I’ve never missed an episode of “24.” From the very first season, I’ve been a fan of Jack Bauer. I recently returned to the beginning and watched Season 1 on DVD. Since Jack Bauer is now officially “more popular than Bond” (I don’t know who figures this stuff out, but it was in USA Today), I’ve been thinking about exactly what makes Jack Bauer so compelling. Especially surprising to me is how many ministers are “Jackoholics.” Many times I’ve been tempted to start a sermon with, “The following takes place between 10 am and 11 am! A few months ago Wade Hodges gave some suggestions. I agree. Plus I’ve added a few.
1. Jack Bauer is always on a mission. He has a purpose. He knows exactly what it is and he let’s nothing and nobody get in his way.
2. Every second of Jack’s life matters. Jack can’t afford to waste even a minute of his day. His time is too important.
3. Jack is willing to make and has repeatedly made gut wrenching personal sacrifices for the mission. Such is the cost of saving the world.
4. Jack refuses to play by society’s or the government’s rules because they impede his mission. His superiors have no ability to think outside the restrictions their organization puts on them. I think deep down many ministers, and Christians in general, feel boxed in by unnecessary rules and regulations of our organization (the church). Most of us would love to shed those expectations and time-consuming distractions and recklessly pursue something bigger. But we can’t, so we live vicariously through Jack.
5. Jack gets to say and do things that in the deepest part of hearts we wish we could say and do. My favorite Jack line from season 5: “The only reason you’re still conscious is because I don’t want to carry you.” What preacher hasn’t wanted to say that at an elders meeting or to a church member?
13 comments:
How can Bauer be more popular than Bond? 007 has been around for 46 years while Jack Bauer has worked 5 days in his life.
Ummm...that would be SIX days, Ryan.
Besides, Jack got SOOOOOO much more accomplished in those 6 days than 007 ever did. It took Bond how many years to finally rid of us Blofeld?!
Not that this matters to me one bit anyway. I'm just disappointed in Craig's portrayal of our dashing hero. :(
Plus - Jack is never distracted by beautiful women the way 007 is. That is Bond's weakness.
007 is NEVER "distracted" by beautiful women. They are just sub plots.
... and good ministers should never be distracted by a congregation's elders if they are not on the same page about the real mission.
I guess I'm the last guy in America to have never seen "24", but it's going to take some serious acting to top Sean Connery with: a tuxedo, a vodka martini (shaken not stirred), a Walther .38, and a license to kill.
Incidentally, where do you go to get a license to kill? I'd like one. I wonder if one of the requirements is that you have to wear tuxedos and drink martinis.
You have to be British.
OK... so you get the license to kill issued in the UK? There's got to be a whole licensing procedure for the US.
You know, 24 doesn't have near all the stupid names for the enemies and women
Dr. No, Mr. Big, Goldfinger, Honey Rider, Ms. Galore, etc...
Ok if A.H. Jordan gets to wear a tuxedo, drink martini's and gets a license to kill, and Charles becomes another Jack released to save the world, then in my next life I'm gonna be one of those "distractions" of 007 with beauty, brains and the finesse to outsmart and distract the best of them with my own rules. However in my episode...I'm not a "sub plot", I don't need a license and I win. Not sure about a name Mark but I'll think on it.
Charles, I'll never be British, but did I change planes at Heathrow once. Am I at least eligible for, say, a license to thump someone on the head?
I'll let you know AFTER the Supremes have ruled on the DC gun ban! Then we'll tackle the Kaufman County martini ban.
When you say "we'll tackle the Kaufman County martini ban," what exactly do you mean. I fear we might be on opposite sides of such a prohibition.
GO Kerrie!
(although you are already beautiful.)
Do I get to look like Diana Riggs?
No AHJ. You can't even get to thump anyone if you can't throw back a martini or two. It's all part of the imagery. However, for just a smack to the back of the head, they may except a Ginger Ale.
Mark- In the US, we don't need a license apparently. According to Hollywood, it's fine just to go in guns blazing... as long as you are justified in your purpose.
Wow Thanks Holly! And yes, you get to be Diana Rigg! Together we can "Avenge" the world of all its evil. We might have to avoid such "distractions" as 007 although I can't see either of us being that weak. However I think a subplot might keep things interesting. We'll still need names though...
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