What’s Your Church’s “Gangnam Style”

First off, for those of you not familiar with the sensation that is Gangnam watch it here:

[video_youtube youtubeid=”9bZkp7q19f0″ width=”480″ height=”320″]

For reference the video “Innocence of Muslims,” that has sparked controversy around the world, only has 15 million views on youtube, while Gangnam has received over 309 million.

Gangnam originated in South Korea by a rapper named PSY. Americans gravitate towards Gangnam because of its over-the-top, outlandish video with crazy horse inspired dance moves.

What most Americans don’t know is that Gangnam is chalk full of social commentary. 

Gangnam refers to a trendy neighborhood that sprung up virtually overnight in the Southern part of Seoul. Landowners there became incredibly rich through the gentrification of the neighborhood (as opposed to working hard for their wealth).

The video is a mockery of materialism. It shows young ladies eating cheap bean paste in private just so they can be seen drinking expensive latte’s in public. Average people envy the life that Gangnamites lead but hate how they got there. It becomes clear that PSY, a stalky 34-year-old falls into the love/hate category and decides to have a lot of fun with it.

As Christians, we are exhorted to pray in public instead of on the street corners. Humility and simple living is a recurring theme for spiritual practice in the Bible. As a Church, however, we often default to humility instead of sharing our message publicly. I’ve been in more than one church where “marketing” is considered a dirty word. Most of our knowledge of how to “be the church” comes from the writings of Paul.

I can’t help but think that Paul used some of the same tactics as PSY in his writings.

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. (1 Cor. 4:8-13)

I you didn’t pick up on Paul’s sarcasm I would read it again. Paul happens be broaching subject matter very close to the Gangnam video. The community Paul is talking to have become too sexy for their clothes and want to shake their little toushy on the catwalk, if you get my drift.

The point of all of this is that if churches want to take leadership, it’s ok to use over-the-top messaging to call out injustices. In fact, your message is likely to get through more with humor than with venom; Gangnam’s 309 million hits are evidence.

So how can your church get its Gangnam on? Find an injustice that stands against the mission of your church, throw Weird Al on the mp3 player, and go to funky…., no, Gangnam town.

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