Over the years I’ve been building some files that I dig into from time to time as a ministry resource. The files are filled with comic strips from our daily newspaper. I’ve found that comics have a way of lowering our defenses and getting us to see, consider, and talk about things that need to be seen, considered, and talked about. In a way, comic strips serve as a type of social commentary that can spark Gospel-centered discussions on some of the more timely and even tender issues related to children, teens and life in today’s world.
I encourage parents and youth pastors to read the comics on a daily basis. One reason is that the comics can get us thinking about the things we need to think about. . . especially that stuff that’s become so familiar that we don’t even notice it anymore. . . stuff that we might let slip through the cracks. A second reason is that a comic can spark a discussion of a sensitive topic with parents (if you’re a youth worker who is trying to educate parents on youth culture) or with a teenager.
Yesterday, I spotted this “Speed Bump” comic that serves as a great example of what I’m talking about here. This is certainly one that tells us how much our world has changed, while offering a spark for discussions about those changes.
What comic strips have you found to be helpful and have you used?
Zits is particularly relevant, pertaining to teenagers and relationships with their parents