VIEWER WARNING: Some of the scenes and language may be offensive. http://youtu.be/XjVNlG5cZyQ
In the video towards the end, the words to the chorus play as the faces intermingle on the screen. A reflection of the diversity of who we are and how much we all hold in common. As a Christ Follower, the song for me means we are truly to be outside of the secular world. We are to be a place that people want to point at and say "Hey look at that!" We want to be "out there" so people are so curious about us that they will want to see what makes us so strange. Peter in one of his letters even says, always be ready to answer the question as to why you have this hope!
As I struggle in my current ministry setting, there are people here feeling much like I am. Judged by what they wear, their life, their jobs, their addictions and even worse the balance in their checkbook. I am drawn to and have shared with this group words from Paul in 1 Corinthians 4 which says (Message version):"9-13It seems to me that God has put us who bear his Message on stage in a theater in which no one wants to buy a ticket. We're something everyone stands around and stares at, like an accident in the street. We're the Messiah's misfits. You might be sure of yourselves, but we live in the midst of frailties and uncertainties. You might be well-thought-of by others, but we're mostly kicked around. Much of the time we don't have enough to eat, we wear patched and threadbare clothes, we get doors slammed in our faces, and we pick up odd jobs anywhere we can to eke out a living. When they call us names, we say, "God bless you." When they spread rumors about us, we put in a good word for them. We're treated like garbage, potato peelings from the culture's kitchen. And it's not getting any better. 14-16I'm not writing all this as a neighborhood scold just to make you feel rotten. I'm writing as a father to you, my children. I love you and want you to grow up well, not spoiled. There are a lot of people around who can't wait to tell you what you've done wrong, but there aren't many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up. It was as Jesus helped me proclaim God's Message to you that I became your father. I'm not, you know, asking you to do anything I'm not already doing myself."
Lent is a time of self-examination and repentance. A time to reflect on who we are, who God calls us to be and no matter how we have failed to be restored to relationship with God, each other and welcomed back into community. On this journey, if you have found yourself being judged, "being too school for cool" as Pink says, being treated like a fool, judged, take time today to come back in faith to who you are in Christ Jesus. We may be the prodigals who have spent everything. God is the prodigal as well in that God continually and without hesitation, will pour out love, grace, mercy and forgiveness on all the people. Even the people who have been judged unworthy by the Pharisees in the church. Oh and the cool thing? The Pharisees have that available to them as well!
"So Raise Your Glass, if you're wrong in all the right ways, All my underdogs, we will never be never be anything but loud, and nitty gritty, dirty little freaks, won't you come on and raise your glass."
Signed
Your fellow underdog, dirty little freak, wrong in all the right ways, Jesus Freak, brother Christ Follower!
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