Let’s get real, Internet. I watch the Super Bowl for two reasons:

  1. The halftime show. One word: Beyoncè.
  2. The commercials. One word: GoDaddy

But for my husband, it’s way more. Like, waaaaaaay more. It’s a game! A battle! A fight! [Bless his heart.] However, we began discussing how pop culture effects our lives and how every action we commit displays the Gospel—for good and for bad. In light of our discussion, I asked him to share his thoughts on culture, media, and Christianity.

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In case you missed it, the Super Bowl was yesterday and an estimated 120 million people watched making it the largest viewed event in our history. It was the entertainment event to be praised by all—the story lines had everything! Two brothers coaching in the big game for the first time ever, GoDaddy shocked us again with the kiss watched around the world, and Beyoncé killed it at half-time, shattering the tweets-per-second record held by Madonna at last years Super Bowl.

But the most intriguing story line to me was Ray Lewis versus Colin Kaepernick. Not only did you have an All-Pro legendary linebacker playing in has last game but he was up against the flashy, tattooed kid that took over for the 49ers mid-season. Who would win? An underlining story with both of them is their faith; both are committed Christians and both are wanting to tell the story of the Gospel in different ways.

It seemed more people wanted to talk about the double murder charge Ray faced 13 years ago, than him telling the truth about who he was and what he believed to be true. It seems the media always want to spin the Christian story. Let me check that, the world wants to spin the Christian story as what we are against instead of the God we serve.

We may not be Ray Lewis or Colin Kaepernick and get the same spotlight in the public arena, but when you choose to take a stand for what you believe in, our goal is to be like Him in everything we do. No matter where we go or what we do, we are never free from the call to live out the Gospel in all its fullness.

This reality hit home this week when a pastor in St. Louis received a bill from Applebee’s with a prix fixed 18% gratuity for her large party. When the bill was dropped off, she wrote on a receipt: “I give God 10%, why do you get 18%?” Not only that but she signed her name as Pastor so-and-so.

The pastor has since said she is sorry for the embarrassment that it caused their church and ministry but it was the pastor that called Applebee’s and complained that the picture of the receipt was ruining her image. NO—we ruin our own image when we don’t seek to live out the Gospel in all we do. Jesus called us to be countercultural, not play into the sterotypes of Christians. He called us to be different—he called us to be last and not first, to serve and not be served (ironic in light of the Applebee’s “server”), and to love people no matter what.

I am so convicted this week to be a living example of the Gospel I believe. I know there have been many times I demanded my own way, I have raised my voice to get what I want and have been down right rude. Everyday, we are in the spotlight everywhere we go—I pray we live out the Gospel in whatever spot light God has given you. Wouldn’t it be amazing to read about the Pastor that tipped 50% and prayed for their server? It doesn’t have to be someone famous… why can’t it be us?

Matt Olthoff

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