Simon Cowell's newest attempt at making money off of our celebrity culture has turned out to be a fascinating commentary on the human condition. An 18 year old boy sells his truck to buy a plane ticket from his backwoods Kentucky home to the big city and a change to present all of "who he is" before the four judges that can make him somebody. The show details his life story thus far... the poverty he comes from, the simple life of his parents, the overall obscurity of his previous existence. The judges ask him how the fulfillment of his dreams (and the $5 million dollars) would change his life. He would buy a new truck he says. And then... the two minutes of truth. The contestants put everything into two minutes. Some bring the house down: the judges give a standing ovation, and with tears in their eyes, the judges say something like, "You've got It," or "I love who you are," and the crowd goes wild. Other contestants, often with just as much (or more) confidence sing horribly off tune. With a "No," the judges dismiss them to a life of obscurity. Their talents did not merit acceptance into the celebrity culture. Some of the "losers" curse. Others cry. All have just had "who they are" destroyed. For others, with four "Yes"'s, they walk of the stage a new person, head held high, with tears in their eyes and their family dancing for joy around them.
You cannot miss the spiritual significance of the show. We all long to stand before the Judge. We all long to have our life reviewed, for all of "who we are" to be evaluated by the only one that can make or break our future. We all long to hear a "Yes" from the only mouth that matters. We all long for that "Yes" to transform our life, from one of obscurity to that of security, success and significance.
But we are the kid from the backwoods in Kentucky, not the diamond in the rough superstar. We give our best performance and we are shown to be who we really are: insignificant, untalented, unimpressive. But this is where Christianity is different than Simon Cowell's world. Just like Simon Cowell's world, the Judge is not blind. He is not impressed. But in Christ's world, The Savior then steps on the stage and asks for another chance. "Let's make this solo into a duet," says Jesus. And then He begins to sing. You don't even know the words, and when you try to sing, it comes out all wrong. None the less, the duet brings the house down. The Judge stands to his feet, and with a tear in His eye, says, "Yes. I love who you are." And before you know what has happened, you have been accepted. Accepted in the only court that really matters You are no longer insignificant or obscure, you are a citizen of the only culture that will never end (sorry American celebrity culture). But unlike the successful contestants on the X Factor, you walk off the stage not proud: you are not deluded. You know it was his voice that carried the day. His blood paid your debt. His life stood in the place of yours at the trial. And you are forever changed, a new citizen of an eternal culture.
You cannot miss the spiritual significance of the show. We all long to stand before the Judge. We all long to have our life reviewed, for all of "who we are" to be evaluated by the only one that can make or break our future. We all long to hear a "Yes" from the only mouth that matters. We all long for that "Yes" to transform our life, from one of obscurity to that of security, success and significance.
But we are the kid from the backwoods in Kentucky, not the diamond in the rough superstar. We give our best performance and we are shown to be who we really are: insignificant, untalented, unimpressive. But this is where Christianity is different than Simon Cowell's world. Just like Simon Cowell's world, the Judge is not blind. He is not impressed. But in Christ's world, The Savior then steps on the stage and asks for another chance. "Let's make this solo into a duet," says Jesus. And then He begins to sing. You don't even know the words, and when you try to sing, it comes out all wrong. None the less, the duet brings the house down. The Judge stands to his feet, and with a tear in His eye, says, "Yes. I love who you are." And before you know what has happened, you have been accepted. Accepted in the only court that really matters You are no longer insignificant or obscure, you are a citizen of the only culture that will never end (sorry American celebrity culture). But unlike the successful contestants on the X Factor, you walk off the stage not proud: you are not deluded. You know it was his voice that carried the day. His blood paid your debt. His life stood in the place of yours at the trial. And you are forever changed, a new citizen of an eternal culture.
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