“Church, The Series”

If the Church were a TV series, what would it be?

There are, of course, programs that gain popularity because they play to our worst inclinations. Lust, violence, greed, and the desire to see others demeaned are a negative aspect of our humanity that an increasing amount of television caters to. But many others are based on our common needs, desires, and experiences. If well done, these can even become an integral part of our common culture. Mayberry means a close knit small town. Ozzie and Harriet communicates an idyllic family even to those who never have seen the show.

In my imagination, “Church, The Series” might be about sports. Perhaps it would be about an underdog team that always wins in the final moments of the big game. Jesus does win at the end, and the devil is our adversary. (I guess it sounds like a movie, not a series.) Or maybe, the show could be about a hero like Jack Bauer from “24” who reluctantly saves an oblivious world season after season with a team of mostly expendable characters. (Jesus did save an oblivious world, didn’t He? But I guess He didn’t torture anyone—He allowed Himself to be tortured.) Or how about a romance? We are the Bride of Christ, aren’t we? (Unfortunately, there would be fewer men watching than are interested in attending church.)

After eliminating those possibilities, my mind turns toward reality TV and comedies. A reality show about the church could work, but it’s too painful to even consider. But an ensemble comedy could work. I can see it now: a group of people thrown together, muddling through obstacles together, and growing to love one another in spite of often not liking one another. And there are classic comedies to consider as examples, aren’t there? “Andy Griffith”, “Mary Tyler Moore”, “Taxi”, “MASH”, “Bill Cosby”, “Cheers”, “Friends”, “Seinfeld”, and “The Office” are some that come to mind.

“MASH”, a comedy about the doctors, nurses, and staff of an army mobile hospital unit in the Korean War, makes the top of my list for three reasons. It was the most popular. Until the recent Superbowl, the final episode was the most watched show of all time in America. The show was successful in connecting the audience to the story and the characters. Secondly, the characters were flawed and funny, but passionate about their mission of healing the wounded. And lastly, their relationships were forged by their shared commitment to the mission, not by similar cultural background or interests or inclinations.

In many ways, MASH could be a parable of what the Church looks like when it works. Our mission is never funny, but we often are. We are quirky and murky when we have too much time on our hands, but when there is a noble mission, we risk everything for each other or even a stranger. When we realize that we are sent to be mobile healers of those wounded by wiles and weapons of Satan, we become heroes—reluctant, comic heroes-- but heroes none the less.

Unfortunately, those who view us from a distance often see us more like Seinfeld, famous for being about nothing. I don’t mind being laughed at, but I don’t want to be about nothing.

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last.