In the Real Presence!

Tom Jones look-alike

Not too long ago, I went on a family outing with my mom and step-dad to see a Tom Jones Tribute Show (If you said, "WHO?" Go ask your parents!). The artist sang like Tom Jones, but also like Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash and Elvis! ( Again, if you have no clue, please google these artists) He was an impersonator! He was pretty good!

Some impersonators are really good, some are not. I know. I once tried, along with my comedy group, to do some Elvis impersonations. We all were different aspects of Elvis’ life. Jailhouse Rock Elvis. Hawaiian Elvis. Military Elvis. Top Notch Elvis! And old fat Elvis.  I was 1969 Comeback Concert leather-clad Elvis. We were not so good.  But we tried. And we had fun!

We were not trying (Thank God!!) to sing like Elvis, just trying to talk, act a bit and move like him in the comedy routines we were doing. We did research to study Elvis’ life,  songs and films.  My favorite, the one I learned the most from, was a movie, not with Elvis, (contrary to the film's statement) called "Bubba Ho-tep" with Bruce Campbell as Elvis and Ossie Davis as John F. Kennedy. Yeah, you read that right!  This was about someone else impersonating, or thinking he actually was, Elvis or JFK.  Go rent it to see what I mean. Elvis has definitely LEFT the building!

from Bubba Hotep movie

We have all likely seen these types of acts on television, in the movies or on stage. They can be highly entertaining because of their utter success or complete failure to capture the essence of the famous person. In the entertainment world there is a subtle yet distinct difference between an impersonator and an impressionist.

 

A person, or performer, whose act consists of copying the voice or traits of others is usually considered an impressionist, especially if they have a collection of characters, voices and actions. Think about those actors on SNL or at many casino entertainers.  A person whose act is limited to a smaller range of  characters, often just looks like one person is known instead as an impersonator. In very broad contexts, "impersonator" may be substituted for "impressionist" where the distinction between the two is less important.

To me the difference is subtle, but involves the action. I see the impersonator as one who puts on the qualities and personality of another, while the impressionist is the suggestion of another or the slight imprint of what another person is like . The impersonator takes on the person or persona of someone else is a huge undertaking. I imagine it is like wearing an unbelievably heavy winter coat.

Seeing the Tom Jones impersonator made me think of ALL the times in my life that I have mimicked others, advertently or inadvertently. Like copying my best friend’s style. Or to my husband’s dismay, my imitation attempts of Lou Pinella when he was the Chicago Cub’s manager. Or appearing like Michelle Pfeiffer when I had a Barnes and Noble employee swear that he was sure that was who I was! Or my attempts at playing God.

My grandmother used to tell me that copying someone was “the sincerest form of flattery.”  It never felt that complimentary. When it happened to me it always felt as if I was being mocked.  It makes me uncomfortable to think that God might feel as if God were being mocked by creation. God’s dander got up when Eve and Adam chose to eat of the fruit of the tree giving the Godlike knowledge of good and evil. 

Many humans try to impersonator or play God by controlling people’s lives - their own and others’ lives. Some attempt playing God by controlling the situations around them. I have certainly tried all of the above. The Bible tells us that trying to BE God is a sinful endeavor. Original sin, even.  It is also simple. Human beings often behave as if they have the right to make important decisions that affect the situations and lives of other people. This can be anything from medical decisions to politicians who make budget decisions cutting off medical care for children to decisions made by dictators to exterminate whole ethnic groups. Yet only God can Be God.

Perhaps sadly, people’s ambitions have come down a notch or two. Instead of wanting to be godlike, much of the world seems to be most interested in imitating celebrity or those who appear in the media for their 15 minutes or more of fame. We try to dress like famous people, create their recipes, emulate their habits, perhaps in hopes that we may have what they have – fame, fortune or a certain freedom. We flock to those who speak the loudest or are the brashest.

As I have grown and known God’s word, I learned that we were created to be who we are, uniquely gifted and loved individuals, conceived, birthed and grown to reflect a part who created us. We are created in God’s image. We do not have to impersonate God or play God, we have be given gifts and empowered by God. The Holy Scriptures even call people to take on godly qualities.   

“Be imitators of God! As beloved children, live in love as Christ loved us and gave himself for us.” Ephesians 5:1

"Let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God has called you." 1 Cor 7:17 

“God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful.” 1 Cor. 12:7-11 The Message

 I wonder if part of the problem of the human condition is that we don’t often acknowledge the Godly qualities we were born to engender.  The Apostle Paul encourages people to love like God loves, forgive and have compassion for others as God does. We are called to use the gifts we have been given for the common good. We are called to imitate God's thoughtful and caring ways for ALL people. To welcome and accept others as God would. We are to speak with truth, honesty and power. We are to encourage and urge all people into being their best. We are to be imitators of God's kindness and compassion. We are to act with God-like light and love. We can endeavor to put on such godly actions without sin.

