I will begin today by saying that I have a confession to make: I am a newly-converted Glee fan. I know, I know; it's kind of lame. I avoided watching it for quite some time, but as an avid music fan, I could only resist for so long. And while I do not condone several themes that the show portrays, I cannot help but be sucked in to the story lines. After all, it was just this time last year that I was a high schooler, experiencing the same issues that the show covers. Yet, I think there is something more that explains Glee's success: America loves outcasts.
Just look at the television industry. Our more highly rated shows include The Big Bang Theory (about a bunch of nerdy physicists), The Office (about a group of misfit office workers), and Two and a Half Men (about two moronic brothers that seemingly fail in every aspect of life).
Our sports interests are also similar. Granted, the powerhouse teams have the most consistent followings, but it is the underdog story that really gets America going. Stories like: a post-Katrina New Orleans Saints NFL team making a run and winning the Super Bowl, the recent success of two low-budget, historically losing MLB teams in the Rays and Rangers, and George Mason, the little school that could, making a run against the big boys of March Madness and getting to a Final Four.
Even movies reflect our obsession with the down-trodden. Just this year, some of Hollywood's biggest movies included main characters like a narcissistic computer nerd that became a billionaire (The Social Network), a washed-up boxer with a completely dysfunctional home life (The Fighter), and a pair of idiots (and their dog) in a car, going cross-country (Due Date).
Everywhere you look, America loves the outcast. This theme permeates all forms of entertainment that we enjoy. Yet, curiously, we flip when it comes to real life. You see, Americans love to watch shows and follow teams that are unusual, but put the misfit in front of us, and we will walk on past. Just think: we all have known a Mark Zuckerburg at some point in our lives. Granted, none of our Marks founded Facebook, but still, they were nerds. Brilliant, unique nerds. And instead of accepting their nerdiness and enjoying their presence, many of us (and I'm guilty of this) have chosen to ignore the outcast in favor of the "cooler" people.
This isn't just a high school issue, though. The workplace is loaded with weirdos and freaks that you do not want to be associated with. They are different from you, look worse than you, and have less money than you. Yet, this isn't even the saddest place that this rejection occurs. It also happens in churches.
Recently, I read in one of Francis Chan's books (if you do not know who Francis Chan is, scroll down the page until you find the video 'Just Stop and Think') that he had a former gang member attend his church at one time. The guy was all tatted up and scary looking, yet he came on in. However, after a few Sundays, the guy quit coming. Concerned, Francis calls the guy up to see why he had quit attending. The response is heartbreaking and should resonate in the inner core of every single Christian: "I thought church would be more like a gang, a family, instead of just a group of people on Sunday mornings." He said that a gang was more accepting and loving than a church. I don't know about you, but that concept breaks my heart.
I have seen things like this with my very eyes: people have come into churches and been ignored. It happens in every church. Even within the body of Christ, we still reject the outcasts, more often than not. The truth is, though, that this is beyond un-Biblical.
"5 Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the kingdom of Heaven is theirs." -Matthew 5:3, HCSB
This verse was the first words of Jesus's famous "Sermon on the Mount." In this sermon, as many Christians know, Jesus laid out may different ways to conduct your life. Yet, the first words we have of this sermon are: "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Love the outcasts.
Jesus showed this over and over again: he loved thieves, prostitutes, lepers (a skin disease that traditionally made you exiled to a life alone), and homeless beggars. His own disciples were an array of different blue-collar, working-class people: tax men, fisherman, and other no bodies. Jesus didn't come to hang out with the rich and cool people; instead,
"28...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve" -Matthew 20:28, HCSB
Jesus came to serve and help the people that need help the most. He came and showed love to the people that need love the most. He told us directly,
"39 Love your neighbor as yourself." -Matthew 22:39, HCSB
That verse does not say to love your cool neighbor, the neighbor that isn't weird, the neighbor that is like you; it says to love your neighbor. We are called to love everyone just as Christ does. So my challenge to you is this: make a conscious effort to love the unlovable. The people that everyone else rejects. The freaks and geeks. These are the people that need Christ's love the most, and it is our duty to share it with them.
No comments:
Post a Comment