Center for Creative Ministry A research organization and research center for Seventh-day Adventist pastors and their congregations
The Backstory: The Prologue
Move over, Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus; we have a new child star turned train wreck: JoJo Siwa.
Siwa, who got her start in 2015 on the reality show “Dance Moms,” and was known for her colorful, sparkly dance outfits, rebrands her career with the releases of edgy songs “Karma” and “Guilty Pleasure” along with their raunchy dance routines.
According to Siwa, she’s entered her “bad girl era.”
“No one has made this dramatic of a change yet,” the then 20-year-old entertainer shared with Billboard earlier this year during “Karma” promotions.
“No one has made, in my generation, this extreme of a switch, and I am the first in the generation. It is very scary, but someone’s gotta do it.”
However, Internet sleuths were quick to find that the song “Karma,” which Siwa fervently promoted (without clarifying that it was a purchased song), was previously recorded–but unreleased–by Brit Smith in 2012. Siwa also boasted that this release would introduce a new genre of music to the world.
She doesn’t stop there.
The Internet personality boldly drives a car detailed with photos of her own face.
Her apparent downward spiral and delusions of grandeur earned a parody on Saturday Night Live and countless critiques from pop culture fans.
Although she’s the current Internet meme every pop culture fan loves to hate, one can’t help but wonder if nurture propelled Siwa down this path.
As revealed on “Dance Moms,” Siwa’s mother was controlling and failed to effectively discipline JoJo. Mrs. Siwa lived vicariously through her young daughter’s success and ingrained in JoJo the belief that she is the best in everything she does.
One of those things she is best at is earning income. During her teen years, she financially supported her family.
Additionally, at the age of 12, Siwa spent time with a 29-year-old comedian accused of grooming and inappropriately interacting with minors.
While her backstory does not totally excuse her audacity and presumptuousness, it does give us insight into the troubled woman she’s become.
Backstories provide the crucial context we need for understanding others and their motivations. In fact, without backstory, we would have a much more difficult time understanding Christ.
John introduces Christ not by name but by tying Him back to Creation. John identifies Christ as the eternal Logos, the Word, the Creator of the universe Who is one with God (John 1:1-5). The disciple chose to introduce Jesus in this way because it provides the foundation for the entire story of salvation (John 3:16).
With this foundation established, John quickly moves on to say that the Creator God dwelt amongst humanity as a human. However, those who didn’t heed the Scriptures–which provided context for the Messiah’s appearance and purpose–rejected Him (John 1:9-14).
But as verses 12 and 14 reveal, those who recognized and accepted the Messiah could more easily accept Christ’s proclamation that those who have seen Him have seen God (John 14:1-14). They would also come to recognize that His purpose was to reconcile humanity with God (although they had differing views of how that reconciliation would manifest).
The glorious accomplishment revealed itself when the Word died on the cross and resurrected on the third day.
By looking back at Christ’s fulfilled prophecies and then tying them together with the rest of the Scriptures–Christ’s backstory–we better understand why God put Himself on the cross and what that means for each of us.
For Reflection
Connecting: Is there danger in disfellowshipping someone from church because they break an Adventist vow? Should their backstory be taken into account?
Sharing: Why is it important for you to understand Jesus’ backstory?
- So I can better understand His divinity
- So I can better understand the heavenly hierarchy
- So I can better understand His role as Savior
- So I can better grasp the magnitude of sin
- So I can better explain Jesus to others
- Other
Applying: Review this week’s Scripture texts. Many struggle reconciling the God of the New Testament with the God of the Old Testament; with Jesus’ backstory in mind, how would you advise someone experiencing this struggle?
Valuing: 1.) Our Creator was nailed to and died on a cross. What does this mean to you in regards to God’s love for humanity? 2.) If we believed that, instead of saving us from our sins, Jesus died to give us freedom of choice, what would be the effect of this thinking on making crucial decisions in matters of obedience and disobedience?
~ Stefani Leeper
Helene and Milton devastated the Southeastern United States.
But in the midst of all the tragedy, we can look at recovery efforts to see that in the darkest moments, love has an opportunity to shine.
For example, Dolly Parton donated $1 million to the Mountain Ways Foundation and is working to match that donation with another $1 million gathered from her various Tennessee businesses.
Meanwhile, Union Adventist University’s Disaster Response Team deployed a team of 35 to assist with cleanup efforts in Avery County, North Carolina. (You can support their efforts by giving online.)
In addition to prayers, donations, and labor, tangible ways to assist in preventative efforts are at your disposal.
Atmospheric scientist Katherine Hayhoe believes we can apply preventative changes in our daily lives. She encourages people to consider mitigating the causes of floods, and offers a plethora of educational resources that can help each of us rethink our part in floods (and other climate disasters). Some of those resources include:
- Her Global Weirding YouTube series
- The Nature Conservancy’s award-winning NatureLab
curriculum - BioLogos’ Integrate curriculum for home-schoolers and faith-based schools
- The EU’s Education for Climate community
- Subject to Climate
- CLEAN
For those of us who are hesitant to reevaluate our part in natural disasters and then make small adjustments to the way we live, she warns that warmer air holds more water vapor, so massive floods and heavy rains aren’t likely to disappear anytime soon.
What do you feel called to do?
Stefani Leeper | Content Coordinator
Sources: Talking Climate Newsletter, Oct. 7, 2024, Union Adventist University Newsletter, Oct. 4, 2024, thedonut.co
The Center for Creative Ministry is fully recognized by the North American Division (NAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church; it is also a 501c3 nonprofit organization which makes donations tax deductible in the U.S.
