Workshop: The Challenges of Discipleship in a “You Be You” Culture

To get the juices flowing for the main lecture, Trevin Wax dove into a short speech on why “You Be You” culture is a hurdle for discipleship in the church. It seems like everyone nowadays tries to be self-made, self-sustaining, self-expressing solo acts whose main concern is with themselves alone, which contradicts Scripture on multiple fronts. With the “You Be You” culture that has grown to unrivaled providence over the last few decades, the idea is ‘you be true to the you that you perceive that you truly are, conforming to that mindset and lifestyle rather that conforming to the image of Christ’, which according to Trevin Wax, is the whole point of discipleship.

Citing Gretchen Rubin’s “The Happiness Project” several times, Wax uncovered the issue with the “You Be You” culture by targeting its confusing logic and its moral flaws – such as its insistence on reaffirming yourself no matter the cost, even if you are engaging in a blatantly harmful lifestyle but are happy. He discussed how this culture impacts religion, claiming that due to You Be You’s pillar of happiness, self-definition and self-expression as being the highest goods, anything that tells you how to live otherwise is bigoted and wrong according to society. Wax, not wanting to give too much away from his speech that night in the Concert Hall, asked the following questions for those in attendance to discuss at their tables before inviting those in attendance into an extended conversation on a related subject later that night in the main lecture:

“In what ways does the You Be You culture create new challenges in the mission to create disciples?

What are longings of the people whose purpose in life is to find themselves?

What are the problems in imagining the world this way? How would other countries challenge us in You Be You thinking? How does Scripture challenge us?

What is right about the message of You Be You, what is wrong, and how is the Gospel better?”

Main Lecture: The Gospel vs. Expressive Individualism: Why “Being True To Yourself” is a Dead-End on the Road to Happiness

The main lecture of the ESI conference took place in the beautiful, 1600-seat Grand Concert Hall in the Music and Worship Building at Liberty University. The campus band Captivate opened the night up, leading students, faculty and staff in a few worship songs. The second half of the night included a convicting message by our speaker for the conference, Trevin Wax. Wax discussed why a life of expressive individualism will ultimately lead to a life of unhappiness. Wax describes expressive individualism as “a lifestyle when someone strives to find the deepest part of them self and attempts to express it to the world.” Wax also explained that, according to research, “84% of Americans would say that enjoying yourself is the highest goal in life, and 66% of church-going Christians would say the same.” He then compared the difference between an expressive individualistic lifestyle versus a lifestyle where one is living for the Gospel. He says that living an expressive individualistic lifestyle leads to a dead end on the road to happiness, and the Gospel is better because it avoids running into that dead end.

Wax gave many reasons why expressive individualism leads to a dead end on the road of happiness, and one of the reasons that he explained is “expressive individualism leads to loneliness.” Advanced stages of expressive individualism will eventually lead to isolation, due to pursuing one’s own path. Wax used the example of Elsa from Disney’s movie Frozen; Elsa wanted so badly to express who she was (a snow queen) that she ended up freezing her hometown and having to escape to a faraway land, alone. Wax also gave many examples of why the Gospel is better than striving towards expressive individualism, and one of the reasons that Wax gave is “the gospel gives rest.” Expressive individualism causes one to worry about what other people think about them because they are trying so hard to express themselves as “good enough or happy”. However, the Gospel gives rest because one does not have to live an exhausting life seeking out the approval of others, knowing that God’s opinion is what matters the most.

The evening closed with a Q&A between Trevin Wax and Dr. Karen Prior (English professor here at Liberty). This was an incredible night and we are so thankful for the opportunity to learn more about the discussion on expressive individualism and why the Gospel is better.

The Gray Havens featuring Chris Renzema and Gray

Packing the LaHaye Event Space with scores of fans ranging from Liberty students and Lynchburg natives to JMU and UVA students, this three-artist concert was noted by regular concert-goers as being one of the best concerts ever hosted by Student Activities. No stranger to the stage at Liberty University, Grayson Perry, also known by his stage name “gray”, started the night off with melodic songs that scored him many new fans and pleased many a loyal fan. From there, the stage became Chris Renzema’s, who was welcomed with a thunderous applause. “I Don’t Wanna Go” sticks out as being a highlight from his set, as concert-goers rose from their seats and happily swayed back and forth and sang along to the easily lovable chorus.