Followers and believers are called to show love so that others know they are followers and believers. To live out loud with the Spirit of God beaming from our hearts, minds and souls. Imagine what the world would be like if we were to reflect God, and see God in each other?! To allow for the Spirit to move through our similarities and differences to create a whole world, worldwide. To live in such a personal way that the fingerprints of God are seen and felt through every person’s action.

“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God models out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” Colossians 3:12-14

A Cookie Cutter World

 
When I was little, I used to love the game “Follow the Leader.”  It was fairly simple, and I loved making sure I was spot on with the leader, including my facial expressions.  I remember making several of my kiddie contemporaries mad when I mimicked them too closely.

Teenage years brought angst when mimicry was both hated and embraced.  I especially hated when I wore the same outfit as another girl in my class. Or conversely, it was okay to wear the same color outfit as my friend or posse as if it were a secret code. And it was acceptable, and expected that all teens went to the same hang out, or had to like the same idols, or they were weird. Weird is unacceptable in teen worlds.  That was about when my grandma began asking me “if all of your friends jump off the pier will you blindly follow?” And while I did not want to be different, I saw her point.  To blindly follow the masses was not very compelling or smart.

As I have reached adulthood I find myself opting to be different then many of those around me a lot of the time. Not to be merely contrary, I like being a leader. And especially, a leader with a purpose.  Often, I find I have fewer followers than I would hope. Not many are trying to mimic me closely.

As a general rule, however, it seems people love copying and following rather than marching to their own tune. Post Thanksgiving Black Friday all the stores went to earlier sales, and all the automatons marched the advertiser’s Pied Piper tune and followed to their flute. I felt a pattern of brainwashing began in mid-September this year. According to MerchantsWire:

For the 24 hours of Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28^th same-seller gross merchandise value (GMV) increased 40% relative to the same 24-hour period in 2012. For the 24 hours of Black Friday, November 29^th, same-seller GMV sales lagged slightly behind Thanksgiving Day results but still increased over Black Friday 2012 by 35%, achieving a new Merchant daily record gross merchandise value (GMV) on Black Friday.

We are LEMMINGS!           

Humans seem to follow rather than march to the beat of their own drum perhaps because we hate to be alone, wrong or lose social status. We go along to get along out of fear of being shunned. It is easier than doing something different and having to explain or face ridicule. There is also power in numbers.

We see this everywhere from local and Washingtonian politicians, to wanna-be pop stars and actors, to iPhone buyers (it’s the most expensive and not necessarily the best, but everyone has one!)

I hear my grandma asking, “If everyone jumped over a cliff, would you?”  I see a society that will be less creative, strong, differentiated in the future. I picture automated rubber-stamping rather than well-reasoned decisions. A society that once stood proudly as being independent and strong individuals seems to be cookie cutter copies of each other, directed largely by the media and rich corporations.

Some would say as a person of faith, I am merely a follower as well. My religion of choice is, yes, to follow a man who lived outside his cultural norms, went against the establishment for the betterment of all, not the replicating of all. Jesus showed love (contrary to some who come in his name) to all people, even when that is terribly hard for human beings who find it easier to fear and hate.   I do not mind being accused of following such a rebel.

My faith calls e and all people to be “in the world, NOT of the world.”  Historically, the power of the church has been in our ability to live in the tension of existing "in, but not of." The Church is to be counter cultural. Not lemmings. Counter cultural doesn’t mean that the church stands against society to stand against it. The church is called to lead and leaders must stand FOR something rather than merely stand against something.

Yes, there are certainly times when we need to protest and stand against what is wrong. There are times when we must cry out against injustice and call for an end to corruption. But I hope that’s not all we do. I hope we remember the best form of protest is to stand for something better.

Counter cultural is deliberately different than society in positive ways.  Christians are centered and anchored in Jesus who was a lover of all people. Attempting to descent and condemn culture does not accurately depict who Jesus is and was. Instead of calling out what is wrong, or highlight that "these are not the way things ought to be,”  Christians are to stand for what is RIGHT -   for the common good. The Church is against the world, for the world.

Christians are restorers. We go about fixing the things that are broken. Because that is what God does. We are sacrificial. We should be mindful about what practices would help us celebrate God and God’s creation. Mindful about how we use things – do they make us more connected or less so?  Do they help or hurt others?

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Romans 12:2 The Message)

I stand for the common good because God’s love is for all and calls us to be a part of the renewal of the world. It means I lead culture. I stay true to self and do what needs to be done to help others.   Jesus was on the side that was for life, for hope, for grace, for our salvation and for the big picture and the common good of all. The life of Jesus and His act of love on the cross was for us, and it powerfully stood against the forces of evil and darkness. Living like this is compelling in the midst of a culture that may view things differently – as in for fear, retribution and death, and the short term.