Knoxville has had acting roles in films Men in Black II (2002), Grand Theft Parsons (2003), A Dirty Shame and Walking Tall (both 2004), The Dukes of Hazzard, The Ringer, and a cameo role as a corporate president of a skateboard company in Lords of Dogtown (all 2005), The Last Stand (2013), Skiptrace (2016), and the television series Reboot (2022). He also voiced Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014).
There is one other thing that you may not know about Johnny. He grew up in church. A conservative Southern Baptist church. Recently in an interview with Rolling Stones magazine, he talked about this. Here's what he had to say.
Let's break this down.
"You know...you are 7 or 8...just having to go."
Having to go? Why did he "have to go?" Probably because it was boring. I have heard people say, "I am not going to church because I was made to go as a child. News flash. You don't have to "make" someone go where they enjoy being. I've never heard anyone say, "I'm not going to Disney World because I was made to go as a child."
It is vital that we make church a good experience for children. An engaging environment that they look forward to being in. As someone said, "Church should be the best hour of a kid's week."
Our goal should be for kids to be dragging their parents to church rather than parents having to drag their child to church.
"...sit there and be quiet"
We tell kids to sit still and be quiet in church. Then they grow up and they sit still and are quiet or they even leave as Johnny did.
Kids are wired to move...move...move. Should there be times when they are quiet and reverent." Of course. Each Wednesday night, I have a time of prayer with the kids in our church. We get on our knees and the kids pray for people who are sick in our church, missionaries, teachers, etc. It is a holy moment. But we also spend a lot of time teaching using active, hands on, relevant methods that gives kids the opportunity to learn the way they do best. This includes lots of games, activities and fun.
This is not about "what" you teach but rather about "how" you teach. One of the most controversial posts I have ever written is about why kids should have their own worship service. You can read it at this link.
"listening about burning in hell"
Is hell in the Bible? Yes. But I'm not sure if it is wise to teach kids who are 7 or 8 years old about hell. All Scripture is true and inspired, but our teaching needs to be age appropriate. Scaring kids by teaching them about hell is not something I am a fan of. Johnny experienced this as a child and as he says "it was a lot" for a kid at that age.
Here is an article I wrote about whether we should teach kids about hell or not.
I pray that Johnny comes back to the faith.
I also pray for the boys and girls in our ministries. I pray that we would help them know Jesus and follow Him for a lifetime.
Do you have my book "Fertile Soil...how to see kids follow Jesus for a lifetime?" I go in depth about how we can see kids grow up to love and follow Jesus. It's available at this link.
Your turn. What is your impression from Johnny's interview? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
