The Gospel According to Slim Goodbody

He was the camel that broke the last straw. As a sermon illustration, I showed a YouTube video of Slim Goodbody, the cheesy, nutrition superhero from 80’s PBS shorts who sported an “anglo” (think afro, but on a white dude) and danced around in a bodysuit with innards painted on one half and bones on the other. Remember him? The video helped me relate how important inner health is to the proper functioning of a “body in motion,” the Church – with the race of Hebrews 12 in view. It was a meaningful ice-breaker. And an older couple left our church over it. Apparently, a humorous video meant to help people think about the importance of their inner life – their feelings, thoughts and motivations toward living in spiritual health outwardly -was just too much. It makes me sad, but also mad at religion and how it has helped people starving for truth to fill their bellies up on forms. It’s like opening a bag of Doritos by eating the bag first.

I honestly think they believe I violated something sacred or time-honored by using a silly video in a sermon. What happened to the Puritan preacher standing there in a collar up to his ears, peering over a lectern, sounding like Che Guevara for Jesus? What happened to the sweaty brow, the podium slamming and the urgent pacing? And why are these young preachers always talking about their own shortcomings? They’re supposed to be “reverends.” It pains me, but I know they don’t get it. I’ve asked myself several times if I made a mistake with that video. Was that a bit too much? Was I overstepping, considering some people are still wearing ties at our church while others wear flip-flops? Did I far overshoot the middle? Maybe.

But I know that Jesus ministry was pretty base by some standards. He often used everyday stories to “get around to” the Torah (insert sarcasm). He showed them stuff and then said stuff. He made no sense to the masses sometimes, provoked thinking, asked hard questions, wrote with his finger in the dirt and often kept scandalous company. He used food (and other objects) to symbolize the significance of his life and teaching. He just didn’t fit into the religious forms of the day.  Then again, he performed miracles. But apparently not the kind of “signs” that would satisfy and convince the religious types. Goes to show you can’t polish the apple’s core.

Point is, even “video illustration > sermon > nifty Powerpoint” equation is a form and not the Gospel itself. This too shall pass. But I hope the folks who are rebirthed in our community of faith will be able to tell the difference in 30 years when the next jackleg like me stands up there and tries to poke his finger into their temporal lobes.