FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS AND RELIGION

What is a born-again Christian? How do you decide to change your life, a life towards God? Lyla Garrity, a high school student in Friday Night Lights, becomes a born-again Christian. This section will be discussing her story throughout Friday Night Lights and also the stories of other born-again Christians. For each born-again Christian the term “born-again” means something different. Also the things that lead them to this faith are different. First I will be discussing other peoples experiences and then I will be discussing Lyla’s in comparison to theirs. 

 

A born again Christian often experiences a change within their life which causes them to convert. In John 3.3 (NIV) the idea of being born again is discussed by Jesus and Nicodemus : “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again”. This leads to various interpretations of what being born-again means. For many born again Christians the description that John gives is not similar to any other experience.  John is not the only one who talks about a conversion. There are actually four, the synoptic Gospel, Acts, John’s Gospel and Pauline writing. Each one of these leads to a different interpretation of what it means to be born again. There are many other conversion types outside of this as well, for example “… John Edward’s report of an awe inspiring sense of God depicted in nature suggested that his conversion was aesthetic, while C.S. Lewis’s cognitive struggles with doubt indicated that his conversion was intellectual.” [Brosi, Foubert, Fuqua, Watson, 2012].
 
There are 6 characteristics that distinguish born again Christians. They are “1. The new birth is a fundamental element in the life of every Christian. 2. Regeneration is a work of God through the Holy Spirit, in which the new Christian receives a new, spiritual life. 3. In line with Christ's teaching, the presence of the Holy Spirit may not be seen directly, but can be seen (evidenced) in His effects in the new believer's life, nature, and behaviors. 4. The Christian is aware of the Holy Spirit's presence and influence in life-changing ways. 5. Regeneration is not only a theological concept, but it is also a very real personal experience in the life of every believer. 6. Individuals may experience the new birth in very different ways.” I will be using participants experiences that were described in “Explaining the Wind: How Self-Identified Born Again Christians Define What Born Again means to Them”. Through this article, 5 overall themes were explained by the participant experiences. [Brosi, Foubert, Fuqua, Watson, 2012].
 
The first theme that was described is that certain people did not like associating the term ‘born again’ Christian with themselves. Lots of people did not understand what the term meant so they did not want to associate it with themselves. Others felt the term did not help describe their experience. An example of this is ‘… Hayden replied “Um, I actually, I don’t usually say born again Christian, I usually just say Christian.”’ Many felt that the term just did not give justice to their experience and would rather not use it. Others believed that it was over used. Many people used the term more than once to explain their experience and to some participants that does not make a lot of sense. Also the definition of what a born again Christian is it is different for each person, causing people trouble to identify with the term. [Brosi, Foubert, Fuqua, Watson, 2012].

The second theme is that certain people experienced comfort and safety with their relationship with Him through Christ. Throughout the interviews, Christians exposed three comforts in their relationships with God through Christ. The first comfort was that they obtained support in their faith in God. They realized that God is there and what is doing for us. Having this connection with God reassured their faith in God. The second comfort was “repentance from selfishness and sin”. This one is best explained with an example: ‘…Morris said, “I repented to my sins that is what a born again Christian is. It’s someone who has repented, someone who has admitted they are a sinful person… and has asked God for forgiveness for their sins.”’ Christ died for our sins, so by repenting for their own sins this new faith in God is revealed.  The third comfort is that participants realized that God is the true savior and that they needed to let his teachings aid in their everyday decisions. [Brosi, Foubert, Fuqua, Watson, 2012]. These three comforts provided these people a safe path to becoming a born again Christian.

Many knew they were born again because the doctrine backed up their experiences, this is the third theme. Many students said born again happened for them when they understood the teachings of Christ. “She continued to note her contention that baptism is necessary for being born again by stating that a person “has to go all the way under, it’s not sprinkling, its nothing else, you have to be actually baptized, which is the burying and come back up…” Thus to this particular respondent, being born again meant being baptized by immersion.” Other various participants described it as them realizing that Christ died for their sins. ‘ For example, Kasey stated: “It’s definitely whenever I’m pursuing my own selfish ambition that I feel His presence more and more.”’ [Brosi, Foubert, Fuqua, Watson, 2012].

The forth theme is that certain participants experienced things that helped them realize. “A major element the participants reported in providing evidence appealed to be the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives.” Many felt as if they had something leading their lives, helping them realize good or bad decisions in their daily lives. Along with this many participants said they felt the “presence of God in their lives” causing their lives to change. Various say that by choosing a life with God lead them away from sin causing them to have a life changing experience. ‘Scout reflected: “Someone that believes that they are… ‘born again’ is kind of confusing terms but just that, um, they’ve changed their lives to want to pursue a godly, Christ-centered life.”’ Lots also said that “their belief that being born again was evidenced through their love for others and their changing focus from themselves to other.” [Brosi, Foubert, Fuqua, Watson, 2012]. Therefore, the shift from selfishness to charity led them to become born again.

The final theme is “some participants reported feelings that led to an experiential type of understanding of their status of being born again”. This is the idea of feeling God and Christ with you in various situations. Many related Jesus, saying Jesus was part of his/her life and influenced their life in a major way. [Brosi, Foubert, Fuqua, Watson, 2012].
As you can see none of these experiences discussed were like the one in Chapter 3 of John. The above, however, does show that everyone has a different opinion on what born-again means. I will be using this information to help explain one of the characters in Friday Night Lights.

