Dr Bruce Manners
Senior minister
Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church

“People can relate to Homer because we’re all propelled by desires we can’t admit to,” says The Simpson’s creator Matt Groening. “Homer is launching himself headfirst into every single impulsive thought that occurs to him. His love of whatever . . . is a joy to witness.”

Groening was talking to Entertainment Weekly magazine, which celebrated its 20th year this past week by publishing a list of the 100 greatest characters on television and in movies over the past 20 years.

Homer Simpson topped the list.

Harry Potter came next, followed by Buffy the Vampire Slayer and mobster Tony Soprano. At number 10 was SpongeBob SquarePants.

Entertainment Weekly’s “writers and editors have carefully curated a list of the top 100 greatest characters . . . we carefully deliberated, debated, argued and bickered.” Question: Who cares?

OK, so it creates a headline and sells magazines.

If Homer Simpson is the greatest character in visual media during the past 20 years, what does it say about us, that enough people have an interest to propel him to such heights?

This week the children of Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church are taking the worship service on Bible heroes. The Homer win made me wonder who would appear on their list of top 10 Bible characters.

Who would make your list? Why?

Try it. And Jesus doesn’t count because He’s in a category of His own.

Here’s my list: Peter, David, Moses, John the Baptist, Paul, Mary (Jesus’ mother), John the apostle, the woman who touched Jesus’ hem, the man who asked for more belief, and Mary (sister to Martha).

I admit I’ve not carefully deliberated, debated, argued and bickered with myself to come up with my list. And this list probably says more about me than them.

Now compare your list, or this one, with Entertainment Weekly’s. Actually, there is no comparison. Thankfully.

Dr Bruce Manners
Senior minister
Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church

What if we stripped away the trappings of Christianity and the church? What if we took away the traditions and ceremonies that have gathered around its being? Not the ones initiated by its founder, but those added on the way.

What if we took away the buildings—the churches, the schools, the training centres and the medical centres? What if we took away the hierarchical structure and became a “priesthood of all believers”—equal, but with different roles?

What if we had left only the Man, Jesus Christ? The Rabbi in the peasant clothing who spoke like no other? Who was welcomed by the common people, but feared by many who called themselves righteous? Whose sermon on the mount radically changed perceptions of religion?

What if we had left only the One who claimed unto Himself God-ness? Who claimed Himself ruler of this world? Who claimed a stunning victory over death?

What if it was only Jesus and His followers—nothing else? What if we truly understood this is His church—nothing more? What if we realised anything in addition is meant to aid His church—nothing else, nothing more?

What if we could start again? What if Jesus had been crucified and resurrected two years ago, not two millennia? What if you, a 21st century disciple, were as convinced as first century disciples that Jesus was all He claimed to be?

What if you, like those first disciples, still had ringing in your ears His words commissioning you to go and make disciples? What if you, like they, could still hear the angel’s promise of Jesus’ return?

What if we realised even though time has passed, and despite the various trappings Christianity has gathered, Jesus hasn’t changed? What difference would it make?