For some inexplicable reason I find myself watching the finale of Disney’s High School Musical: Get in the Picture. This is the reality show that finds squeaky clean talent for Disney to exploit in it’s made for television movies. It is overly sappy and corny with over-the-top choreography. You know, those expressions that are usually just flailing arms and an scowl. Then they talk about keeping on, following their dream, and never giving up. Melodramatic language. I just threw up a little bit in my mouth. Tonight it clicked. Disney is like youth group. Think of the last youth group drama you saw; the bright color schemes, the melodramatic language, over-the-top moves, and the total lack of realism. I have always criticized this thing we call church drama because it lacks a genuine view of Jesus, sin, and ministry. Church dramas have “Christian Themes” instead of Disney’s dribble. So instead of a basketball player and a cheerleader finding love, the church drama will deal with those same characters struggle with sex, weed, beer, bullies, and sometimes abuse if they want to be edgy. Christians Themes also allow us to let our teenagers act out problems like drug abuse and drinking with rolled up paper and root beer bottles. Then this guy in a white shirt or toga shows up to save the day. If White T-Shirt Jesus doesn’t show up, rest assured someone with a bible pointing out a random scripture will. This bible scripture will change lives. The common thread between Disney and Church Youth Group is their emphasis on life problems magnified. The stories are wrapped up quickly and neatly. Bad acting and totally unbelievable uses of limbs are employed to exaggerate emotions like anger, fear, or bad-assery. In almost every case the subject matter deals with some sort of sin, why you shouldn’t do it, and that it is the devil’s fault anyway. While there may be shadows of truth in the subject matter, characters look weak and struggling. Should Christians be struggling that much. Where are the stories of those who made the right decision early on? I suppose they are absent for the same reason a movie always has an inciting incident. However, we have to make these things a little smarter. As a child I thought this kind of Disney dribble was just awful. Mickey was never man enough for Minnie. That cast of the Mickey Mouse Club and Kids Incorporated never seemed like real people. Problems were not that bad. Not as bad as that kid we know in an abusive situation, or wondering who his dad is, or wondering where the next meal is coming from. But they’ll make movies and sitcoms about those poor upper middle class people who are having love trouble. Disney is just not real enough, even for kids. And we train our kids to act like this. What do we train our youth group students to do? We paint pretty pictures like Disney does to entice them to Jesus. Maybe we could have one without imps and demons lurking in the background; where White T-Shirt Jesus doesn’t come out have an elaborate battle with boxing gloves who use physical violence. Perhaps I’m a minority and lots of people like a Disney approach to youth group. I could preach with a dramatic tone, show how cool Jesus is when he beats down a kid in black and a rubber mask, and sing “worship songs” that make Jesus the object of a love affair instead of Lord. But I will not do that because that is what everyone else is doing. And those youth groups have less than a 20% rate of students who remain a Christian after they leave youth group. You see, High School musical will fade in popularity. In a few more years people will look at the film with fond feelings but will not be able to relate. It will hold no truth for them and they might wonder what all the fuss was about. Their children certainly will. Youth group suffers from the same fate, but in a compacted time period. Within a year of leaving youth group they wonder what it all meant. Was it real? Was it only fun. White T-Shirt Jesus doesn’t jump out to save them. White T-Shirt Jesus is a fond memory, but not really real.
