Jim Gaffigan: Publicly Subversive
Being Christian in the Public Square
If you hate Hot Pockets, are embarrassed in McDonald's, or even know why I am referencing these two, you probably know Jim Gaffigan — or have at least heard some of his jokes. This remarkably clean comedian has traveled straight to the top of his class with little more up his sleeve than some food jokes, self-deprecation about being fat, and poking fun at his Catholic faith (all things I can personally relate with).
However, what has been fascinating to watch — as an aspiring Catholic in the public square — is the way the Gaffigans have remained both relevant and appealing in a post-Christian America.
Br. Dominic Bouck at First Things recently interviewed the Gaffigans on their faith — the first time I had seen them discussing the topic:
Jeannie: It’s just something that we are. We live in New York City where there’s all sorts of different attitudes and lifestyles. We don’t try to hide it . . . it’s just who we are, it’s our real life. We just had a headline, “The Gaffigan Show is not about religion, it’s about their real life.” You can’t really win sometimes.
It’s too bad that being Catholic in a public way is such a counter-cultural way of life. That said, the Gaffigans make the best of being public Catholics, and their material is funny for all sorts of people. They put the faith on display for many who wouldn’t otherwise know that actively Christian people can be funny, intelligent, and light-hearted about something that they take seriously in their daily lives.
Up until this point, Jim, Jeannie, and their 5 children have profited on the popularity of Jim’s (read: Jeannie’s) highly relatable material with very little inspection into their personal lives, something the Gaffigan Show seems aimed at ending.
The impressive balancing act that the Gaffigans have accomplished is an asymmetric information game.
The fact that Jim’s popular act and new show largely pokes fun at this own life may have actually protected Jim and his family from possible scorn for being Christian. Instead, it invites everyone to enjoy his weird life without holding any judgment:
“We had all our babies at home… just to make you uncomfortable. Why wouldn’t you have it in that germ infested building where sick people congregate? Didn’t you want your wife to give birth in a gown someone died in yesterday? We also had a midwife there… because we believe in witchcraft.”
In recent years, we have seen many good people destroyed by a media backlash against faith. Obvious examples include the Christian cake-bakers dragged to court, Tim Tebow for apparently being too Christian for football, and the ever-looming question, “can we really support a pro-life candidate?”
“oh, no.. the Gaffigans are not the type of Christians that hate people”
It’s not enough to be funny, smart, or popular anymore— you also have to buy into a culture that is almost completely anti-Christ, or at least shut up about it.. So the impressive balancing act that the Gaffigans have accomplished is an asymmetric information game. Unlike someone like the Duggars, Jim can have a very holy, Catholic family life but he’s not the type of person to publicly detail his prayers and churchgoing or blast gay marriage. He’s playful.
If you were to ask fans, I imagine they'd say “oh, no.. the Gaffigans are not the type of Christians that hate people” and move on.
But this statement applies to almost all Christians, aside Westboro types — hatred is not Christ-like, obviously. Here’s the catch for the Gaffigans: being a follower of Christ is no passive act. It is an extreme call-to-action that depends on an extreme and insane set of premises. We are committed to dying like He did.
“When the day comes and the Lord asks me to stand up for him, will I?”
The day will come when the Gaffigans will be forced to reconcile their faith and role in public life. This could be a shot in the dark, but I think they have realized this and that is why they started the Gaffigan Show: to shed light on their faith on their own terms.
So how do I balance my faith with public life as seamlessly as the Gaffigans? This is the worry that constantly follows me around in my own career: when the day comes and the Lord asks me to stand up for him, will I?
I believe the answer to this question is trust, but I am not old enough to be sold on the idea. One solution I have come up with after four years in D.C. is this: hurt no one but surprise no one. What does that mean?
If I have gotten to where I am in my career and nobody knows I am Roman Catholic, I have severely betrayed my Lord and my family.
(1). Hurt no one: there is never a good reason to strike someone. If you see some merchants inside Church, sure — flip some tables. But I am not convinced there is ever a good reason to hurt someone emotionally merely because you disagree with them. Love hurts but love hard, and don’t be afraid to ignore things that displease you harder than you ever have. The meek shall inherit the earth.
(2). Surprise no one: (not diametrically opposed to the first) don’t ever let someone find out on their own that you believe something. If I have gotten to where I am in my career and nobody knows I am Roman Catholic, I have severely betrayed my Lord and my family. This is part of who I am and I am not ashamed of it. So do I hide it like an extra-marital affair? No. I promise it is very easy to keep people informed while remaining loving.
This, in my eyes, is what the Gaffigans have pulled off and I think it’s beautiful. My hope and prayers go out to their family and all families whose lives sit delicately on a cliff above a media meltdown every day of their lives.
