There's a great advert that Apple aired some years ago about the crazy ones...
| | "Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. But the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." |
Crazies changing the world - Who are these crazies? What can we learn from them? Maybe more importantly - am I a world-changing, life-changing crazy?
Crazies
If we were transported back to 1000 BC and talk about men who would be in flying machines, rockets going to the moon, moving pictures held in the hand- we would be called crazy.
If we are transported back to 2013 AD and talk about a man who would bring an abundant life- joy indescribable in suffering, peace indescribable in catastrophe, love indescribable in hatred - would we be called crazy?
If we were transported back to 1000 BC and talk about men who would be in flying machines, rockets going to the moon, moving pictures held in the hand- we would be called crazy.
If we are transported back to 2013 AD and talk about a man who would bring an abundant life- joy indescribable in suffering, peace indescribable in catastrophe, love indescribable in hatred - would we be called crazy?
Some Crazies
Crazies are those who don't fit the majority's mould. Those who talk of things that make no sense to us. A metal machine flying in the air, or a life of peace in the midst of turmoil. Crazy!
We are afraid of them and hence vilify them. Only later when see they were right do we venerate them. As Jesus said...
“Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. (Luke 11:47)
Let's consider some mould breakers, some crazies, some Bible crazies. How many of these crazy speaking, crazy acting people are there?
Crazies are those who don't fit the majority's mould. Those who talk of things that make no sense to us. A metal machine flying in the air, or a life of peace in the midst of turmoil. Crazy!
We are afraid of them and hence vilify them. Only later when see they were right do we venerate them. As Jesus said...
“Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. (Luke 11:47)
Let's consider some mould breakers, some crazies, some Bible crazies. How many of these crazy speaking, crazy acting people are there?
David - Crazy Worship
David was a man of passion, who many must have considered crazy. He had dreams of an incredible temple, he wrote songs where he spoke to God himself. And then he went "crazy" when he wanted to tell God how awesome he was -
"David, ceremonially dressed in priest's linen, danced with great abandon before God." (2Sam 6:14)...And Michal despised him for it..."David returned home to bless his family. Michal, Saul's daughter, came out to greet him: "How wonderfully the king has distinguished himself today-- exposing himself to the eyes of the servants 'maids like some crazy street dancer!" (2Sam 6:20).
His Godly abandon is seen as crazy. Are we ever seen as crazy in our passionate worship of God?
David was a man of passion, who many must have considered crazy. He had dreams of an incredible temple, he wrote songs where he spoke to God himself. And then he went "crazy" when he wanted to tell God how awesome he was -
"David, ceremonially dressed in priest's linen, danced with great abandon before God." (2Sam 6:14)...And Michal despised him for it..."David returned home to bless his family. Michal, Saul's daughter, came out to greet him: "How wonderfully the king has distinguished himself today-- exposing himself to the eyes of the servants 'maids like some crazy street dancer!" (2Sam 6:20).
His Godly abandon is seen as crazy. Are we ever seen as crazy in our passionate worship of God?
Prophet - Crazy Sayings
A young unnamed Prophet is sent by Elisha to give Jehu a message about him becoming king. A crazy message considering he wasn't royalty. And what do the "normal" people say about an unexpected message -
When Jehu went out to his fellow officers, one of them asked him, “Is everything all right? Why did this maniac come to you?”
“You know the man and the sort of things he says,” Jehu replied. (2 Kings 9:11)
Are we seen as crazy for the crazy things we say can and will happen to the children of God?
A young unnamed Prophet is sent by Elisha to give Jehu a message about him becoming king. A crazy message considering he wasn't royalty. And what do the "normal" people say about an unexpected message -
When Jehu went out to his fellow officers, one of them asked him, “Is everything all right? Why did this maniac come to you?”
“You know the man and the sort of things he says,” Jehu replied. (2 Kings 9:11)
Are we seen as crazy for the crazy things we say can and will happen to the children of God?
John - Crazy Behavior
Surely on the crazy list must be wild and wooly John the Baptist.
John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. (Matt 3:4)
And his behavior and message drew the sage criticism of the "normal" people; ."John came fasting and they called him crazy." (Matthew 11:18)
Are we seen as crazy for the crazy unconventional things we do, in God's service?
Surely on the crazy list must be wild and wooly John the Baptist.
John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. (Matt 3:4)
And his behavior and message drew the sage criticism of the "normal" people; ."John came fasting and they called him crazy." (Matthew 11:18)
Are we seen as crazy for the crazy unconventional things we do, in God's service?
Jesus - Crazy offer
Then we have Jesus. He makes the most crazy statement, the most crazy offers of all.
"I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10).
In a world of scarcity, he offers abundance. In a world of death he offers life. He even goes so far as to say he will die to give this life offer. Crazy!
"In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary." (Jn 10:15)
And so the response...A lot of them were saying, "He's crazy, a maniac-- out of his head completely. Why bother listening to him?" (John 10:20)
Are we seen as crazy for the crazy offers and promises we make to people?
Then we have Jesus. He makes the most crazy statement, the most crazy offers of all.
"I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10).
In a world of scarcity, he offers abundance. In a world of death he offers life. He even goes so far as to say he will die to give this life offer. Crazy!
"In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary." (Jn 10:15)
And so the response...A lot of them were saying, "He's crazy, a maniac-- out of his head completely. Why bother listening to him?" (John 10:20)
Are we seen as crazy for the crazy offers and promises we make to people?
We are the crazy ones
Crazy worship, crazy sayings, crazy behavior, crazy promises...who are these crazy people? We are called to be crazy for God!
From crazy to crazy. We come from a craziness born of despair, born of hopelessness and arrive at a "craziness" born of love, born of hope. A place that the world believes impossible but where God's children live eternal possibilities. So as Legion, crazed and living among the dead tastes life eternal in Jesus, so too can we (Mark 5).
And so like crazies of all times the world will look with wonder and scorn at us as the "prophet is considered a fool, the inspired person a maniac." (Hosea 9:7)
When we claim that he is alive, they will reply, “You’re out of your mind” (Acts 12:15). When we say we have met him, they will not believe because our words will seem like nonsense to them (Luke 24:11). When we share our story, they will say, "you are insane" (Acts 26:24)
Yet, "if we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God." (2Cor 5:13).
Crazy worship, crazy sayings, crazy behavior, crazy promises...who are these crazy people? We are called to be crazy for God!
From crazy to crazy. We come from a craziness born of despair, born of hopelessness and arrive at a "craziness" born of love, born of hope. A place that the world believes impossible but where God's children live eternal possibilities. So as Legion, crazed and living among the dead tastes life eternal in Jesus, so too can we (Mark 5).
And so like crazies of all times the world will look with wonder and scorn at us as the "prophet is considered a fool, the inspired person a maniac." (Hosea 9:7)
When we claim that he is alive, they will reply, “You’re out of your mind” (Acts 12:15). When we say we have met him, they will not believe because our words will seem like nonsense to them (Luke 24:11). When we share our story, they will say, "you are insane" (Acts 26:24)
Yet, "if we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God." (2Cor 5:13).
Yours in craziness
Malo
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Thanks...Malo.
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