So, last night was Superbowl LIX. The halftime show has become as much of a draw as the game…sometimes more! This year, Kendrick Lamar was the performer. Now, as a fifty year old white man, I will admit I was not his core demographic. So, this morning I scoured the internet to see what other people thought of the performance. What I found was not only disturbing but something that I also see prevalent in the church today.
The discussions would go something like this…
Headline = WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE HALFTIME SHOW?
Responder #1 = “It was confusing, I couldn’t understand what he was saying, I didn’t like it.”
Responder #2 = “That’s because you don’t understand him or his music, he was making a profound statement and got in a dis on Drake.”
Responder #1 = “I don’t know anything about a diss, I just wanted to hear a good show.”
Responder #2 = “You need to get cultured…you obviously (not like us).”
Turns out, after doing some digging, that the show was rich in symbolism and a message that right or wrong was profound.
*1. Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam – Playing the “house slave” role, just like in Django Unchained.
2. A Warning to Kendrick – Jackson telling him to play the game white America expects.
3. Squid Game Stage – Symbolizing the rich exploiting the poor.
4. Red, White & Blue Dancers – Representing the American flag- notice what’s missing?
5. Prison Yard Stage – A reminder of mass incarceration as Black performers harmonized.
6. Protecting Black Women – A nod to Serena Williams after Drake’s disrespect-karma never misses.
7. “They Not Like Us” – A message to Drake & America: our culture is real.
8. Call to Action – The world is in crisis. Turn off the TV, organize, and unite.
9. “GAME OVER” in the Audience – A bold statement demanding change.
*Commenter on CNN’s Facebook Message Board.
Here’s the problem: the only people who got the message already knew the message.
Kendrick Lamar had a massive audience and a huge microphone at his disposal, and he apparently is someone who has deep thoughts and controversial ideas. So, I believe clarity would’ve been needed. Yes, he is an artist. However, If I am going to be berated by people for not understanding and labeled “not like us”, then art or not…clarity is in order.
Now, that is the most I have ever cared for Kendrick Lamar, and I really don’t care now…my reason for writing this is how similar this is to the church.
The church often speaks in its own vernacular and when young people (or even young believers) don’t understand the message we are quick to write them off as a lost generation.
It doesn’t matter how fancy your services are. It doesn’t matter how polished your sermons are in content or delivery. If the message is unclear to those who need converting, you are simply tickling the ears of the converted. While that might sell some records or fill the pews, it is hardly fulfilling the great commission.
I learned something from Kendrick Lamar…
I learned that clarity is more important that creativity.
I learned that a single message is preferrable to multiple messages.
I learned that for the love of everything holy…speak slower so old folk like me can understand!
Just a few thoughts, let me know what you think.
Sean Rheaume 