Nephew Tommy is a personality with a segment on the Steve Harvey Morning Show. Listeners call the producers of this nationally-syndicated radio show and suggest people as suitable prey for Tommy's incredibly irreverent prank calls.
Every now and then, Tommy pranks Christians.
I listened to a hilarious clip called "Mean Usher." Peep it here.
In it, Tommy poses as a new pastor calling to correct an overbearing church usher. He asks Sister So-and-So to be gentler; and, he encouraged her to change her attitude while seating people. Sister So-and-So is defensive from the jump.
She reminds the pastor-with an uppity tone-that she's been in her position longer than he's been alive. She's "been saved all her life!," she adds and for several minutes attempts to prove her rank.
Finally, when Nephew Tommy reveals his identity and that another usher put him up to pranking her, Sister So-and-So is floored. "We're on the radio right now?," she squeals. "This is the Steve Harvey Morning Show?...I am so embarrassed," she admits.
Sure, it was all for fun and I was in stitches the entire time I listened to the clip. Sister So-and-So seemed remorseful at the end. I think she learned her lesson.
Seriously, though. What if Nephew Tommy prank called you today? Well…first of all, do your coworkers, college classmates, friends and family have grounds to nominate you for the Nephew Tommy segment?
Do you show behavior -impatience, a nasty attitude, self-righteousness, a critical spirit-that makes you prank call worthy? Do the people in your life know you'll pop off and curse out Nephew Tommy?
Here's my guess: Sister So-and-So has a predictable mean streak. Her pride and rudeness are so consistent that folks knew they could count on her to cut up when pranked.
And here's what I took away from the clip: we can't afford to let down our guard.
People are always examining us-whether they are fast food restaurant cashiers, a neighbor who doesn't speak English, or a telemarketer. The person you think is beneath you today could end up being someone influential down the line. The Bible tells us that we should be kind to strangers because we may be encountering angels without knowing it (Heb. 13:2).
We have to display our Fruit of the Spirit the way FootLocker displays their sneakers: front and center with glaring lights. People ought to see our fruit and grow curious about what (really Who!) makes us tick. Jesus is honored when we represent Him well.
It doesn't matter how long we've been believers, we have to stay humble-especially when promoted to a position of authority. Sister So-and-So demonstrated that when in positions of influence, we dare not get puffed up. Church service is a privilege from God, not a reward or entitlement. There's an old song that says, "I'm just a nobody trying to tell everybody about SomeBody who can save anybody."
Let's start showing very little of us (that naturally nasty tongue or attitude) and a whole lot of Jesus (sacrifice, self-restraint, mercy, understanding, not taking ourselves too seriously).
Ana Guthrie is a super cool chick with a heart for God and love for youth culture. She doubles as a not-so-naughty librarian and instructor at Florida Memorial University in Miami, Florida.
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