Miley and Malala

I wasn't raised on much tv, which means I didn't grow up with all the child stars, which means I haven't got much interest in who they are today or what they're doing or not doing, or not wearing. A few weeks ago the internet was all abuzz over Miley Cyrus, her twerking (which I had to look up the meaning of), Robin Thicke, and Blurred Lines. I was far more concerned about the 35 year old man on that stage and the content of his lyrics than about the 20 year old strutting her stuff. I mean, if you've got it, flaunt it is the message everyone under the age of 30 grew up around. No surprise there, nothing to see, keep walking.

A few days ago Jon Stewart held a brief interview with 16 year old Malala Yousafzai in which she rendered him speechless with her calm and humble comments on education, retaliation, and reformation. And the internet was virtually silent on it.

I have plenty to say about Malala and think more people ought to, but don't. Obviously some do—the girl was just in the running for the Nobel Peace Prize as one of the youngest (16) nominees ever. She lost out to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and I'm sure that was well deserved as well. But here we have a 16 year old girl, calmly and humbly speaking about the cause for educating women, her reaction to being on the Taliban's hit list, and her reaction to the Taliban should she encounter a Talib—and the blogosphere carries on, saying nothing. At least my corner of the blogosphere (which is perhaps a fault of my own and I should branch out a bit more).

A word of caution to those carrying the double sided sword, a leather-bound ESV, and their favorite copy of Systematic Theology: live your theology. Ann Voskamp wrote earlier this week one of the most poignant lines I've read from her: "Theology can be talked about on Sundays, recorded at conferences – but it’s lived in kitchens or it dies at tables."

Friends, for many of you, your blog is your kitchen and table. It is the place you set out for company, it is your home on the web, it is where you wrestle with ideas and principles, theology and function. And if all that happens at that table is the dissection of culture and the dismemberment of the Church—we fail in our ministry here.

My pet project IS the Church, I know, and I'll talk about her until I die. And I'll tell you to talk about her until I die. But part of talking about the Church is not always talking about the latest rage in pop-culture—drawing attention ad nauseum to whatever profane and unholy act is strutting across the stage of life. Part of talking about the Church is talking about what other religions and cultures are doing, well or not. Regardless of Malala's religion, she is part of a growing movement of educated young women who are passionate about educating other young women. THAT is newsworthy. THAT has far deeper, far more meaningful, and far, far greater implications on the future of the Church than Miley Cyrus and her pretty pouty mouth and long legs.

Carry on.