Oh, the controversial Ice Bucket Challenge. If you haven't seen it or heard it, chances are you live under a rock since almost every avenue of social media has been inundated with this new fad. For the sake of all the rock dwellers reading this right now, let me catch you up to speed. The Ice Bucket Challenge is a campaign started by the ALS association that has brought in $31.5 million for research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Basically, participants are challenged and in return, challenge others to dump a bucket of ice water over their heads in order to raise funds and awareness for the ALS association. If the person challenged does not fulfill their "obligation," they are expected to make a payment to the association. Contrary to your probable first thought, this post isn't going to be my battle cry to support the ALS association (though I am glad there are people passionate about finding a cure to this debilitating decease), nor is it going to be my annoyed opposition to this unusual campaign (though I did have trouble getting ice out of the overly exhausted ice machine on campus this morning). This post is going to be about what our culture subconsciously tells us through this new fad about how to best reach them where they are with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. First, let's look at what this challenge tells us about our society as a whole.
1. We all want to be a part of something that matters.
How many of us really thought about ALS before the Ice Bucket Challenge? Unless you or a family member suffer from this disease, the chances are it took you a google search to discover what ALS even stood for. As soon as you heard, though, that you had the opportunity to raise awareness for something that really mattered, you jumped on board the train. Why? Because we all want to be difference makers and belong to something significant.
2. We value community and connection.
The Ice Bucket Challenge has spread like wildfire thanks to the fact that every person who takes the challenge, in turn, challenges another person. I've seen videos posted from friends in my hometown (pop. 19,000), and I have seen videos posted from former Pres. Bush and celebrity Anna Kendrick. Have my friends ever met Pres. Bush or Anna Kendrick? Not that I know of. Yet there is a sense of connection that comes from being part of this chain of challenges that causes one to feel like they are a part of a larger community of "ALS supporters" worldwide.
3. We are challenge acceptors.
When someone calls you out in their video recording of their Ice Bucket Challenge and tells you to either follow suit or pay up, you haven't entered some kind of covenant agreement with that person. You are technically under no obligation whatsoever to even consider doing what they asked. However, clearly people are accepting the challenge more often than not, because I can't even scroll through my news feed without seeing someone doused in water every other status update. We live in a society that is very willing to live up to someone's challenge whether it be for the sake of pride or for the sake of the other person's satisfaction.
These are just three of the social norms that I have seen emerge in the midst of this new trend. So, what do these three statements tell us about how to reach people with the Gospel? Well, we established that people ARE looking to be a part of something that matters. Realistically, only the Gospel can truly satisfy this search. What matters more? Something temporary or something eternal? What else is eternal besides the Kingdom of God? Instead of banging Bibles over the heads of people in our lives who have found themselves in a jam because they became a part of the wrong "something" in their effort to matter, why don't we try inviting them to join us instead? People DO very much value community and connection. Instead of being exclusively wrapped up within our own little circles of faith, let's show the world that they matter to God just as much as we do and that they have a place among his people as well… regardless of who they are. We ARE challenge acceptors. What could be more exciting that accepting the challenge to lay down one's life in a pursuit of Life himself. Christianity isn't supposed to be a boring ferry ride from point A to point B. Christianity is a wild adventure that brings new life and joy and excitement with each coming morning. How about challenging your friend to embark on that journey rather than experiment with the effects of hypothermia for the sake of a cause we could all just afford to donate some extra money to anyways? Let us be learners of our culture, followers of Jesus, and lovers of people. Challenge accepted?
