What Can American Idol Teach Us About The Church?
I confess that I have a few American Idol alumni in my Itunes, but just like my voting policy, I’ll never tell you who they are. Last night, my wife reminded me as I was doing homework with one of my daughters that the season premier was on in a little bit. A couple of years ago watching what I like to call the American Idol pre-season became a tradition of sorts for my wife and I. Back then we could only watch one channel and we were in a little cabin waiting for something a little bigger to open up for us. Of course like a lot of Americans we laughed at some of the contestants, wondering what in the world they were thinking. So last night I stopped what I was doing and from the first commercial on we watched the carnage. I’d like to tell you that we had empathy for those people who tried and failed but the truth is we laugh at most of them. The truth is after the auditions I’ll hardly watch any of the episodes. About half way through, I said to my wife, “There’s something we can learn from this, I just don’t know what it is.†Believe it or not, I actually pondered this for the rest of the show. I pondered what can the church learn from American Idol? Not, how can the church emulate American Idol but what are the inherent truths here that I’m missing.
Then it happened. Near the end there was a series of failed contestants walking out the door, some sad, most angry, and all of them talking about how they were going to make it “without American Idol!!!†Now, let’s think about that for a moment, here is two of the best talent evaluators in the business (Randy and Simon–I’m not really sure why Paula is on the show) and they’ve just told you that you’re not good enough but you’re gonna go make it on your own. Sure, there probably will be somebody who will do that once, maybe. Realistically, though these people are not going to make it. They’re just not that good.
All of the Princess Leia like hair do’s and chest hair waxing isn’t going to make their voices any better. No amount of one finger salutes or complaining about the make up girls that all look alike is going to change that. It’s amazing really, these people just lie to themselves. The truth is too hard to face. It’s easier to blame the judges. It’s even easier to get angry instead of facing the truth that your hurting. I imagine for many if not all of these people this is a life long dream. Many have probably had the flames of this dream fanned by well intentioned friends and family members who have listened through ears that are well… friends and family ears. Rather than hurt the person they love they encourage them that they could make it, that they might have a chance and their voices might be good enough. The idea of being dishonest in an effort to be nice is a topic for a whole other day. So they rant, they rave and they blame everyone out there. Before we get too hard on these idol wannabes I want to ask, doesn’t the church do this?
Seriously, the conservatives blame the emergents, the emergents blame the conservatives. One denomination blames another, free-willers blame Calvinists, Calvinists blame free-willers, etc.
I know of a pastor who led a church to a third of the size it was when he took over. You know what he says the reason is? People just cannot handle good hard preaching anymore. Now, I wonder what that says about the guy before him, who hired him and groomed him to take his place. Is he saying that guy didn’t preach solid Biblical truths? That church has lost most of its influence in the community in which it has historic roots, mostly because it fought the wrong battles.
Read the gospels. It’s fascinating. Jesus was hated or loved depending on who was around him but he was never marginalized. He was never ignored. Everywhere he went people talked about Him, they knew about Him. Same thing with the Apostle Paul. It’s amazing, people tried to kill him in a variety of ways. The early church grew. Maybe it was because it didn’t have the time to blame outsiders because those outsiders were persecuting them.
I love when a church or some para-church ministry rants and shrieks about “the Culture Wars†and taking America back to the golden age when “it was a Christian nation.†When I was a kid we used to spread that kind of talk on our fields as fertilizer. I’m afraid the church has lost some of its effectiveness because we’ve failed to tell ourselves the truth. We’ve failed to look at the mirror and see where we are failing. We’ve been too busy blaming people who don’t believe like us for not acting like us. We’ve gone crazy trying to defend things are extra-biblical. It’s time we take a long deep look at us and ask if we are redeeming the time or punching a time clock. The problem is that this is hard. It’s hard to say that you were wrong, It’s even harder to ask for forgiveness. If you really want to do something extremely hard that Christ commands us to do, don’t worry about taking the gospel to some third world country–just try to forgive someone who has really hurt you. For many, going to that third world country will be far far easier.
There are people who actually fight over the terms we should call ourselves. Christ-follower or Christian? I sincerely doubt that the label we proudly slap on our chest has ever shown anyone what it means to be loved. I doubt that anyone has ever decided to follow Christ because of some label. Both terms drives at people looking like Jesus. One of the terms actually means “little Christ.†I wonder if Christ would have thumped his chest over a label?
