The success of the address for me was the way that Jon spun things on its head, putting the theological message to one side (Jon is always very sensitive to his audience, allowing for alternative views) at the end to give a relevant message to the teenage audience; namely encouraging them to be prepared to stand up for what they believe when they feel the need so to do. Citing
The Guardian‘s absorbing and provocative
weekend piece which makes some very interesting observations, not least about social media ('Facebook is many things, but a community it is not…’), Jon urged his assembled flock to be prepared to go against the flow.
Of course, some might say that urging a group of teenagers to stand up for a cause could be asking for trouble; however, if they are the ‘good, brave causes’ referenced by Jimmy Porter in Look Back in Anger and suggested by Jon in his talk, I would suggest that the advice was on the right side of radical …