 

 

 

 

 

Lyla’s situation fits into more than one of these categories listed above. First I will explain what happened to Lyla before her conversion to help understand why she took this journey. Lyla Garrity is a Dillion Pantehrs cheerleader who is dating high school quarterback Jason Street. After Jason’s accident she strayed away from the relationship and cheated on Jason with Tim Riggins. When Jason found out, it caused them to break up. After time Jason finally accepted her apology and they got back together. At the end of the first season she ends up in an extremely hard place with her parents splitting up (due to her father’s infidelity), her engagement with Jason being broken off and her quitting cheerleading. Lyla lost everything she had.

 

Here are some videos from Season 1 to show what her experience was like:

 

 

This video shows how much stress and pain Lyla faced after Jason's accident. It also helps explain Lyla's actions. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This video shows the struggle Lyla faces after everyone finds out about her and Tim. As you can see by the video Lyla has a very difficult time. Also, Tim does not try to help. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Season 1, Lyla matures through her born-again experience. She takes her faith seriously in a town where prayer is used to make a touchdown. Lyla’s place of practice upon God for “less selfish signs of charity” compared to other churches in Dillon who pray for the victory of the Dillon Panthers. Lyla takes part in throughout the season, a cafeteria bible study, a Christian radio help line and a ministry to prisoners. [Bellafante, 2007]. In the following paragraphs I will be explaining how Lyla converted and why she converted.

One large part that related Lyla to the participants in “Explaining the Wind: How Self-Identified Born Again Christians Define What Born Again means to Them” is the idea of repentance of your sins. At the end of season1, Lyla has a lot to be sinful of. Most of this sin has to do with Tim Riggins. In season 1, episode 4 Lyla states that she hopes she does not go to hell for sleeping with Tim. When people find out about Tim and Lyla they destroy her life. They make it extremely hard for her to enjoy anything. Along with this her dad cheats on his wife, so her parents’ splitting was extremely hard on her. When Season 2 starts, she has put this all behind her. Lyla chooses her faith over Tim. “You see the torment of Lyla’s resistance to Tim in the exasperated looks that mask the anguish she seems to feel whenever he comes around. One kind of ecstasy isn’t easily bartered for another.” [Bellafante, 2007]. This is also shown when she talks to Chris, her new Christian boyfriend, about why she now goes to church. She explains that she felt lost, her life blew up in the previous six months, God was the only source of comfort at the time and her relationship with God just grew and grew. This source of comfort Lyla explains fits with the experience of the students from the study.

Another way Lyla’s conversion is similar to the participants is her change from selfishness to helping others. Lyla, in episode 4 of season 2, heads to a prison to preach to some inmates as part of charity work with Christ Teen Messengers. After her visit she runs into one of these inmates who has now been released. Lyla helps him in a huge way. She helps him find a job with her father at Garrity motors. She also asks Tim Riggins to help him with football, so he will fit into a community. For Lyla helping this ex-con is very important. This shows how Lyla’s life flips from it being about her to being about others. Another charity work she does is she goes on the radio to help other Christians with problems or other questions. The radio station is called “I Was A Teenage Christian”. The link below provides you with a clip of the radio station. This clip involves Tim Riggins making fun of Lyla's radio show, however later on you see Tim open up to this idea of a born again Christian after he hears Lyla giving a girl advise. You see Lyla help one girl who says that when she is at school and she prays people make fun of her. Lyla tells her to follow the gospel song “This Little Light of Mine” and says to be who she is and to not hide it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the first signs of Lyla’s conversion relates back to important part of the experience for other participants, the baptism. Lyla’s first scene in Season 2 is her being baptized. This truly shows that Lyla has left her past behind and started anew. I believe this is a turning point into Lyla’s born-again Christian experience. This can be shown through the following quote:

 

“Tim: You look good, you look real good.

Lyla: Thanks. It’s probably because yesterday I wasbaptized and

accepted Jesus as my lord and savior”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 From this point on through the whole season, Lyla stays true to her faith and her belief. Lyla’s faith is often tested by one Tim Riggins. An example of this is after Tim goes to the church he explains to Lyla that he has now changed and that when he is with her he feels closer to God. Lyla does not believe that Tim is being truthful. Here is Tim’s speech to Lyla:

 

“Something happened to me last night that I have no idea what it was but I felt something… I felt something so strong that it made me wonder about everything you’ve been saying isn’t as carzy as everyone thought. It’s hard for me to understand the feeling… It allowed me to feel part of something, part of the people, part of you, part of God, and saying that is scary… I feel closer to God when I’m with you.”

Lyla’s response to this statement is:

 

“You feel closer to God when you’re with me? Did you think that line was gonna work?”

This shows how Lyla is not tempted by temptation." 

 

This shows how Lyla is not tempted by temptation. Lyla rejecting Tim reveals how serious she is about this experience. As you can see Lyla's born again Christian experience is very similiar to the participants. 

 

Born again Christian is a term that a lot of people do not fully understand. Many people have heard the term before but have not understood what it meant. As you can see "born again" is very hard and very different to explain. Many born again Christians have a different interpretation of what it means to be born again. Lyla Garrity in Friday Night Lights shows one definition of what it means to be a born again Christian. Lyla was going through a difficult time when she decided to take this spiritual path, others felt signs or a presense in their lives. This born again Christian experience for Lyla is one way in which Friday Night Lights incorporates religion into their show.