When the disciples were exercised over someone doing Kingdom things they told him to stop because he wasn’t one of them. How did Jesus respond? He told them to let the guy alone. The time has come for the church to stop blaming “those people†whoever those people are take a long hard look at the church. What if every church, every Christian/Christ-follower were to just ask one simple question this year? What if we asked how much we looked like Jesus? The Bible is full of great ways that we can demonstrate that we are like Christ. They all involve actions.
If you really want to be relevant to your community, go love somebody this week. Let the person behind you jump ahead at the checkout next time. Write a thank you note to the person who’s opening the envelope that contains your check for a bill you owe. Forgive the person who wronged you. It’s time we started telling ourself the truth. It’s not some catchy phrase on a sign that is going to show people that we love them and each other and that is important, after all how well we love each other is a sign of who we’re following.
January 17th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Great post, brother.
Great reminders.
The guy from Philly with the deep and low “…let my people go” was my favorite.
My wife and I are like you and your wife used to be.
We get one, maybe two channels, depending on the atmospheric pressure and rising or falling barometer and if the stars align.
January 17th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Joe,
My question is what is love?
Is it love to do nice things and have syruppy (?) feelings toward one another?
Is it love to warn and rebuke when one is in error?
I think how we deal with one another in the church is one thing, and how we deal in the outside world is another. What do you think?
BTW, read the next post from Matt about righteousness sown in peace. Great stuff.
January 17th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Joe,
great post!
“I know of a pastor who led a church to a third of the size it was when he took over. You know what he says the reason is? People just cannot handle good hard preaching anymore. Now, I wonder what that says about the guy before him, who hired him and groomed him to take his place. Is he saying that guy didn’t preach solid Biblical truths?”
Now, if this was the “truth” then people would be barreling out of John MacArthur’s church in droves! I mean if people can’t handle good hard preaching anymore, then all the churches like that show be empty also… or else that means then JM is not doing any good hard preaching! LOL!
The logic cuts both ways and is missed by those who believe such. I think that for ODM’s it is easier to lie to others if you can lie to yourself.
iggy
January 17th, 2008 at 9:47 am
PB,
We can warn with gentleness and humility… as if we also can fall into the same sin… yet some seem to think they cannot and will not… so suffer the sin of arrogance… which if one reads Romans 11 should scare that out of them! But, truth to them is not the Person of Jesus… it is an abstract concept detached from the Person of Jesus and must be protected…
Truth is not Jesus… it is not God… To them God is not Love… He is anger and wrath… and will come in judgment and condemnation… in that these become like the god they serve and represent him… and protect him… this god in their own image.
But, I digress… Love is patient, kind, long suffering, does not keep a record of wrong… (that one gets me)
So, we must be honest enough to know we all sin… we all fail at some point, and in that honesty trust God at His word He forgave us and forgive those who offend us over and over…
To me that is love.
iggy
January 17th, 2008 at 10:04 am
who is they and them?
January 17th, 2008 at 10:06 am
PB,
Read Romans 12 vs 9-21. Take each phrase and put it on a sheet of paper. They are action statements. Do those and you will do well.
January 17th, 2008 at 10:12 am
PB…
Sorry, they and them are the ODM’s… and others who believe God is angry with the sinner and overlook that “God so loved the world He gave His only Son.” They make God out to hate sinners… though the bible teaches that God dealt with sin and we need Life… for the Life is in the Son.
iggy
January 17th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Acts 15:
36And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Hmmm…. no mention that Paul was wrong in this, or Barnabas for that matter. I do not have to co-work with anyone who I may disagree with theologically or in method.
I find it more than fallacious that those who allegedly preach free-will and grace seem to condemn those that would separate over a matter.
We need to re-read 1 Cor 3 especially verse 7.
What does your American Idol reference have to do with anything, other than how the attempt to contextualize virtually every scriptural issue flows into the banal?
January 17th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Dude,
Even the comments are blue. How cool is that
January 17th, 2008 at 10:19 am
If this passage is true, this blog (and others) should cease to exist, unless it becomes for the purpose of blessing the ODM’s:
Romans 12:14-21
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
(unless they curse you, or a cause you are passionate about first)
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. (unless they are fundamentalists, Calvinists, moderns, etc.)
