Since its good Friday, like me, you’re probably thinking about the battle between good and evil. Jason Karpf returns to stir our imagination about better conversations at church, starting in the youth group. What’s a great way to bring generations together at church? Sci-fi!
The whole time Jason Karpf and I talked, I thought, The Holy Spirit is the true SuperHero. If only we trusted in His super power! Yet, how do we convey that truth to a suffering culture?
Jesus resurrection ensures forgiveness for sin and victory over evil. But it can seem like our culture never got the memo.
Leading Worship
As a worship leader himself, Jason encourages churches to learn from rock and pop music.
“I’m a worship musician,” says Jason, a bass and guitar player. “I love when the Spirit flows; to take all my training and experience and use it to glorify the Lord. I look to the history of music in the church in the last 50 years, of embracing rock and pop, as my driver for my sci-fi ministry.”
Jason’s collaboration with churches is all about bringing generations together and bolstering the ministry of the church graciously hosting him.
“I’m very proud to say Christian Sci-fi Night bridges generations. I get dads bringing their teenage kids in; I get grandparents with their kids who are middle school and up.”
“It’s about not having a lot of preconceived notions as to how we do church,” he says. “Let me just be real clear, this is not some hippy-dippy kind of approach where maybe we’ll bring up Jesus in the whisper at the end so we don’t offend anyone. No. This is Christian Sci-Fi Night. This is all Jesus, all the time.”
As Churches Wither, Reaching Our Culture Instead
Maybe like me, you’ve been grieving as local churches wither. Ever wonder how to get the young people back in church? Or how to just get anyone back in church, for that matter?
When I heard what Jason was doing, I couldn’t wait to hear more.
He calls it, Christian Sci-Fi Nights with Professor K. Sci-fi brings generations together. Who doesn’t remember the first time they saw Star Wars!
“We get together for a night of fellowship. We watch classic and current science fiction. From the original Twilight Zone to The Mandalorian,” begins Jason.
Folks come together at church to enjoy sci-fi and each other. Don’t forget the popcorn and pizza! Then, after watching a show, they discuss biblical themes and geek out together.
“Then afterwards we discuss—as Christians—talk to each other about what we’ve seen. And the Biblical lessons we can find in something that’s just meant to be a piece of fantastical entertainment.”
This is happening at youth group. But it’s so much fun, everybody shows up.
Enjoy Sci-Fi
“Enjoy — and I mean that— enjoy science fiction. Lord knows I do. And I have my whole life, since my mom, God rest her soul, the screenwriter and sci-fi fan, used to watch with me, going back to my boyhood in the 60s,” Jason says. “Enjoy! But remember God is everywhere. And God’s lessons are everywhere. And pray to get closer to the Lord joyfully.”
If you missed his story, you can find the other interview we did with Jason, called “Science Fiction: More Adventures to Come!” For more about bringing a healthy culture into your work pace, check out my friend Mark House’s, Leading with Music.
Of course, we all want better conversations with our kids, especially our teens. Engaging kids’ hearts where their attention is focused, on popular entertainment. Genius!
As a sci-fi writer himself, Jason knows how geeky sci-fi lovers can be. No generation gaps for sci-fi geeks in these lively discussions. Just insider jokes and references from classic literature and movies. Yep! That’s exciting.
“Absolutely! Love the references. Love the salutes. I use them throughout my books, too. I’ll call characters a certain something or a ship a certain something, certain name. You get your geek on and you know what you’re paying homage to. It’s fun.”
Is Sci-Fi Too Dark?
Seriously though, I’ve been noticing a dark trend lately. Perhaps, you too, have been watching with apprehension as our culture seems to be sliding toward darker themes in American entertainment.
One of the things I loved about Jason’s book, The Deliverer, is that it’s so fresh and light. Even though it has plenty of action, especially car crashes.
“When I’m writing, that’s my style. A whole lotta stuff blowing up and a little bit of kissing,” he laughs. (Jason wants you to know what you’re getting if you decide to buy his book, so I put a synopsis at the bottom of today’s blog. Nobody paid me to do this; I just liked the book.)
If parents feel uncomfortable with sci-fi, what does Jason suggest they watch for?
“The standard things, sex and violent content,” Jason says, but he also warns, “Don’t reject sci-fi out of hand. Don’t reject it because it emphasizes science. If anything, remember science is given to us by the Creator. If it’s abused, bad things happen. That’s the essence of sci-fi, people playing God. We learn as I teach, playing God leads to trouble.”
“Playing God leads to trouble.” ~Jason Karpf
I love that quote so much, I’m thinking of creating a meme out of it!
Parents Set the Parameters
How do we guide our children to love reading, embrace science fiction, and still choose wise parameters?
“Well, as a grandfather, it’s really important to me, too,” Jason emphasizes.
He suggests the effort to do a little bit of research is well worth the time and trouble.
“Every book, every TV show, every movie has got information about it online. Take the time to learn about what your kids are interested in or may be interested in. I am a firm believer in that the mom and dad of the house make those choices. With love and purpose.”
