The Kingdom of Celebration vs the Empire of Entertainment
Here in Kansas, we are celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl victories. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the “Chiefs Kingdom,” especially since the team has had many years of struggles! This year was unique with lots of ups and downs. We lost many games in a row, and had some forehead slapping moments of frustration, but Taylor Swift’s presence brought new fans to the game and to the Chiefs in particular. The Chiefs were considered underdogs several times, but they ended up winning - in overtime - a well-fought game by both teams. There were wonderful things about the hype leading up to the Big Game, and some really ridiculous things, as well. Today - three days after the game, my daughter and I watched the parade on TV as the Kansas City leaders, the Chiefs owners and staff, and the team, rode down packed streets on open-air buses, taking it all in like the happy kids-at-heart that they are. Oh, some of Vegas certainly was still stuck on some of the players, but all in all, it was fun to watch this winning “dynasty” celebrate…
Until the headlines that came immediately after the rally at Union Station. Two gunmen shot maybe 10 people, right next to the stage, while the team was still on it. Early reports say that one person died and three ambulances were taken to the Children’s Mercy ER. Children??? Really??? My son-in-law and his family were planning to be there. His sister was. The celebration turned deadly and therefore was no longer a celebration.
This leads to a bigger topic for discussion: There are two ways of enjoying good times in our culture today. One is driven by money, an “anything goes” mentality, is showy, and dark, and even deadly. The other is driven by community, healthy celebrating, acknowledging others, and is full of life. I’m talking about the Empire of Entertainment vs. the Kingdom of Celebration.
OK, so I didn’t invent these terms. Kristi McClelland talks about them in her Bible Study, Gospel on the Ground. And it’s not a new idea. The Empire of Entertainment has been around for a very long time. The Roman Empire was the best/worst of all Entertainment empires, up until now. We know the history of the Gladiator fights, the burning of Christians on poles as human torches for those coming to games in the Colosseum. We know the drunkenness, the power, the greed —all that went with that Entertainment culture. And not much is different today. We thankfully don’t use people as human torches, but Las Vegas has its own brand of bizarre, agreed?
The early Christians - and Christ, first and foremost - however, showed us a different way to celebrate. Christ’s Kingdom of Celebration was centered around tables. Fellowship with others, whether family or friends, is central to celebrating in this more life-giving manner. We see this at Weddings. In a Kingdom of Celebration, we want to give, not take. We see this when Jesus washes the feet of his friends around a table of celebration. In the Kingdom of Celebration, we want others to share in our joy, not stand on a stage and show how drunk we can be. This way of celebrating is a happier way, it’s more family-friendly, and it’s better for our health.
Do any of the Chiefs’ Kingdom know how to celebrate this way? I think they do - just take a look at Patrick Mahomes giving credit to his unsung teammates at the rally. Watch Chiefs’ owner, Clark Hunt thank so many at the award ceremony after the game, saying that no one deserved the Lombardi trophy more than (Coach) Andy Reid. Mr. Hunt didn’t claim the trophy as his, although, technically, he owns it. He knew the value of celebration and he knew exactly Who to thank. Look at kicker Harrison Butker, who was very vocal about his faith in Christ during the season, celebrating with his teammates with ashes on his forehead.
As alluded to already, this season we have seen a darling entertainer start a budding romance with one of the rowdiest of the Chiefs’ players. Taylor Swift is most certainly a top-notch entertainer, and although I don’t know her at all, everything we read about her is pretty positive. She works hard, she is genuinely thoughtful of others, and she seems to really care. Enough to learn the game of football so she can cheer at the appropriate times. Enough to fly back from Japan after a grueling set of concerts to watch her new boyfriend in the Super Bowl. For you cynics out there, yes, she may have been doing it for all her fans who really look up to her. But, I think she could just as easily said she needed her sleep, or the cameras could have caught her scrolling on her phone, missing an important play.
So, it seems - at this point, from my lowly perspective - that she has avoided the pitfalls of the Empire of Entertainment, in the throes of Entertainment itself. In fact, you could argue that she is an Empire of her own. So, can she show young Swifties how to navigate around this culture of “me-first,” “go for the big bucks while sacrificing principles”, and “do whatever suits you” Can her influence on a VERY large group of people around the world help us see that Celebrating can be done in a godly way, a healthy, selfless way, that builds relationships, shows love, and forges great communities of people that don’t pull out guns and shoot children during a drunken rally?
On this Ash Wednesday, which is also Valentine’s Day, which is also Chiefs’ Kingdom Day, I pray so. I pray we each endeavor to do so, no matter our sphere of influence.