Do not be proud, (unless you believe that you are right and others are wrong)
but be willing to associate with people of low position.Do not be conceited.
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. (but feel free to criticize an ignorant article/person on an ODM site)
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (again, unless they are an ODM)
19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord. (unless, of course, you believe that the Holy Spirit is impotent or dead)
20On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (of course, you can overcome perceived evil by writing biting, sarcastic responses if you are offended by an ODM)
(The parentheses are mine)
January 17th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Iggy, what do you do with Romans 1:18? John 3:36? Colossians 3:6? I could go on…
January 17th, 2008 at 10:23 am
PB, This will probably be my last comment for a while as I have a ton of stuff to do. I have to say that to some extent, you seem to have an agenda in your comments. I seem to remember you stating numerous times about this blog shutting down. In the words of Dana Carvey imitating George Sr. “Not gonna happen…” You asked me what is love and I answered. I’m glad you’re here and commenting but I don’t think you understand why this Blog is here. The answer has been answered ad nauseum numerous times so I’m gonna leave it at that.
Peace, Love and Happiness
January 17th, 2008 at 10:27 am
I can hear Carvey doing that! LOL
Joe, I am just wrestling with both sides here. I understand why you are here, I understand the purpose of this blog, as well as the ODM’s You referenced Romans 12, I read it, I was just trying to line up how these blogs line up with that scripture?
January 17th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Fair enough. I feel that you did a fair bit of commentary there on some of those verses.
January 17th, 2008 at 11:04 am
PB,
Wrath has its place, but to state God is angry…
you need to re-read the Romans passage and get to chapter two where Paul speaks of “kindness”…
John 3:36 is as it states, yet we have the ministry of reconciliation that we share… not ministry of death and condemnation… as Hebrews 10 teaches
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?”
In that they commit the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit… the one unforgivable sin… that they deny Christ there is nothing left for them but wrath… but it is as a forgiven man one will face wrath… though they reject that forgiveness.
Colossians 3: 6 is about how those that believe once were… and that wrath will come becuase such evil is in the world…
I am not sure what you are getting at other than you are assuming wrongly I deny wrath… I do not deny wrath, but hold it in its proper perspective in light of Grace.
I will not preach wrath at the expense of Grace, yet without wrath there can be no Grace… without wrath, God cannot show kindness to those who are now vessels of Mercy.
The ODM’s push wrath and negate the Cross and Resurrection that saves us as they claim the Blood of Jesus was not enough to please the Father… they negate that Jesus’ obedience was enough for us and that we must do works to please the Father in addition to Jesus’ finish works on the Cross.
They claim Jesus is not the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world, but that he is only the covering we have until wrath comes… Jesus did more than cover our sins… He totally satisfied all God righteous demands and took away the sins of the world… and I preach… Behold the Lamb.
iggy
January 17th, 2008 at 11:23 am
This is somewhat unrelated, so I apologize in advance.
I’ve only watched American Idol a few times. Of course the best episodes are the auditions in the beginning. I saw a few minutes of the new ones this week, and I think the judges are losing their edge. This girl came in, gave a sob story about her mom, and commenced to fail at singing. So rather than crush this girl’s dreams, the judges gave her a group hug ans walked her out. I knew then that AI had jumped the shark. America will not stand for such mercy, especially from Simon Cowell.
January 17th, 2008 at 11:30 am
ignatious de iggy:
Romans 2:
It is because we judge one another from a hypocritical heart ( the heart is Desperately WICKED above all things…who can know it…) that we are condemned. Because we judge AND practice the same things ourselves (not doing research, being sarcastic and snarky, see this blog and some ODM’s) we will see the judgement of God.
We DO take the riches of HIS tolerance, kindness, and patience lightly. We DO NOT know or allow the kindness of God to lead us to repentance. Because WE ARE stubborn WE ARE storing up God’s wrath for ourselves on that last day.
Why can’t we trust God to render to each person according to his deeds? Why do we need ODM’s and counter ODM’s? Don’t we trust God?
January 17th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Ah, I felt bad for that girl…and she played football! And to draw from the point behind the post she didn’t come out lying to herself–which so many do.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
–Hijack– Go Patriots.
Boo San Diego.
Joe