Headlining the show was The Gray Havens, who stepped onto the Liberty University stage for the first time. With Dave’s quick wit and Licia’s easily loveable personality being on full display, the crowd at the LaHaye Event Space not only had the chance to sing to phenomenally performed songs, but also to laugh as Dave read from “Gray Flowers”, the children’s book he authored. The Radfords shared the comedic story of how they met, which involves the awkward turning of a corner and a bottle of Sprite. All three artists gave a fantastic show, capping off the Every Square Inch Conference in fantastic fashion and leaving fans craving more, which likely led to many car ride beltings of the artists’ tracks on Spotify. Both new fans and longtime fans alike left with a smile on their face and a song in their heart; the exact feeling you hope to leave a concert with.

It was such an honor to have Trevin Wax here to speak to some of the students and faculty of Liberty, and we loved wrapping up the ESI Conference with a memorable show from The Gray Havens. We’re already getting excited for next year’s Every Square Inch!

Together with the Center for Apologetics and Cultural Engagement, Student Activities is thrilled to host the third annual Every Square Inch Conference. ESI was conceived through the thought of Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper when he said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” This mentality is what shaped a two day event filled with workshops, lectures, and music right here on Liberty’s campus.

Over the two day conference, there will be two workshops led by Vice President of Campus Recreation Christopher Misiano, Chair of the School of Divinity Dr. Mark Allen, and author/public intellectual Trevin Wax. Keynote speaker Trevin Wax is the Director for Bibles and Reference at LifeWay Christian Resources and a visiting professor at Wheaton College. His lecture “The Gospel vs. Expressive Individualism: Why “Being True To Yourself” is a Dead-End on the Road to Happiness” will headline the conference on Thursday, February 28^th. The two day event will be led to a close through a concert by The Gray Havens featuring Chris Renzema and Gray.

Maintaining the declaration put forth by Kuyper, this conference is a place to engage in intentional, thought provoking conversation. It will be a time to learn and grow in developing a unified vision as the Body of Christ and fostering a community for intentional learning.

Come join in on the conversation of culture and faith on February 28 and 29. Make sure to register for the workshops and purchase your tickets for the show, and for more information about Every Square Inch, visit the event website at Student Activities – ESI.

Written By: Drew Snavely

The nights are getting colder and the days are getting shorter. The leaves are littering the ground and time is running out to save that COMS 101 grade. The trees along University Boulevard are draped with excessive amounts of LED lights and giant artificial trees are seemingly put up overnight. This can only mean one thing: Christmas is coming.

For the last eight years, Christmas in Lights has been the staple event to bring in the holiday season here on Liberty’s campus. Being surrounded by thousands of students gathering together for the lighting of the DeMoss Christmas tree and University Boulevard is an experience you never forget. I went to my first Christmas in Lights six years ago, but I still remember it like it was yesterday (truthfully, a big reason for that is probably because of the ridiculous holiday turtleneck that I wore to the event – there are some things you can’t unsee). Student Activities has come a long way since we started putting on Christmas in Lights nearly a decade ago, and each year it gets better. This year we decided to go bigger.

Many students have seen the 30-foot tree that stands in front of DeMoss every holiday season and know it is the centerpiece for every Christmas in Lights we have previously done. This year we are changing things up a little bit. Christmas in Lights will be taking place in front of the Montview steps on the Academic Lawn. “Why move the event further away from University Blvd.?” you may ask. The answer is: because we have a 50 foot Christmas tree that fits perfectly in front of the Montview steps. That’s why. Not only will we have a bigger tree, we will also have a live Santa Claus for the first time ever. You can finally ask him for that Red Ryder BB Gun you’ve been wanting. In addition to that, we will have Dawn & Dusk Donuts, Nomad Coffee, free hot chocolate and cookies, Christmas caroling from the LU choir and live music from Judd Harris! We will also be partnering with Lynchburg Daily Bread and Urban Mountain Adventures. Both organizations will be taking food and winter clothes donations throughout the night. Check out our Christmas in Lights page for more event details!

