What BTS has taught me about being in the Body of Christ

Yes, that's right.  I'm writing about BTS!  Haha! 

This came to me as I grooved to their newest single "Dynamite" (lighthearted, fun fare, please have a listen, they sing in English!).  I really enjoy watching and following BTS for a number of reasons, one of the foremost being that they are a genuine team of nice guys who really like each other and understand teamwork well.  Which has SO many implications for Christians in learning to be in the family of God.  So, in honor of their 7th year, with their 7 members, here are 7 things BTS taught me about being in the Body of Christ.

1. Team and being Together is always better than alone.  

BTS has said over and over again that one of the main factors of their global success is teamwork.  Each of them are really different, with a variety of strengths, talents, and passions, but they come together to accomplish their goals.  They live together, they practice together, they make decisions together.  When they renewed their contract, they did it together.  

Similarly, we are called to be in a family together.  Each member of our family is precious.  Don't go at it alone, but know that we can only accomplish the Kingdom agenda of God together.  We are an Army (no pun intended haha!!) not solo people going on quests. 

"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." Romans 12: 4-5

"For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building."  I Corinthians 3:9

2. In this team, every person has their role and place. Members of the team don't fight over the spotlight, but do whatever it takes to help the team. No role is too little or more important. 

 In BTS, each member has a different role: like rappers (RM, Suga, Jhope) and the vocalists (Jin, Jimin, V, Jungkook), and there is a dance line (Jhope, Jimin, V, Jungkook).   

They also play unofficial but important roles that help each other. They understand the importance of each person's individual personality and appreciate what each person brings to the table, both on stage and off.  Jin sometimes cooks for the members, Jimin, Jhope, and Jungkook help teach the other members the dances, Suga helps with fixing things around the house.  V is great at stage presence and interacting with the crowd, RM's English help them navigate the world. There are so many more roles each person plays on the team.  They even have official roles in producing their upcoming album.

My favorite member, Jin, often has the least amount of individual lines and camera time. My fellow Jin-stans (people who also like Jin the most), were commenting that they felt this was unfair.  However, I've been thinking a lot about how he almost never complains about his line distribution, but does his best to make sure he makes the most of it.  In the newest song, you can actually hear a lot of his voice in the background support vocals.  Does he shine?  Yes, because he is Worldwide Handsome and he just naturally does.  But does he make a fuss about distribution?  No.  He understands that it's really the whole that matters.  Jin is almost everywhere, even when unseen. (this is him in the middle!)

Likewise, we are called to each bring our own gifting, strengths, personalities to have our place in the body of Christ. Each of us can also help affirm the gifting and roles for each other so we know where each of us belong.  And don't be afraid to share your specific gifting; you may think that your particular gift is not helpful, but you don't know how God will use you! 

There are certain ministries or gifting that may seem cooler, like being on the worship team, being asked to preach.  Other ministries go unseen--Who cleans up the chairs and the trash?  And yet their unseen touches have a huge impact on our church functioning.  Have you ever shown up to church with no chairs set up? Didn't that become a huge problem at the moment?  

We need accountants, programmers, architects and contractors, custodians, administrators, as much as we need doctors, teachers, translators.  We need elders and deacons, prophets and generous givers, visionaries and support persons.  Each one has such an important place and role! 

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8

"The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other." I Corinthians 12:21-25

3. In this team, there is a leader and the team submits appropriately to him. 

Seriously.  RM is the official leader; he was chosen by their company to be the leader at the onset of their group, way before they ever debuted.  He takes it really seriously.  And, as I've learned, it's very interesting because while he's the first member recruited, he's not the oldest, but smack-dab in the middle of age-order in BTS.  Which apparently is a huge deal in Korea because age order matters A LOT, and you give a lot of honor to those who are older than you. Jin and Suga, who are older than him, choose to honor him as the leader, and support him wholeheartedly.  

They also have a very healthy understanding of leadership.  For them, leadership means more responsibilities and burdens rather than power.  RM cares about each of his members and lifts them up.  The members support and encourage him. RM describes leadership as being the first to do whatever task needs to be completed, even if it's just picking up the trash.  It's this dynamic that allowed them to stand proudly behind him as he delivered their 2018 speech to the U.N. 

Similarly, I think our churches need to view leadership not as positions to be desired, but to view the awesome and heavy responsibilities. We ought to pray for our leaders and pastors, not disparage them.  We need to support them wholeheartedly knowing that they have a huger responsibilities due to increased spiritual authority.  Christian leaders are called to follow the example of Christ who modeled servant leadership, most profoundly manifested in His washing His disciples' feet. Ultimately, Christ is the head of this Body! 

