So, apparently one in five Australians watched the grand final of Masterchef last night. Seven of them were at our house. By the end there was not a dry eye on the set and there may not have been a dry eye at home as well.
The finals of Australian Idol, Biggest Loser and (more understandably) Big Brother didn’t evoke such a response. Why this time?
At the end of April I speculated that the fact that the contestants were doing something productive and were developing skills that could be used in real life were one reason why the contest resonated with the public. But over the last three months we’ve also had something of a relationship cultivated with the contestants. Every time we read their Christian names (not surnames) on the screen we are given their occupation as well. Some family detail has been carefully introduced along the way.
A noticable difference has been the general cameraderie between the contestants and also among the judges as well. Even the less popular contestants were genuinely contratulated by their peers when they succeeded. There was not typecasting among the judges, no ‘industry voice’, no ‘critical judge’, no ‘maternal presence’. When criticism was merited it was given in a constructive manner, when praise was due it was generously delivered.
So, what can we learn from this exercise in community:
1. People gathered for a purpose pursue their purpose with a single focus. While there was a prize, cooking was the goal. The church are God’s people gathered so that the Gospel can be spread. That goal should trump every other consideration.
2. When one excels, all celebrate. It was noticable that even those subject to elimination were positive about the achievements of the others. Friends, Christians aren’t even subject to elimination. Why not celebrate what goes right instead of looking for fault?
3. Encouragement is powerful. The judges were also the teachers, they were also the cheerleaders. The contestants had opportunity in certain challenges to work together. They aimed to build each other up. Again, in the context of a competition I expect there may have been some level of gamesmanship. The church is not a competition. Christians should be generous with praise and constructive advice.
4. A second chance is powerful. One of the finalists, Poh, had been eliminated, but subsequently was invited back into the competition by the judges. In addition, at her initial audition, Poh’s application meal was rejected but the judges gave her an opportunity to cook a second dish. It was on the basis of that dish that she was accepted. Christians know all about receiving something underserved. We should be ready to give as many second chances to others as God give us.
5. Learn and move on from an honourable failure. Every single contestant managed to serve up a few disasters. Nobody quit. The closest was when Kate voted herself off so that one of the other contestants could go on. They all picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and got back into the competition. The cause of the Gospel is far more worthy than dinner. Most Christians have felt like its all crashed and burned at some point in the past. Rather than remaining on the sidelines we need to keep getting back to our mission.
6. There is no finish line. All the contestants affirmed that their experience was a step in a journey that they intended to continue. How refreshing to listen to the winner Julie be interviewed and state that before she could open a restaurant she needed to learn how to run a commercial kitchen and a business. As Christians we never ‘arrive’ in this life. We are committed to a life long pursuit of growth, learning and maturing. Perfection is for the life beyond this one.
7. There’s a time for personal flair and a time to follow the recipe. The church should nurture their young thoroughly in God’s Word so that when they want to express their unique giftings they will do so informed by the principes of eternal truth.
So, we need to be certain that we all know and share a sense of mission as a local church. God’s power works in that a shared purpose to weld us together as God’s family and a community with a single goal. Our mission at mgpc is this: Glorifying God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, by growing His family through Biblical teaching, prayer and loving relationships, locally, nationally and internationally.
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