The Power of Knowing a Name

My wife and I have been renting the first season of "The Middle."  It is a TV comedy that follows the Heck family, a middle class family living...well life.  You get insight into their marriage, having kids/teens and the struggles of middle to lower class families.  A recent episode had the 7th grade daughter, Sue Heck, being taken to youth group at their church for the first time.  Sue remarks that "don't losers and geeks go to youth group?"  Let's just say she isn't that thrilled and her brother, Axel, gives her the advice that she just needs to "wait it out as mom will get tired of taking her."  

Sue goes and she ends up meeting the youth pastor: Rev. Tim Tom (short for Timothy Thomas).   He does what ever youth pastor does by singing a song about how tough it is being a teen( note my sarcasm).  Actually he launches into several songs about being a teen is hard.  For reference watch this youtube clip: REV. Tim Tom

Though he is funny and Sue (primarily at the beginning) has probably a touch of a crush on him, she says something interesting in the show that has provoked me to write a blog about it.  After learning that Rev. Tim Tom is leaving (first because the church refinished the pews and couldn't pay for his salary then because he knows of some troubled youth in Dayton, OH) Sue is distraught and upset.  She says that she is upset by him leaving because "He gets me!"  But what does she mean by this?  She gives us what "getting her" really is: the fact that he knows her name.
 Throughout the first season, Sue is the person who can't seem to achieve anything.  She tries out for al most every club and sport and never gets in.  She isn't an athlete, and she isn't a scholar, therefore she is thrusted into the oddball category.   None of her teachers even know she exists in their classes and she struggles to find her place.  What matters most to Sue is that Rev. Tim Tom knows her name and that means something.  From here whatever Tim says she absorbs, whatever song he sings, she is listening because she knows that he cares enough to know her name!

Something can be said about this.  As a full time youth pastor for almost seven years I can tell you that knowing a kids name makes a difference.  I love to go out of my way to know the name of the kid in the corner not talking or really any kid for that matter.  I might not always get a kids name right or always remember it, but I certainly try.  Once I have their name I make sure to call it out when I see them.  I also try to remember something they enjoy or is unique to them.  I do this so they know that I am listening to them and that I care about them.

Though I can play guitar about as good as a 2 year old banging on piano keys, I have come to know the importance of knowing a kids name.  It can be a simple yet powerful tool to drawing closer to kids, developing relationships with them so that we can draw them closer to Christ.

Be Blessed

What the "Book of Mormon" musical can teach us.

Recently my wife and I had the opportunity to see the hit musical "Book of Mormon."  It was an incredible gift from my wife's parents and we were very thankful for the tickets.  I knew a little of what I would expect to see as it was written by the same people who did the Southpark episodes (of which I have seen a couple).     In short the Book of Mormon follows two elders (Price and Cunningham) on their missionary journey to spread the word of Christ.  They end up in war torn Uganda (not their favorite pick--Orlando FL was!)    They don't understand the culture (one quote---"Africa is not like the Lion King"), they struggle to present their beliefs, they struggle with doubt, they make stuff up to get conversions, and finally.....well go see it.  What I saw totally blew me away.  Musically/set design/ talent was simply wonderful.   These guys tackled a lot of issues that are not simply unique to the Mormon faith, but to all religions.  Even though this musical, like so many of the Southpark shows, does have some does at times cross the line, these guys touch on some things that I think are vital for the church (when I say church I mean Christian church) to learn or relearn.  Here is what I took from the musical:

1.  the Book of Mormon exposes the fact that we need to have an ability to laugh at ourselves. (even if it's at our expense)

I am not easily offended.  I think there is only one time in my life that I have actually been offended.  Yes they make fun of race, religious belief and culture.  But because they make fun of these things doesn't mean that some of jokes are not true.  Usually there is some grain of truth to it.  As a Christian I didn't have a problem with them making fun of how religious people act too pious.  That the beliefs sound silly (no lie had a youth tell me this once---we believe in a zombie and a place where everyone can be essentially zombies).  We can't be so uptight.  These guys are not believers, the play isn't for believers.  Keep the musical (just like we do with our Bible) in context.  I laughed, it was funny.  But I quickly realized that some of my friends would be offended that they would want to bust out the crosses and fire.  Deep breath, relax and don't take yourself so seriously.

2.  Book of Mormon causes us to evaluate how we approach people with the gospel.

Elder Price and Cunningham go into Uganda thinking they are just going to convert people left and right.  They end up finding out that:  A. Many churches have "come through" trying to convert people.  B. They struggle to find common ground.  C.  They make up stuff to make the people feel better (adding Star Trek and Star Wars characters to give the story some spice).  

As believers, we need to make sure that we approach people carefully, lovingly but also clearly with the message that we are carrying.  Between the wackos we see on TV and our propencity to sin, we must be even more vigilant in sharing the gospel in a way that will glorify God and give people a clear picture of who God is (both through speech and action).  We don't need to jazz up the story of God to make it attractive and we don't need to subtract things to make it more palpable.  

3.  We should be attuned to and respect the culture of other people (domestic and foreign).

One aspect in the play is that all the elders present in Uganda struggle to understand their culture and values.  At one point jokingly one points out after they see violence and the hardships of the Ugandan people an elder says "Africa is not like the Lion King at all!"  I have been out of the country twice in the last two years and one aspect that I make sure is in our travel plans are to learn certain cultural aspects of those countries we visit.  Little nuances to help understand the people and country we visit rather than forcing them to adapt to ours.  It goes a loooooong way.  I can even point out several Americans in the countries we visit because of this very issue.  When it comes to sharing our faith, developing relationships within the culture of the people is a powerful tool and amazing things happen.  

4.  We need to be honest with our faults, our doubts, our struggles, with God and the church.

There is a very witty song within the musical called "Turn it off"  The song follows how the two elders mentioned  earlier struggle with the troubles of sharing their faith with the Ugandans.  This musical number is to illustrate that when you struggle or things in life get you down just: "turn it off, like a lightbulb.  Just go click, its a neat Mormon trick."  Within the song different elders speak about the abuse of parents, homosexual urges, and a variety of scenarios.  Rather than dealing with them, praying about them, being open and honest about their struggles they just "turn it off" or push it deep down and never deal with it.  Now this sounds silly, but being in the church for over 13 years (6 of them working IN the church) I have seen a number of people do this.  Rather than be open and honest about their struggles, they "turn it off" and  simply put a smile on their face, tell you everything is great.  One of my favorite quotes that helps remind me that I'm not okay: "The church is not a museum for good people, but a hospital for the broken."  Broken (and redeemed) people reside in the church.  Not perfect, not good.  We are the best people to help those who are broken outside of the church.   Let's be honest with our doubts about God, the church and the struggles in our lives (though as my wife says don't emotionally throwup on someone).

This is an awesome musical with a lot that we can learn from.  It will be showing at the Kennedy Center till August 9th.  Be Blessed.