"Grilled Cheesus"

For many years people have "seen" religious images in the strangest places.  The Virgin Mary was once spotted in some french toast at a Waffle House.  The image of Jesus has been seen everywhere from the side of a building in Clearwater to on a rock in California.  And these images are significant to some people.  Songwriter John Prine once wrote, "I don't care if it rains or freezes, as long as I've got my plastic Jesus stuck up on the dashboard of my car..."  Personally I have never been into those kinds of things.  But this week's episode of GLEE has me wanting my own "Grilled Cheesus."

For those of you who don't watch GLEE (gasp!) let me give you a quick summary of the episode. Finn sees an image of Jesus in his grilled cheese sandwich and receives a spiritual awakening.  He attempts to get the Glee Club to sing songs of praise to God, which causes controversy (the old separation of church and state bit) and allows the other students to express their own feelings about religion.  In the meantime Kurt's father has a heart attack and lapses into a coma.  Kurt is gay and convinced that anyone who loves God hates gays.  He does not believe God exists, and wants no part of the prayers offered by his friends, both Christian and Jewish.  Finn discovers his sandwich does not have cosmic powers and loses faith.  In the end, Kurt's father seems to be coming out of the coma, and the characters are left to struggle with their own beliefs.

I have read blogs and articles from a number of Christians who were upset that the show never gave any definitive answers and focused on the doubt and questioning of the students.  I worked with students for a very long time, and I have to say that this may have been the most honest (and therefore uncomfortable) portrayal of the teenage faith journey I have ever seen on TV.  Coming to grips with faith is a messy thing.  Most of us struggle.  We experiment.  We are fooled by slick talkers and flashy performances.  Many of the lines coming from the cast of GLEE this week were similar to words I have heard from actual students in my ministries over the years.  Finn explains to "Cheesus" that he never went to Sunday School and he is unsure if praying is like making wishes from a Genie; "Do I only get 3?"  His prayers are totally inappropriate, but heart-felt.  Brittany, far and away the least intellectual of the group, asks "Is God is an evil dwarf?" after Puck  laments that "J-Money" (Jesus)  is a killjoy.  She also freely admits to falling asleep when she prays.  Rachel seeks to come to terms with her Jewish heritage, which seems to be largely based on the movie Yentl.  Teacher Sue Sylvester reveals she lost her faith when God didn't answer her childhood prayers to heal her sister.  As they all seek to offer love and support to Kurt they deal with huge questions: Why do bad things happen to good people?  Where is God when it hurts?  The questions of faith are so real to them, and even Kurt professes faith in something by bringing in an acupuncturist to work on his Dad.  In the end, Finn loses faith in Grilled Cheesus, while others seem to reconnect with their own spirituality.  Even Puck goes back to synagogue.

Through all of this, the character who holds it all together is Mercedes.  Her faith in Jesus  is unwavering, and she speaks out- yet she tries not to condemn others for their beliefs.  She convinces Kurt to go to church with her (by telling him he gets to wear a fabulous hat), where her entire congregation is praying for his Dad.  The sight of this flamboyant young gay man (who is also white) sitting in that African-American congregation  and feeling loved is amazing.  When the choir breaks out in song, you can feel the love pouring out on Kurt.  He is not ready to accept that love, but he can feel it.  Oh that the church in the real world would respond with that kind of unconditional love in similar situations...

Let me be clear, I do not recommend GLEE as a primary source of theology or moral guidance.  But I do find it interesting that a show so based in fantasy (musical numbers are never rehearsed, just performed!) offered such a realistic view of teenagers and faith.  Answers are not always easy.  So many times over the years I wanted students to see what I saw and know what I knew- but it seldom works that way.  It's a journey.  God is not always visible. We see things so differently.  When Puck sees Finn's sandwich, he does not see the face of Jesus- he simply sees a burned grilled cheese.  The grace and love of Jesus Christ are foreign to many.  The music for the episode spoke to the themes of doubt, struggle and faith- but I would have included one more song.  The Plumb classic God Shaped Hole (from Bruce Almighty) could have pulled it all together.  We are all seeking something greater than ourselves, a source of power, wisdom, mercy and light in this often dark world- even when we have no idea what it is we are looking for.  The song says, "There's a God-shaped hole in all of us, and the restless soul is searching. There's a God-shaped hole in all of us, and it's a void only He can fill."  For me, no matter the question, the answer is Jesus.  Mercedes knows that as well.  She also understands that in order to lead people to the Christ, you must first show those people His love.  A love without condition and without prejudice.  A love that this world does not understand.  If it takes a Grilled Cheesus to stir up that kind of conversation among us, then fry me up one right now...

Because of Jesus,