Silly Crazy

A typical American man - a bachelor - enjoys a 'normal' life of living in the big city. He has a job - makes good money. He enjoys a good party and all that comes with it. Occasionally he will have a few too many, but driving home isn't that big of a deal since he only lives a few miles away (and police are rarely seen). Sometimes a girl comes home with him. Sometimes she stays several days. It's all about living it up while you can... sewing wild oats, they call it.

A foreign man is living in a 2-room earthen home. He can't read or write, but the religious leader down the street tells him all he needs to know about the news, the threats, the injustices, the defilement of his faith... and that is enough. His plan is to carry out justice on his own against those who hate him - and his god. Late nights are spent planning attacks, sharpening knives and oiling weapons. Several times a week he gets together with others like him who yell and scream out against foreigners who plot against them. Sometimes they burn flags, or pictures, or cars...

Then there is a married man living in quiet suburbia. He drives a nice car and brings home a nice paycheck. His kids are good kids, but they barely know dad because he doesn't have the time for them. Things aren't good with the wife because of the late hours at the office. Because of that, she is always angry. She isn't interested in a physical relationship and neither is he - with her. He suspects she finds physical fulfillment, just not from him. Why shouldn't she? He does. Both wish they things were different. Both wish things were the way they 'used' to be. Divorce seems like a good option, but what about the kids? What would they say at church? As long as both are playing their little family game, no harm no foul. Maybe after the kids are gone...

All of these scenarios are madness. Unfulfilling, vicious cycles of worldly passions that lead nowhere but down.

But then the married man finds Jesus. He realizes he has hope. He realizes he has misprioritized everything in his life! He comes clean before his family. They don't know what to think but they are all excited - blown away. They all start going to church and growing in their faith. The year-end raise doesn't come but they don't care - God is so Good! He gets passed over on the promotion because he just isn't putting in the hours he used to - but he has his family back! The guys at work are all shaking their heads... "He has gone CRAZY!"

Christianity is FOOLISHNESS to those who are perishing.

As a dear friend put it this morning... the demoniac of the Gaderenes tore his clothes off and howled at the moon day-in, day-out, and the people were accepting of this. But when he met Jesus and was healed, the people became AFRAID. This... is backwards. We should weigh and measure everything the world exalts as normal and acceptable. For though it may seem right, in the end it could lead to death.