Written by Grant Harris
Three weeks ago was the first night I’ve been to the racquetball devo on campus, and I’m really glad that I went. But while I was sitting there in the semi-dark, singing and looking around, I caught myself judging people based on how into the music they were. I was thinking things like, “Look at that guy doing the song in sign language. What a weirdo,” and, “These people raising their hands are making me uncomfortable. Can’t they just sing like normal people?”And then I started thinking to myself how foolish I was being. I tend to be a very nondemonstrative worshiper: hands in my lap, feet on the floor, eyes open, etc. But I was thinking these people who are raising their hands, doing sign language and singing with their eyes closed, they seem to be getting an awful lot out of this. Which led me to another thought: How often do I judge people as strange just because they’re genuine about God?Let’s be fair, most of us do it. I know for sure that I do. I wonder why they act like they do, why they seem to be focused only on when the next Bible study is, and how they can contribute. I think, Why don’t you just go with the flow, just be into it, but don’t obsess?God, forgive me for thinking that way. What better thing can there possibly be to obsess about than God? I’m guilty of being, well, not a marginal Christian, but certainly one who isn’t trying to make waves. The people that we, I, look at as strange during worship, or even just everyday life, those are often the people that have the closest relationships with God. Understand that not every strange person is a great person, some people are just strange. But a lot of the people we see at church or at school who are acting that way are people that we should learn from.It’s not about being cool. It’s not about being sophisticated or unemotional. How can we be unemotional and sophisticated when we have the best possible news that anyone on earth can have? We have hope for life after death with our Savior who came to die for us when we did so little for him. Even now, being redeemed, we continue to do so little.I’m not perfect, and I’m not suggesting people start running through aisles. I’m not comfortable yet with raising my hands; it’s just strange to me. But how can I judge people whose relationship with God is probably closer than mine? I don’t expect to change everyone with a semi-well written article of a page and a half or so, but if I can get just a few people to think differently about this, then I’ll be happy. God, please help me to have a closer relationship with you, even to the point where “cool” people think I’m a little odd.”If you’ve ever known the love of God, you know it’s nothing but reckless and it’s nothing but raging. Sometimes it hurts to be loved, and if it doesn’t hurt it’s probably not love, maybe infatuation. I think a lot of American people are infatuated with God, but we don’t really love Him, and they don’t really let Him love them.” – Rich MullinsGRANT HARRIS is a guest contributor for the Bison. He may be contacted atgharris2@harding.edu.