We are so excited to bring such a special event to the student body and cannot wait to celebrate Christmas with you! See you there!

Written By: Stephanie Ward

Last week, we had the honor of hosting Q Union. In short, this is an event that features a broadcast of national speakers, live local student speakers and discussions regarding the culture around us. Q Union is a one night event that encourages students and communities across the country to engage in society’s most difficult conversations. This year, we guided these talks using a topic called The Power of We. The hope was to inspire students to take a practical look at what can happen in our communities when people come together, despite their differences, in such a divisive time in our nation. We looked at topics that helped us see what it is like to be hospitable to those who may not share the same beliefs and to grow in knowledge with those on our own campus.

We recorded our three student speakers’ as well as a Q&A session, led by the Coordinator for the Center for Apologetics and Cultural Engagement, Jack Carson. You can watch these talks below, and for more info on Q Union, visit their website.

Caleb Brown, Bachelors: Philosophy and Biblical Studies

Topic: Talk About Talking – Why Bother?

Logan Price, Bachelors: Journalism and Theology & Apologetics

Topic: Lose the Moment

Marissa Kusayanagi, Masters: Public Health

Topic: The Value of Her Voice

Written By: Avery Watts

“Mamma Mia! Here we go again….my my how can I resist you.” How can you resist great music, amazing actors, catchy toons and spicy romances when it comes to the new Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again movie? That’s right, you shouldn’t resist it!

For those who aren’t familiar with the basic background of Mamma Mia!, I would love to shed some light for you. Mamma Mia! was originally musically based on the songs of the band ABBA composed by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus in 1997. In 2008, the film of Mamma Mia!, starring the infamous Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried, was released, making over $600 million in box office sales. In the first Mamma Mia! movie, main character Donna Sheridan is a single mother to Sophie, the bright and beautiful 20-year-old who’s about to get married. Sophie always wanted to know who her father was, so she schemed to invite all the possible men who it could be. This movie unpacks the ins and outs of family drama, but also the love and unity shared through the midst of it.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again was a long 10 years in the making, but boy was it worth it. With over $400 million in box office sales and Seyfried being nominated for a People’s Choice Award, this movie did not disappoint. In 1979, Young Donna graduates from Oxford and embarks on a journey of self-discovery traveling around the world. She gets bombarded with different romances on her way to her first stop, Greece. At the beginning of her journey, Donna falls in love with three different men, Bill, Harry, and Sam. This movie uncovers each relationships trying to get down to which men is the father of her new daughter, Sophie. The movie switches back to real life where Sophie is grown up and is trying to live up to her mom’s legacy by hosting a grand opening of the new tavern in Greece that she ran. We are reminded of the comedy and laughter that the first film brought by being reintroduced to old characters for a reunion. Critics gave this film an 80%, the audience gave it a 72% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.1/100 from IMDB reviews.

This is one of my favorite movies – from the original soundtrack of ABBA songs to the actors that bring you right back to the first movie. Join us next Saturday, November 3 at the Vines Center at 10 p.m., you won’t regret it!

Written By: Erin Diaz

On Thursday, October 25, we have the pleasure of hearing our very own Event Supervisor Marissa Kusayanagi speak at Q Union! We are so proud of her and we know she has worked so hard to deliver a talk that matters in the society we live in. I sat down with Marissa over some hot almond milk lattes to chat about why she cares about Q, what she’s talking about at Q Union, and most importantly, what coffee or tea beverage she would be most excited to receive on the night of the event. Read our interview below.

Erin Diaz: When did you first hear about Q and how did you hear about it?

Marissa Kusayanagi: I heard about Q from a friend of a friend. One of our other SA workers, Kay, introduced me to her friend Mary Michael. We were actually in Nashville visiting the city, and Mary Michael worked at Q as a fellow. I think we were walking down the street to get ice cream at Jeni’s, and Mary Michael was telling me what Q does and what they’re all about, and I was immediately intrigued. I thought, “I have to do that or get involved somehow”. Mary Michael was in charge of starting Q Union I believe, she was trying to get more college campuses involved. She was saying Q wants Christians to be more informed on big issues and she wants Christians to learn how to communicate better, whether that is with other Christians or not.

