(submitted
by Kerry Patton)
"You then, my
son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have
heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who
will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:1-2
“In the same way, let your light shine before
others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your
Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Bizzaro World
Introduced in the early 1960’s by DC Comics, Bizarro World
was a comic book world where bizarre versions of existing Superheroes
lived…only they were opposite to the personalities of their normal world
counterparts. For example: in Bizzaro
World, Aqua man could NOT swim. Just
something wrong about that, right? This
comic book concept caught on enough that today in popular culture ‘Bizarro
World’ has come to refer situations which are in the words of Wikipedia:
“…weirdly inverted or opposite of expectations.”
I have an opinion that our current culture has devolved to
the point that the inhabitants this country and most other “modern” governments
have become Bizarro Worlds in and of themselves. Let me illustrate:
·
According to current news and politicians, having secure borders
means borders are being breached by literally tens of thousands of illegal
alien men, women and children. Keep in
mind, this statement is not about those crossing, but a point being made about
the borders themselves. They are
unenforced, porous, and seem to do nothing; hence they are “secure.”
·
According to current cultural values, marital fidelity is
undesirable and dysfunctional, and homosexuality is normal (and apparently
preferable)
·
Unbridled sexuality is not immoral, but suitable for songs,
literature, movies, television, cellphones, and computers…no matter who has
access
·
For Americans to fly the American flag or wear clothing with the
flag represented on it is bad because it might cause problems with others
living in America who hate America.
·
Persons who oppose conservative values can say ANYTHING and are applauded
as sensitive and intuitive; persons who uphold conservative values who say
ANYTHING are accused of being intolerant and committing hate speech.
I don’t know how else to describe the times we live in other
than: Bizarro World.
Shhhhh. Keep it down a little!
Believe it or not, the body of Christ has been affected by
this Bizarro World mentality as well.
Our faith…the Good News of Jesus Christ’s life, death and
resurrection…that which the scripture suggests we are to “shout from the
rooftops” (Matthew 10:27), has become a ‘private’ thing. Freedom OF religion is largely interpreted as
freedom FROM religion, so we have translated ‘personal faith’ to be experienced
as ‘private faith.’ We cannot pray together in school. We have to be careful how we pray in City
Council meetings. We have to be careful
where we place the Nativity Scene at Christmas.
We have “Holiday Trees” rather than “Christmas Trees” because out here
in Bizarro World America, personal Christian faith should be PRIVATE Christian
faith. “Go ahead. Worship your god. Just keep it to yourself, or I might become
offended…and that’s bad.”
NO, that’s just the way it is. That’s the way it has ALWAYS been. The Gospel is offensive to all who hear it
but don’t believe. But to those who do believe, it is LIFE! 1 Peter2:6-8 reads:
“For in Scripture
it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and
the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who
do not believe, the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were
destined for.”
So what’s it going to be?
Are we content to live in Bizarro World?
Are we sheeple who will practice our faith in private and keep it to
ourselves so we don’t offend anyone? Or
will we stand in the current; will we not lean against the winds of culture and
proclaim what we know as personal, not allowing it to be stifled as ‘private.’
Be a city set on a hill; a light not hidden under a
bushel. We are not called to be
obnoxious, but we are called to be obvious. We are described as salt that
seasons, not sand that lays in silence.
We are not merely those who believe, but those who follow…and lead others
to do the same. Right?
Prayer
Almighty God, we have no interest in embarrassing our
Lord with obnoxious religious behavior.
But neither are we interested in letting the Gospel we know to be true
become a legend untold and unillustrated.
If there has ever been an age to let the Light of Christ be shined, it
is today. Help me shine. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
