Flannel Board Jesus or High Tech Jesus?
We saw the new “The Little Mermaid” movie. The film industry has jumped by leaps and bounds since 1989 when the first one was out. I saw an interview with Halle Bailey, the actress who plays Ariel, and heard what she had to do, physically.
Helle needed a strong core to film scenes with a rig around her waist. She said she was in the best shape of her life when she was filmed. She had to be. She spent hours filming in front of a green screen while attached to a rig that suspended her in the air from her waist, all so she’d look like a mermaid gliding through the sea in the movie. She also had to spend 13 hours underwater during many days of filming. I was impressed with the imagery, technical and special effects in the movie.
Back in “my day”, the big deal in my Sunday School classes were the “no” tech flannel-board characters. Seeing that flannel board set up meant a great morning was coming! Jesus was always smiling, and we could take Him down, and slap Him back up on the flannel board again and again.
We’ve come a long way, Baby! As “low or no” tech as those days were, we still got the message. Good over evil won every time! Yes, it is high-tech living today, but studying about Noah and the flood, Moses and the Red Sea, David slaying the giant, and those fishermen who became disciples propelled my faith. Those stories are indelibly imprinted in my mind. I am so grateful!
Mercy! We’ve come a long way in the world of technology since the black and white TV I watched as a child! And God’s creative genius operates through ordinary people like you and me to get the Gospel message out. He uses whatever it takes to get our attention.
Jesus started all this when He taught the people using parables, creative stories rich with imagery, to help people understand and remember His message. He knew what they needed to hear. He used creation to convey HIS messages. Have you read those stories? The woman who lost a coin, the mustard seed, the birds in the sky, the rich man, the pearl and so many more.
It is thrilling to know that the method may change, but the message is still the same. It doesn’t matter if we’re using little felt people or a high tech 3-D video about Jesus, as long as kids AND adults are getting the point that God loves them; that He sent His one and only Son to die for them, we are getting His message out!
In years to come, we will all be talking about how we heard about Jesus. So, hang onto your seat belt, the next wave just may be a holographic Jesus teaching about His unconditional love.
Jesus remains the same – yesterday, today and forever. I learned about Him as a kid. I taught my kids about Him, and my kids are teaching their kids about Him. That’s a constant, never-changing message to continue sharing and one that I’m willing to stake my life upon! How about you?