ED: Why is Q something that you’re passionate about?

MK: For one thing, there isn’t anything out there like Q, at least that I’ve heard of. In this day and age and with the way the world is going (especially with social media), a lot of these issues we talk about have always been here, but we never had the media or phones or anything to communicate about them in such an intense way. Now it’s always in our face and we’re forced to deal with it. Now we can’t walk around with the excuse of “I didn’t know that was a problem” or “but I haven’t experienced that myself”. Regardless, you probably know someone who has experienced the issue at hand themselves. That’s one of the issues Q talks about. Q does a great job of creating a space for Christians to talk about these issues but also get educated. I think we can be scared to talk about things because we aren’t fully educated or because we just don’t really know everything about a topic, so Q has created an environment where they educate people on issues. It isn’t even Q who really does the educating – they use people who are in the field of the issue who know what’s going on and they educate other Christians and give you practical ways to improve the issue or solve the problems going on. The end goal is that they want everybody to come together and for Christians to create a better world. They want people to know how to understand issues regardless of fear or whatever it may be. I think Christians can be scared to dive into social or economic issues. It’s easy for us to say “It’s in God’s hands” and that hasn’t ever been a good reason for us to ignore things. God wants us to tackle issues head-on and I think Q is equipping people to do that. There really is nothing like Q. They invite people in and don’t make you feel dumb or ignorant. They want you to have an open mind to other people’s stories or experiences.

ED: The cool thing you were talking about is that, with Q, you don’t really have to have your mind made up. Q equips you to have conversations that you may feel like you should already be equipped for but that most of us probably aren’t. And that’s okay! We need to gather information, and Q teaches us how to gather information in order to have a conversation.

MK: Yeah! And you never walk into Q feeling like “wow, I’m so out of the loop” or “I’m apathetic”. You walk in and feel the pain that’s going on in the world, and you realize what you can work on and solve. I don’t think they make people feel like they aren’t good enough or educated enough to have a conversation.

ED: Which national speaker are you most excited to hear during the event and why?

MK: That’s a good question. At first, I wasn’t sure if I knew who Jo Saxton was, then I remembered I listened to a podcast with her on Typology. She was talking about how she is a female eight, which is what I am on the Enneagram, and I am really excited to hear her perspective on the world. She was raised in London and she is an African-American, so she brings a rare experience to the table. She will bring in many different sides to issues. I’m probably most excited to hear her but all three speakers are amazing individuals and they all do so much good in the world. I think we can all look up to them in some respect. Scott Harrison is amazing, and it’s funny because he’s also an eight, but he has a really dark past, and I think his honesty about it is rare. You don’t hear about things like that in the church a lot, and it’s cool how his dark past has brought him to start such an incredible organization that is changing people’s lives (charity: water). I’m always excited to hear Bob Goff, but Jo and Scott are new to me so I’m excited to hear them speak.

ED: Can you give a brief synopsis of your talk?

MK: Yeah! So I have grown a deep passion for women, and I think it’s easy for people to label me as a feminist but I don’t know that that’s necessarily true. I’ve seen the way women have been hurt in the church specifically, and that’s where I’m coming from in my talk. With personal experience and also with all women in mind that have been silenced in the church or labeled as only capable of specific jobs, I’m hoping I can bring a little bit of light to an issue that people in the church need to learn more about, even here at Liberty. Still, I hear people talking about professors or teachers that are still speaking on how women are only made for specific jobs and roles, and I just don’t think that’s true. I think that isn’t what Jesus meant for women, and there’s a little part of my talk where I’ll discuss how women have felt this silence of their voice since history and time began. Women have been put in this frame of “you don’t have the right to voice your opinions”, and they have been sexualized along with that. We’re taught at a young age that our bodies can “create sin” for people. I experienced that and was told to cover my body as a young girl because a young boy might lust. I think when you tell a community of girls that, they start to feel like they’re the problem, and it feels like it’s not the sin itself but the woman herself. Hopefully, I can shed some light on that and I hope the church will work on creating spaces for women to feel welcome and empowered.

ED: How have you prepared for your talk (resources)?

