{"id":12287,"date":"2021-10-15T11:29:29","date_gmt":"2021-10-15T15:29:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.presbyterianfoundation.org\/?p=12287"},"modified":"2023-01-29T03:06:57","modified_gmt":"2023-01-29T08:06:57","slug":"%ed%85%8c%eb%93%9c-%eb%9d%bc%ec%86%8c%ea%b0%80-%eb%a7%90%ed%95%98%eb%8a%94-%eb%b3%b5%ec%9d%8c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.presbyterianfoundation.org\/ko\/resources\/news\/the-gospel-according-to-ted-lasso\/","title":{"rendered":"\ud14c\ub4dc \ub77c\uc18c\uac00 \uc804\ud558\ub294 \ubcf5\uc74c"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recorded two days before the season 2 finale, the October 6 Leading Theologically broadcast featuring the Rev. Dr. Joe Clifford, pastor of Myers Park Presbyterian Church<\/a> in Charlotte, North Carolina, discussed theologically important lessons derived the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso<\/a> with the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The plot of the series orbits around Ted Lasso, played by Saturday Night Live alum Jason Sudeikis<\/a>. He\u2019s an American college football coach recruited to coach an English soccer team. Although he knows nothing about what the rest of the world calls \u2018football,\u2019 he nonetheless is an inspiring coach and student of the human condition. Humor ensues, as does meaningful relationship development and self-understanding.<\/p>\n

As a cultural influence, owing to what Clifford called the titular character\u2019s \u201crelentless optimism,\u201d Ted Lasso has been heralded as a beacon of hope during the darkest days of the Coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndividually, I\u2019ve been feeling a bit grumpy through the pandemic and feeling depressed about what the future of institutional religion might be post-pandemic,\u201d Clifford said. \u201cThere was something about [Lasso\u2019s] incredible optimism and joy for living that he exhibited that sort of roped me in at the beginning of the show.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kindness wins<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Rev. Dr. Joe Clifford<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

The shows tagline is \u201ckindness makes a comeback,\u201d and Ted Lasso maintains that kindness even in the face of backlash from his crass and disrespectful players, fans who want nothing to do with an American football coach, and a boss whose cynicism and plotting are prominent storylines in the first season. As season one proceeded, it\u2019s clear that Ted Lasso is fighting an internal battle of his own \u2013 having left and unhappy marriage to pursue the coaching job in England even though it meant leaving behind a young son he dearly misses.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the show is not on the sidelines,\u201d said Hinson-Hasty, introducing the conversation about how the series spends far more time delving the depths of relationships related to Lasso\u2019s coaching duties. \u201cIt\u2019s clearly in the center of people\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coming to terms with ourselves and our stories, Clifford said, is the first major theme of the second season. Citing several characters\u2019 relationships with their fathers, he highlighted that of Leslie Higgins, the communications director for the team AFC Richmond for which Lasso coaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cHiggins got it right in [saying] \u2018I love my father for who he is and forgive him for who he isn\u2019t,\u2019\u201d said Clifford. \u201cThat\u2019s such a Christian concept.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clifford believes the second theme that attracts people and connects with the Gospel is the sense of belonging exhibited by Lasso and other characters.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a \u2018fish out of water\u2019 show,\u201d he said, likening it to the Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres or Schitt\u2019s Creek. \u201cOn some level many of us feel like fish out of water, that we don\u2019t belong. So there\u2019s something [attractive] about Lasso\u2019s attempts at creating a community of belonging.\u201d<\/p>\n

Truth in playfulness<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso in the Apple TV show by the same name. Image from The Athletic October 4, 2021.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cTruth and trust,\u201d said Hinson-Hasty, are themes that are also at the center of the show and another Gospel lesson to be found in Ted Lasso. Discernment and a call to speak the truth in love, often using humor to convey a message, are powerful vehicles for these concepts.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think one of the things Lasso does is to speak the truth in playfulness,\u201d Clifford said. \u201cFrom a family systems standpoint the antidote to chronic anxiety is playfulness. There\u2019s a playfulness about Ted Lasso and truth is spoken.\u201d<\/p>\n

An example of this truth being spoken was the team\u2019s stance against one of its major sponsors, the fictional Dubai Air, owned by an oil company responsible for, also fictionally, environmental destruction in Nigeria, the home country of team member Sam Obisanya (Toheeb Jimoh). In an homage to similar sporting protests \u2013 notably football players who kneel during the national anthem or who wore black arm bands \u2013 Sam places black tape over the Dubai Air logo on his jersey and the rest of the team follows suit. In this instance, team management backs this decision and the potential loss of the sponsor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need action that\u2019s willing to pay a price,\u201d Clifford said of this example and challenge. \u201cAnd that\u2019s a challenge in which I often fall to short.\u201d<\/p>\n

A final theme was forgiveness and the seemingly unending ways Lasso finds to forgive those who have opposed, blocked or schemed against him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s powerful moments of human forgiveness throughout the story,\u201d Clifford said. \u201cI hope we see another experience of that [in the season finale] \u2013 I don\u2019t know what it\u2019s going to look like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Extending his charge to listeners, infused with Ted Lasso series references, Clifford said, \u201cAs we go into a challenging world, remember Coach Lasso. Taking on a challenge is like riding a horse \u2013 if you\u2019re comfortable doing it, you\u2019re probably not doing it right. Along the way, in the words of Trent Crimm, if the Lasso way is wrong, it\u2019s hard to imagine being right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gregg Brekke<\/em><\/a> is an award-winning freelance writer, editor, photographer and videographer. He is the former editor of the Presbyterian News Service. Send comments on this article to Robyn Davis Sekula at <\/em>robyn.sekula@presbyterianfoundation.org<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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