The "252 Effect"
My dad, God bless him, had a unique sense of humor … one that probably didn’t “age well.” In fact, I cringe sometimes thinking about the kind of trouble he would likely get himself into if he were still alive today.
At the same time, I can also imagine how much enjoyment he would get watching people get over-the-top upset because he used a particular pronoun (or didn’t?), a word, or a phrase in the wrong context. He never said it out loud, because to him it didn’t need to be said, but to him - anything in this world that controlled you or your emotional reactions was a sign of a character flaw. My dad had an ideal standard he expected us to live up to and his pushing the envelope was a way of exposing the flaws - the weakness of character.
I suppose that is why with my own kids and my Church’s Youth Ministry, I’m really big on something we call the “252 effect.” What’s that, you ask? (Or maybe you didn’t – but just humor me). It comes from Luke 2:52:
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
It’s in the part of the Gospel where we get a rare glimpse of Christ’s life as a young 12-year-old boy. His parents lose track of Him, and when they eventually find Him, He is sitting in Church, among the religious leaders who are astonished at His knowledge. Instead of a young boy, they see the character and stature of a wise Man. In turn, St. Mary is astonished at her young Son.
Can you imagine it?! The moment when a mom suddenly sees her little boy as a grown man and trying to figure out how she missed it. Astonishing! Religious leaders who see character and wisdom far beyond the years of the young boy in front of them. Astonishing!
Yes, Jesus is God – but He gave us the blueprint. This astonishment is exactly the “252 effect” – the combined fruits of the efforts of Godly parents and a supportive Church raising up Children in the Image and Likeness of God. (Genesis 1:27). Who wouldn’t want that for their kid?
As a parent, I often struggle with how to navigate raising my kids up in God’s character and not worrying so much who we offend. I wish I had a little of my dad’s moxie for pushing that envelope.
As we head into a new school year, let’s not neglect this powerful Church-Parent combination. Parents are the most important and obvious example in a child’s life of God’s character. The Church, in turn, is where we live the story of God, and through that story we see God’s character in a real and tangible way. Christ is love, generosity, grace, humility, kindness, and so many other virtuous things.
My prayer for us all is we can be the living example of the “252 effect” we hope to see in our kids… with or without the assistance of a cringey dad joke or two.
OUR FALL LINEUP:
SEPTEMBER: What if “the secret” to contentment St. Paul spoke about while sitting in a prison cell in Rome wasn’t a secret after all? This MONTH is a code-breaking journey unlocking all the thieves of contentment.
"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Philippians 4:12b.
OCTOBER: Through this Bible Study of the Book of Ruth - in this Rags to Riches story, we will see that God works in the best of times and in the WORST of times ... especially in the worst of times because it is in those moments God is planning an ultimate reset. Available HERE.
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:15-17