MK: This topic, in general, has been something that I have thought a lot about before I got the opportunity to speak at Q. I wrote a blog post for Student Activities in the summer about feminism and the church, and I used a lot of Q talks as research for that. I understand that a lot of this issue is based on personal experience or others’ experiences and not necessarily books. A lot of people have talked on this issue, like Beth Moore and Jefferson Bethke. I have also spent a lot of time listening to podcasts on women in general, not just in the church. Jo Saxton is a perfect example of someone who is so strong but has also felt herself being silenced before. I think most women have felt silenced in some way, whether that’s in the church or outside of it. I would hope that the church is the first group of people to stop that. So, a lot of podcasts, and I’m reading a book called “Bad Feminist”. The word feminist can have a negative connotation and it gets thrown around a lot, but this book discusses how you can be empowering women and you don’t have to be the perfect feminist or liberal to do so. A lot of things like that, and obviously since this is Q and Liberty and we’re coming from a stance of changing the church, the New Testament touches on so much of this. Our whole goal as Christians is to be like Christ and to walk in His footsteps, so it’s really simple the way He lived and treated women. If we’re living like that it should be pretty easy for us.

ED: BONUS! During the long hours of prepping your speech, what coffee beverage from where would you be most excited for someone to bring you?

MK: I think I would really just want a pour-over from Third Wave (hot!). But I also feel like my mood changes – if I want something sweet, I would want a hot matcha from Golf Park Coffee. It just depends on my mood.

To learn more about Q Union and how to pick up your free ticket for the event, visit our webpage.

Written By: Andrew Reynolds

I remember going to Christmas Coffeehouse my freshman year and having one of the greatest times of my life. The anticipation you build up while waiting outside in line while freezing is just the beginning of the fun. As you walk in, you see all the decorations around the Vines Center, and that makes it feel like Christmas morning with all your friends. At Coffeehouse freshman year, after we walked around for a bit taking pictures with the different decorations, we found our seats right before the show began. I still remember singing along to classic Christmas songs and dancing around the entire night. We would get a quick break from all the singing along to watch hilarious videos before getting to enjoy more acts.

Christmas Coffeehouse is the largest annually paid-for event in Lynchburg, and it is just right around the corner! There is so much excitement and anticipation for Coffeehouse, and I hope you share that same feeling with us. Coffeehouse is an amazing event for you and your friends to enjoy a late night of singing and laughing to get yourself ready for the most wonderful time of the year.

Now that I work for Student Activities, Coffeehouse looks a bit different for me than what it did my freshman year. After joining SA last semester and seeing how much work is done in preparation for each Coffeehouse, it makes me that much more excited and appreciative of each one. From building different scenes to handing out coffee and telling students about Coffeehouse, I have just as much fun and excitement for Coffeehouse as when I went for the very first time. Even though I am not sitting amongst the rows of students, I still get to have an amazing time because I can be part of an incredible team that gets to serve the student body and the Lynchburg community in a unique way.

This year Coffeehouse is going to be even more spectacular than years before with immersive decorations that make you feel like you are walking around The North Pole with your friends. We hope to see you and your friends on November 30^th at 11:30 p.m. for Coffeehouse: The North Pole in Vines Center.

Written By: Luis Rodriguez

Incredibles 2

Good things come to those who wait. So, after waiting for 14 years, Pixar finally came back with the sequel of Disney’s cutest superhero family. Incredibles 2 was a very anticipated movie, raising $182,687,905 in its opening weekend in the USA alone**. The storyline brings back one of the main issues the Parrs face: superheroes are not wanted anymore. This creates a tense environment as Bob still dreams to go back to his Mr. Incredible days and Helen has left her Elastigirl role in the past in order to focus on her family’s safety.

During the first Incredibles, Bob and Helen had trouble agreeing on what their position should be, given that being a hero is considered against the law. In this sequel, we can have a closer look at the normal lifestyle the Incredibles are forced to live in as society still condemns them for their heroic acts.

Disney took the feedback obtained from The Incredibles very seriously and used it to deliver a masterpiece. While we are able to see how Dash and Violet have mastered their powers and now are of great help while the family fights crime, Jack-Jack is the one who steals the show and our hearts. Even though he is still too young to control his powers and fight alongside the rest of the family, Jack-Jack and Uncle Edna, as she is now preferred to be called, are frequently the center of the attention along the storyline.

