“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20
“Shazam!”
“Well gol-ol-ly!”
“Surprise, surprise, surprise!”
I’m pretty sure none of those phrases can be found anywhere in the Bible. But when I think of Gomer Pyle, the innocent country bumpkin played by Jim Nabors on The Andy Griffith Show, I can’t help but think of Disciple Bible Study.
At the beginning of one class last year, Rev. Dave Poteet held up a photo of the loveable TV character. The class busted out laughing. That week’s reading assignment had focused on Hosea, the prophet whom God told to marry a promiscuous woman because, “… like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” It was a heart-wrenching lesson for Hosea, but also a powerful reminder of God’s unending love for us, even when we don’t deserve it.
The name of Hosea’s wife? Gomer. With that visual from Dave, how could any of us ever forget her name again?
Using a little humor is just one way our wonderful Disciple teachers at St. Luke’s tell the amazing stories of the Bible. Giving perspective to confusing stories is another.
For example, my current Disciple class recently discussed Jonah’s reluctance to follow God’s orders to go to Nineveh and warn the people to stop their wicked ways. Jonah ran away from God’s assignment and ended up in the belly of a whale for three days. Even when he got a second chance and eventually convinced the Assyrians to repent, he didn’t celebrate the accomplishment. In fact, he was angry about having to make the effort because he said (I’m paraphrasing here), I knew you would be compassionate on them anyway, and I could’ve stayed home!
I never understood why Jonah wouldn’t be filled with joy about saving an entire city from destruction. But Rev. Keith King, who’s teaching our class, explained how the Assyrians were archenemies of Israel – ruthless and brutal. Would we want to travel overseas to convince terrorists to stop their evil ways, or would we rather God destroy them in the name of justice? I immediately empathized with Jonah’s “human condition.” But God wanted him, and all of us, to be thankful that the grace that spared Nineveh is offered to everyone.
The Bible teaches us so much about ourselves, and Disciple Bible Study can offer anyone an extraordinary transformation – which is actually the definition of “Shazam!”
Ed Doney, Staff Writer
