Context

A couple nights ago, my wife and I and some of our closest friends were given tickets for "A Christmas Carol", written by and starring Ira Wood III. All of us had seen A Christmas Carol in its standard form before, as well as the many TV versions that have come out over the years. But we had heard that this one was quite a production and had a few unexpected twists- so we were looking forward to a great show.

There were many twists to say the least. It was nothing at all like we expected. Though the basic plot was the same, the dialogue and the characters were nothing we could have anticipated. It had the look and feel of the traditional story and setting, overlaid with slapstick humor and a Scrooge that felt more like Robin Williams as the Genie in Aladdin, or Jim Carey's Grinch, than the Scrooge of Dicken's story. It was pretty wild.

The most interesting and unexpected thing about the whole production happened toward the end of the evening, something very helpful in how I view my faith and leadership at Crosspointe. 

Throughout the night, there were numerous jokes and puns with punch lines that were very much dependent on the audience being up on current events, local culture and knowledge of the actors' personal lives and their other performances. You really had to be on your toes in some cases.

With the coming confrontation with the Ghost of Christmas future, the story was about to begin resolving for Mr. Scrooge.  But as Jacob Marley opens the casket lid, Scrooge wails, "No! Not death! Please!!!" To which Marley responds, "No, Ebenezer, your future holds something far worse than death!". As the coffin opens, loud and heavy rock music begins to play, and a man with a ghostly white face, blackened eyes and a leather trenchcoat/boots ensemble steps out. He's Marilyn Manson, and he's "singing" the Marilyn Manson rock/metal hit "beautiful people". Scrooge covers his face is horror and screams "NO!". Many in the audience laughed. I sat there completely confused. And then over the blaring music, Marley yells to his terrified friend "this will be your son-in-law if you don't change your ways." 

Excuse me?

I left the show thinking were they just trying to be a zany and wild as they could be? What in the heck was the point in all that? Of all the horrible things they could have tried to present as worse than death, why a 90's shock-rocker? I really felt like it was a silly waste of an ending. And then, I realized that many people probably missed that part, like me- but also the other jokes that required a good grasp on recent news stories and celebrity gossip. I had this sense that many of us were walking out wondering if we were the only ones that didn't "get it". 

But, later that night, I got an email from Jonathan. It was a link to a news story he'd come across. And this is where I learned something priceless. The news story explained that the real life daughter of actor Ira Wood III (Scrooge) is dating the real life rocker Marilyn Manson.

AHA!

This must be a real-life issue for the actor. This must be a real-life "yikes" for those that know him and his family, and for that matter know anything about Marilyn. That's the point...the context! That's why it was a humorous "worse than death" scenario- because it is for Ira the real-life daddy. Now I know! Now I get it! That's actually funny!

I wonder how many people go to a church on a Sunday morning, wanting to take in something pure and true or at least take a step in their faith, and leave wondering what the heck that all meant. They leave acknowledging that something just connected for other people who know the story, who "get it", but, for them, it was a waste of time. I wonder how many people read the Bible and think "what the heck is all this?", and the only help they have ever gotten is someone saying "NO! You mustn't question or wonder. This is God's word. Just read it and believe!" And they feel dejected and even a bit disgusted with how nonsensical it all seems.

The groups you lead are a provision of context. A context for people to say "I don't get it" and then get to wrestle through and discover just what "it" actually is. It's a context that will find the rich background to these stories, songs and letters we call The Bible even more applicable and relevant than we ever imagined. A small group context that will present Jesus, faith and Christianity; all in context then and now. Not under the umbrella of dogma or a presentation that's only for those on "the inside", but a contextualization that meets people where they are, with their current understanding of God and themselves, and takes steps from there. And it's in that environment, that "AHA!" moments can be enjoyed, as we pursue this life-changing relationship with God and a dozen or so others.

Thanks for leading,

Steve