Whether it is Jack-Jack’s cuteness or our favorite tiny seamstress Edna Mole, there are a ton of acceptable reasons why you don’t want to miss our movie night on October 13 in the LaHaye Event Space. Incredibles 2 begins at 7:30 p.m. and another showing begins at 9:30 p.m. I’m so excited to see you there!

Resources

*https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3606756/

Written By: Clay Copper

In 2017, the United States saw a 12% increase in hate crimes, the fourth consecutive year with an increase.* Today, 53 years after the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission put a legal end to workplace discrimination against women, female professionals still earn only $.80 to the $1.00 of their male counterparts.* While the United States occupies just under 5% of the global population, the nation holds a 22% stake in the population of prisoners globally.* These topics should be wildly concerning to followers of Christ, regardless of denomination. In an effort to inform, grow, and learn, Q Ideas was started with a clear intention: Stay Curious. Think Well. Advance Good.*

Q Ideas has become an incredible tool for leaders of the Christian faith, whether they are leaders in the church, workforce, school, or culture, to thoughtfully engage in solution-seeking conversation with the Kingdom in mind. Q Ideas is a platform for education and conversation, always keeping in mind that “Christians are called to redeem entire cultures, not just individuals.”* Through essays, videos, podcasts, blogs, and conferences, Q hopes to make this calling a reality for this generation. With topics varying from media, arts and entertainment, business, education, government, the social sector, and the church, Q engages in challenging conversations in hopes of redeeming God’s creation here on Earth.

One of the most powerful tools that Q Ideas has developed is their annual Q Union conferences – a gathering place for college students to listen, learn, share perspective, and create context for their beliefs. For the second year, we will be bringing Q Union to the students of Liberty University as they provide lectures on “The Power of We” from three nationally broadcasted speakers: Christian author Bob Goff, church planter and author Jo Saxton, and founder and CEO of charity: water Scott Harrison. Alongside these national speakers, three student speakers will offer insight to relevant issues in their areas of study. This night will be filled with difficult cultural conversations with the intention of engaging with “active leaders hungry to shape the future of culture.”*

Join us for Q Union on Thursday, October 25, in the LaHaye Event Space, beginning at 7pm.

References:

https://www.prisonstudies.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/wppl_10.pdf

https://www.britannica.com/topic/womens-movement

https://money.com/equal-pay-day-2018-gender-wage-gap/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/05/11/hate-crime-rates-are-still-on-the-rise/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.e544ab5e86f1

https://qunion.squarespace.com/liberty

Written By: Natalie Bassie

There may be two Jimmy’s in the world of comedy, but there is only one Michael Jr. Michael Jr.’s love for an audience’s laughter was sparked while at a movie theater. When the movie malfunctioned, Michael Jr. stood in front of the screen, cracking jokes. Everything changed once again for comedian Michael Jr. the moment he performed a stand-up routine at a comedy club in California for a live audience. Not too long after, Michael Jr. then appeared via satellite on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Michael Jr. has made appearances on Oprah, The Tonight Show, The Late, Late Show, and has performed at The Laugh Factory, The Improv, and The Comedy Store. Not only has he appeared on a comedy stage, but also as an actor in the 2015 faith-based film, War Room.

Michael Jr.’s humor is one that is known for being clean since the beginning of his career. His routines can be performed in front of any audience. Stand-up comedy can be sticky and sometimes too far when it comes to morality issues, but Michael Jr. has always stayed clear of the more risqué side of the job. He attributes this to his family, wanting to perform jokes that can be repeated even at the dinner table.

For someone who loves comedy and witty one-liners, it will be refreshing to experience a stand-up comedy routine where I do not have to worry about the appropriacy of what may be said next. Michael Jr. will perform October 26 in the Grand Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m., and he will surely leave us anticipating when we get to see him perform again!

References

https://michaeljr.com/biography

https://www.christianexaminer.com/article/michael-jr-explains-why-he-chose-clean-comedy-and-how-kids-influenced-his-decision/51021.htm