How to Share Your Faith Using Rickrolling
Everyone loves a good, clean prank. So you can't help but smile at the latest creative outlet for the prankster within - the rickrolling phenom. For the uninitiated, rickrolling involves the 1987 music video Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley. A classic bait and switch, rickrolling tricks an internet user into clicking a link they are curious about, only to find that it takes them to something entirely different than expected - the Rick Astley video.
Rickrolling buzz escalated recently when You Tube linked all the 'featured' videos on their homepage to the rickroll on April Fool's Day. Internet pranksters also recently rigged the vote for selecting the New York Mets' 8th inning song using the rickroll. The Mets organized an online poll which included a blank line for write-in votes - the winner: Never Gonna Give You Up.
An April 2008, survey estimated that 18 million Americans have been rickrolled, since the phenom started a year ago.
How about you? Have you been rickrolled? Even if you haven't been, there's not a human alive who can't identify with what it feels like to believe something to be one thing, only to discover that it turns out to be something else entirely. We've all been there.
But in an odd sort of way, realizing that things aren't always what they seem to be, is one of those truths of life that can help you keep your head on straight. Jesus actually drew a huge crowd when he taught this truth to his followers in the Sermon on the Mount, pointing out that in many dimensions of life, things aren't entirely what they seem. Check out His words from Matthew 5:3-4, 10-12:
You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you...You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. Not only that-count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens-give a cheer, even!-for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble (The Message).
With these words, Jesus turns conventional wisdom on its head and teaches us that the tough stuff of life, like problems, pain and persecution can trigger blessings in our life as they push as closer to God and force us to cling to Him in the midst of our day-to-day lives. Things are not always what they seem to be at first glance...
So try using the rickroll phenomenon as an opening to talk with your friends about spiritual things. Whenever something looks one way on the outside, but ends up being something else entirely, you're on fertile ground for significant spiritual dialogue! Here are a few ideas to help you get the conversation moving toward God-talk:
- Have you been rickrolled? Or do you have friends who have been?
- Can you think of a real life circumstance where you were majorly impacted because things didn't turn out to be what they seemed? Dashed expectations...and that whole scene...?
- How do you typically react when things aren't what you were expecting? Intrigued, anxious, frustrated, disappointed, up for the unexpected challenge?
- Do you think God has a hand in such situations? Why or why not?
- Do you think God can take tough things that happen to us and turn them into something that can result in good things in our lives? Why or why not? Share from your personal experience in walking with God and explain the message of the Gospel.
Rickrolling your friends may be fun, but sharing the Good News with them can be life-changing. Ask God to help you make it happen!
To Grow Deeper in your walk with God and explore further spiritual insights on this topic, check out this week's Soul Fuel article, Rickrolling and Religionrolling.
