So, I was watching "The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause" today, and there was a part I really connected with that I thought I'd share :)
Everyone is completely missing the point of what the north pole was originally designed to be about, and none of them can see it! Scott is the only one there that has any idea what the real thing was designed to be like...
(If you haven't seen it, this may not make any sense. But, yeah :P )
Ok, so you know the part where Scott ends up in the north pole after Jack Frost has taken over and made it all commercially focused and such?
Ok, so you know the part where Scott ends up in the north pole after Jack Frost has taken over and made it all commercially focused and such?
Scott walks around, and sees all the crap going on. He sees people arguing over toys and t-shirts, and fighting to get on rides. Adults are rushing to get through the line so they and their kids can take part in the attractions and spend money on souvenirs. In the mean time, the elvs are exhausted and exasperated with doing stuff they were never meant to do (managing the kiosks and attractions, being "attractions" themselves, and trying to manage the endless crowds).
The camera points to Scott as he looks around, and you can tell what he's thinking: "Awe man... look what's come of this thing. It used to be such a beautiful thing. Look at the elvs -- they're supposed to be helpers and toy makers; not sideshows and crowd pleasers. Look at the reindeer -- they were supposed to fly around and be cared for when they're at rest; not to be used as petting booth attractions, stuck in tight wooden stalls, having nasty hay stuffed in their faces 12 hours a day. This thing has become something SOO far from what it was supposed to be..."
Everyone is completely missing the point of what the north pole was originally designed to be about, and none of them can see it! Scott is the only one there that has any idea what the real thing was designed to be like...
Let me be honest for a sec here: I couldn't help but link that scene to some of the things I've seen the modern, North American church system.
I've been in a pretty decent number of churches in the past few months, in several different towns and cities across the province, and there's a lot of times lately that I've felt like Scott did there.
I've seen a little bit of what the gospel can look like apart from all the events, traditions, and stresses we've taking on, thinking they're just part of the gospel.
In the last few months, I've seen chronic leg pains leave instantly -- in a car, on the highway, traveling 100 km/h with a hitchhiker in the passenger seat of the car. I've seen inflamed kidney pain leave instantly at the name of Jesus -- on the sidewalk in front of our house while chatting with a friend. I've seen short legs grow out while just hanging out with some friends. And plenty of other things in-between, from Jesus touching the heart of the old lady with the walker (bringing her to tears), to seeing some teenage friends finally work up the nerve to go talk to the homeless guy on the park bench in the city, and love him like Jesus did.
Having seen all these things, I find I often walk into different Christian places and think "Wow, this is not how this thing was meant to work at all..."
I see and hear of the events, the attractions, and the show that's being set up, and I can't help but notice the weary Christians walking around, exhausted and exasperated with doing stuff they were never meant to do.
I see the stressing and arguing and rushing from event to event, and I think "Wow... This thing has become something SOO far from what it was supposed to be..."
Then, the worst part about it, is it seems like no one sees it! In most cases, they've been in that environment for so long, that they think that's just how it's supposed to be.
I must admit that on some occasions, I feel like I may be the only one that has any idea what the real thing is supposed to be like (in some specific incidences, I am; though I'm learning to remember there are other rebels out there that God is rising up. We're not alone.
You're not alone.)
There is hope.
Unfortunately, however, there isn't any magic snow globe that will reverse time and reset the system to the way God designed it to be. We're going to have to go about this transformation a little differently. And, to be completely honest again, I don't exactly know what that will look like.
It will happen though. Jesus is coming back for a Church that looks like Him -- a bride without spot or blemish. The church I see right now needs a bit of work before it will fit that bill, but it will get there.
It may take one elf at a time standing up and saying, "THINGS NEED TO CHANGE!!!" or it may happen nuclear style -- God revealing to millions of Christians that change needs to happen now -- but until it's done, we stand for truth and don't conform to what we see. We only conform to the image of the One who chose us.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
Love you guys.
I've seen a little bit of what the gospel can look like apart from all the events, traditions, and stresses we've taking on, thinking they're just part of the gospel.
In the last few months, I've seen chronic leg pains leave instantly -- in a car, on the highway, traveling 100 km/h with a hitchhiker in the passenger seat of the car. I've seen inflamed kidney pain leave instantly at the name of Jesus -- on the sidewalk in front of our house while chatting with a friend. I've seen short legs grow out while just hanging out with some friends. And plenty of other things in-between, from Jesus touching the heart of the old lady with the walker (bringing her to tears), to seeing some teenage friends finally work up the nerve to go talk to the homeless guy on the park bench in the city, and love him like Jesus did.
Having seen all these things, I find I often walk into different Christian places and think "Wow, this is not how this thing was meant to work at all..."
I see and hear of the events, the attractions, and the show that's being set up, and I can't help but notice the weary Christians walking around, exhausted and exasperated with doing stuff they were never meant to do.
I see the stressing and arguing and rushing from event to event, and I think "Wow... This thing has become something SOO far from what it was supposed to be..."
Then, the worst part about it, is it seems like no one sees it! In most cases, they've been in that environment for so long, that they think that's just how it's supposed to be.
I must admit that on some occasions, I feel like I may be the only one that has any idea what the real thing is supposed to be like (in some specific incidences, I am; though I'm learning to remember there are other rebels out there that God is rising up. We're not alone.
You're not alone.)
There is hope.
Unfortunately, however, there isn't any magic snow globe that will reverse time and reset the system to the way God designed it to be. We're going to have to go about this transformation a little differently. And, to be completely honest again, I don't exactly know what that will look like.
It will happen though. Jesus is coming back for a Church that looks like Him -- a bride without spot or blemish. The church I see right now needs a bit of work before it will fit that bill, but it will get there.
It may take one elf at a time standing up and saying, "THINGS NEED TO CHANGE!!!" or it may happen nuclear style -- God revealing to millions of Christians that change needs to happen now -- but until it's done, we stand for truth and don't conform to what we see. We only conform to the image of the One who chose us.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
Love you guys.