"When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?”he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him." John 13:12-16

4. There will always be conflicts in the team; it's the way you work through them that's most impactful to the team. 

BTS is known for their members really loving each other.  And like every team, they've had their fair share of conflicts. Take a look at this video:  I was super impressed with how V and Jin resolved a disagreement they had right before a concert; they actually filmed it from start to finish.  The high level of healthy communication, including validation, seeking to understand, humility to apologize and having compassion, leaning into the conflict rather than avoiding it, was so so impressive to watch.  The way they also understood how the conflict doesn't just impact the two people involved, but the whole team, was even wiser. 

The Bible teaches us how to resolve conflicts as well.  Don't shove it under a rug, or let it ruin relationships.  Do not be divided, but stand in unity, because that unity doesn't come from having the same thoughts and opinions, agreeing on everything.  In fact, in the Church we already disagree on so much.  But the way we treat each other, the way we hold each other in high regard, the way we work through conflict, will be the way people distinguish us from the rest of the world.  

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.Ephesians 4:31-32

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one,Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17: 20-21

5. More than a team, they are family, their bonds forged through years of enduring with each other and overcoming hardships together. 

This year makes the 7th anniversary of BTS, which is a big deal; not every group reaches this milestone.  They also signed contracts to extend another 7 years.  BTS started living and training together even before that; some of them have now known each other for over a decade.  They have spent years, day and night, together, training, sleeping, going to school, traveling the world and performing.  At one point all 7 slept in the same bedroom in a tiny apartment. They were truly small potatoes; they didn't know if they would survive long.  But they stuck it out and with each other.  

Now, they have desires to have lifelong friendships.  They know each other's families; their families are family too.  

BTS Family Photo 2015

BTS Family Photo 2019

 Likewise, we are a family in Christ!  God is our Father; He has adopted us into His family, made us His children; we are brothers and sisters.  As we serve together, endure together, we grow in relationship.  Spend time together in fellowship, and remember each other in prayer!  Be one in Spirit through prayer and meeting together.  Paul the apostle often followed up with churches he planted, speaking about his plans to visit them, raying for them, wanting to keep growing, like this passage... 

"So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you." II Corinthians 2:1-4 

6. This team is always seeking to grow and step out of their comfort zones so that they can accomplish greater things. 

BTS started out as a hiphop group; their earliest songs were hard-hitting and had a definite genre, with a lot more rapping and strong beats.  However, over the years they have evolved in their musical styles.  They have included different musical styles, including moombahton, tropical trap, gqom.  They experimented with different dance styles and instrumentation, like traditional Korean instruments and marching band drumline. Rappers are learning to sing, vocalists are learning to rap. They are constantly learning, constantly growing, constantly improving.  Heck even their styles and hair are always evolving. 

Some of their growth didn't just come musically, but in enduring hardship along the way, including being ridiculed for their name and for their unconventional looks, music style.  They worked their butts off even while their company was on the brink of bankruptcy at one point.  They were close to giving up until they achieved their first victory 2 years after they debuted. 

BTS in 2013

Similarly, let us not be complacent with where we are.  Our journeys with God must be, individually and collectively, constantly growing.  Israel didn't march into Canaan because it was easy, but because God kept growing them and led them to be victorious in different battles.  God brings us far.  in different experiences and trials, God is growing our character and Faith.  Don't be afraid of hardships, but lean into what God is continually molding us to be. And in this age of covid-19, our churches need to step out of conventional wisdoms and learn to evolve as God gives us creativity

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God, Hebrews 6:1

herefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. romans 5:1-4. 

7. This team is clear and firm on their purpose and uses their voice to speak for what they believe in. 

BTS and their company have the slogan "Music and artists for healing".  BTS has been writing social commentary on society since their earliest inception.  They are clear on their message: "Love Myself" and end violence around the world.  They live their whole lives as examples, knowing their every action becomes scrutinized, fair or not fair. They know that their purpose is to perform for fans around the world. 

I'm praying hard for BTS' salvation. 

Do we know our purpose and mission?  Are we clear-eyed and focused?  do we believe that our actions reflect our Body and our God?  If we know our vision and mission, and live our lives as living sacrifices, whole witnesses, we can tell our stories and the news about how God has changed our lives! 

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5: 13-16.