Since he teaches media studies and social media in the college setting, Jason is well aware of how challenging it can be for parents to stay on top of what their kids are exposed to.
“The studies are there of the harm that social media does to young people. By filling their heads with unreasonable images of physical perfection. The cool lifestyle. We’ve always had these bad images and temptations. All media can be a source of bad influence or good influence. We just have to be on top of it as parents.”
For ideas to help your adventurous child love reading through comics, find Anna’s insights here.
While the world may focus on all the wrong things, parents can have better conversations with their kiddos. They can emphasize “the beauty God sees in every one of His precious children,” according to Jason.
Worldly images annul our variety. They stereotype all of us into one “perfect” image none of us can meet. But God joyfully created each one of us to be unique. So, a stereotype of “perfection” really dishonors God. When we try to put each other into a cookie cutter, we directly contradict His creative glory.
Savvy Churches Love Screen, Too
Even in my own family, where reading is as natural as breathing, some people—we won’t name names—prefer screens. For screen-lovers, I especially see the advantage what Jason is doing with youth groups.
Savvy churches can use sci-fi as a hook to re-engage the youth back into community with believers.
When publicizing Christian Sci-Fi Night with Professor K, Jason and his team don’t bait and switch the event. They put Christ right up there in front.
“Let’s enjoy science fiction together and let’s talk about it as Christians,” explains Jason. “I mean no disrespect, I think everyone knows what I’m about to say, it (sci-fi) serves to de-church-ify the experience.
He goes into more details about a typical stereotype of church.
“Go to church. Learn how bad we are and how we’re not supposed to be having all that fun. We know better. This very old idea of the strict church, the punishing church, the unimaginative church,” says Jason.
Music, stories, sci-fi, and even, yes, even Marvel comics. All those things can be used to remind people we have the opportunity to know a REAL living Savior. I love the tie in to our beautiful, imaginative, creative American culture!
Young People, Music, Stories, Sci-Fi, Even Marvel Comics!
I was so excited to interview Jason. I wanted to ask him what it can look like at church when you get young people in the same room talking about something they love. Jesus, young people, music, stories, sci-fi, and even Marvel Comics; that’s a powerful mix!
“It can and it must be done. It’s the future. Again, we provide love and guidance.”
Certainly, even though we’re living in a culture that seems evil at times, we know Jesus has already conquered our real enemy, the devil. With confidence, we must keep Jesus’ victory in mind as we talk to our kids.
“You (mom and Dad) decide what’s out there that’s good for your family. But make sure that your imagination and your hearts are wide open because God is everywhere,” Jason says, summing it up, “God is in science fiction. The devil is the father of lies and he has been defeated. Let’s rejoice in our victory. And let’s have fun doing it.”
🙂
Cathy
May we pray together?
Dear good Father, thank You for providing us with companionship with You through Your Son Jesus. We thank You for fellowship with other believers in Your Church. Help us live in a way that glorifies You. We want the world to know You as You truly are. Powerful and loving. Thank You for designing Your orderly creation so we could observe and notice Your laws of the universe. Science is a blessing from You. Our imaginations spark up when we think of all You created. Help us enjoy the wonder of Your creation. Let our words and our hearts reflect Your love. Help us raise up generations who honor You, Good Father! We praise You! We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
We LOVE to hear from YOU!
Who is your favorite science fiction character and why? What biblical theme do you look for in sci-fi? What is your most striking memory of youth group?
Synopsis of Jason’s book, The Deliverer
In the story line, Jason creates a sexual tension between two main characters, one of whom is suffering in a difficult marriage. Without giving too much away, the female protagonist is trapped in an abusive, domestic violence situation.
Because I’ve interviewed experts on the serious topic of domestic violence, I was fascinated about the way a fiction writer could address the topic, too. Most Christian fiction writers might steer away from such a tender and serious topic in a fun, fantasy novel. Where could Jason find inspiration to write so bravely and boldly?
“I’ll tell you exactly how,” he laughs, claiming inspiration for his hero from Maximus in the 2000 movie The Gladiator, the Eagles’ song Desperado, and, of all people, Tim Tebow! What an interesting mix! But, having read his book, I totally got it!
In The Deliverer, Amazon-style deliveries morph into a blood sport. Gladiator-style delivery men and women battle it out with ruthless porch pirates. All the action is live streamed to avid fans on screens everywhere.
“The Deliverer has a lot of action in it. I tell everyone it is equivalent to a PG 13 movie, like a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie,” says Jason. “The level of violence, the threat, the romance between a woman who is still married in name only and the Deliverer who is a widower and a good Christian. Oh, I’m just going to say he’s all man and she’s all woman.
All I can add, is the book is fun and action-packed. With a little unpredictable romance included.
Favorite Quotes
“When I die, I’m leaving my body to science fiction.” ~Comedian and Actor, Steven Wright
“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Playing God leads to trouble.” ~Jason Karpf, author of The Deliverer
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