus and I choose death, then what awaits me is even worse that life itself.  I am reminded of those words of the rich man who died and whose story Jesus tells in Luke 16:22-24: "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side.  The rich man also died and was buried.  In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  So he called to him, "Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire."'"


To teens I would say, "I know there are tremendous pressures placed upon you these days.  I know that Mom and Dad can put pressure upon you to excel.  They mean well, but it is pressure none the less, and you feel it.  I know your friends put pressure upon you to conform to a morality that you might not feel comfortable with.  You don't want to be given a label, but you know that conforming would violate who you are.  More pressure.  There is the pressure of just growing up and the continued search for the answer to the almost ubiquitous questions: Who am I and why am I here?  But, young girl, young guy, I know someone who can help shoulder those pressures with you.  His name is Jesus Christ.  He does not promise to make your life easy.  But, He has promised that He would give you strength for each day.  He has promised that He would never abandon you."  Friends, this is the message teens in America need to hear today: there is hope in Jesus.  When life looks so dark and bleak, it is time to turn your eyes upon Jesus. 


But, in the light of the conversation we had in staff yesterday, I would also add this: parents know what your children are watching on TV, what books they are reading, and what conversations they are having with their peers at school.  Yes, I know we all get busy with our lives, but your primary responsibility is to nurture your children into the things of God.  For this staff member, this Netflix series had provided an opportunity for such discussions.  Listen to your children.  Read what they are reading.  Don't just suppose that because a book was assigned by a teacher that it is okay to be read.  Know who your child's friends are and what those friends believe.  Invite those friends into your own home to share a meal where you can just get to know them.  Or invite them to come and join you for a movie night and show "Woodlawn" or "God's Not Dead" or other films that teach a message and then share with them about it over pizza and pop.  Parents, know what is going on in your child's life.  Don't just suppose that all is okay! 


I plan to ask my worldview students this coming Sunday evening what they have heard about "13 Reasons Why."  Perhaps it will be a good conversation starter for us.