Scrappy

I thank God for cartoons.

Back in the day … back in my day (80’s to mid 90’s), there were lots of stories and values conveyed cleverly in cartoons. Good cartoons. Cartoons that a parent could safely leave their son to watch for hours without any disturbance,

There are many that could be mentioned, but as I sit to write the post, there is one that is prominent in my mind.

I’m made to think about it as I consider some approaches to church. It appears for a large number of people there is a clear case of discontent, but a lack of desire to do anything to change the situation. It costs to call for and live out the change desired. It causes conflict. It causes misunderstanding and after all, life is tough enough without that hassle. So the pervading preference is to silently grumble, but publicly persist with the failing status quo.

For the quiet life, for a life more ordinary, we must not cause a fuss.

No two cartoon characters portrayed that preference than Shaggy and that mutt Scooby-Doo. Their approach was consistent in virtually every episode. Leave the hard work to the others, look for the easy way out that didn’t disturb things. Particularly look out for where the food was to pig out and enjoy things, whilst doing the minimum possible.

Far be it from me to suggest that some of us likewise prefer the goodies of faith, whilst actively avoiding the responsibilities that come with the walk with Christ. You may very well think this may be the situation – I couldn’t possibly comment.

What I can say is that there was a brief development in the Scooby-Doo tales that introduced his nephew. A little pup who was exactly the opposite to his Uncle.

Indeed now the poor Uncle and his laid-back friend exerted great energy looking to tame the exuberance of the new addition to the team. For whenever conflict abounded, whenever there were foes to be conquered, whenever right was to be done and wrong to be stopped, the little tearaway would insist he should be let loose to get in there. I can still hear him say, “Let me at ’em Uncle Scooby!”

The boy David had a similar gung-ho approach when he saw Goliath intimidate the people of God. That endeavour, enthusiasm and exuberance influenced others throughout his life. Former social outcasts saw a cause to redeem them in David. They saw a man utterly committed to sorting out whatever got in the way of what was right.

Similarly there is quite the motley crew of men that hung around with Jesus, because His passion to complete His mission and proclaim and present the Kingdom of His Father was an awesome thing to observe. When He finished the earthly bit, He poured out His Spirit to those same followers that gave them a ‘let me at ’em’ ability to confront rulers and authorities and meekly and lovingly refuse to back off from being witnesses of the Risen Lord.

So what do we do with that today? How does that affect how we live together, how we live in this world? How does that affect what we do when we see that which isn’t right in us? How does that affect what we do with the glorious Kingdom of the Father that is to be announced and presented in our world?

Is the tendency to take great strides to avoid things, and slip out looking for some snacks to feed our fat faces? Or do we tap into the Holy Spirit original puppy power to repent, believe, be filled in receiving the Spirit to love, serve and submit for the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ?

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden