Everyone is talking about Michael Jackson. They have been for a while, of course, but I read an article about him on CNN.com that really intrigued me.
It was an origin story—sort of like those of superheroes but this one was about a single glove that became a trademark. What interested me about this is that according to the article, it was born out of necessity not fashion.
Michael Jackson has been widely reported to have had a condition known as vitiligo, which causes skin to lose its pigmentation. Apparently, it normally happens in splotches and often begins on the hands. Such was the case with Mr. Jackson, and mystery solved—there was a reason for the glove.
I boiled it down obviously, but the point that stuck out to me was fans all over the world copied this “style” to emulate their idol without even knowing why Michael was doing it.
I could take this in several directions at this point, but what I want to illustrate is copying Christianity whether as a congregation member or a leader is not enough. If we simply think something looks cool or will make us fit in, then we are missing the point.
As leaders, I feel it’s very important to explain why things are important. Why study the Bible? Why pray? Why worship? Why discipline ourselves? Without the why we create rule-followers and self-righteous sheep.
Now on the flipside, each believer has the responsibility to pursue God and find things out for themselves. You don’t have to take someone else’s word for it. Read and study the Bible. Experience for yourself the truth that the preacher is preaching. Learn to distinguish which is a leader’s personal preference and which is God’s truth (and love the leader no matter what).
I think all those people who mimicked MJ with their glove would have felt pretty silly if they had known it was simply to cover a skin condition. Now, Michael certainly dressed it up, but its purpose remained unchanged.
We have the same opportunity to live passionately for either leader’s ideas and “fashion” statements or passionately for God’s Kingdom and purposes. We definitely can follow them as they follow Christ, but we need to know for ourselves the God who amazing, wonderful, abundant, and transcendent.
To maintain pursuit is the only way to continually live with purpose, determination, and joy.
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