Troy and Abed In Sean's Blog!!

I'm Definitely Not Normal...

I am not normal. I'm not weird or creepy (or at least I don't think so). It's something I deal with a lot when I take those moments of self-reflection. For instance, when I was a kid, my mother said I use to eat dirt (no, I don't still eat dirt). As a kid, my older brother would be flying around the yard on his sweet new ride (or bike) and I would just sit there eating handfuls of dirt. 

As I got older, I was a really picky eater in a weird way. I didn't like pizza. I only liked bread sticks. So if the family went to pizza hut, they'd order breadsticks and that's all I'd eat. Also I didn't eat Twizzlers until my older brother tricked me telling me they tasted like strawberries. I'll be honest, Ian (older brother) really was the person who probably helped expand my food choices and music later on. Also maybe the dirt I mentioned earlier made me a weird eater. Sorry I digress...

Of course later on in life, I hit the age of 21, and I don't drink. I don't have a desire to drink. I don't know why. I like to think it's because of the impact it had on people but I think its because I just don't care. I guess that's how I've come to the conclusion I'm not normal.

I'm not a normal Christian either...

There are moments in our lives in which we know we feel out of place. I remember feeling that way when I went to Bible College. 

Now, to begin, I had grown up in a Christian family. They did a great job of raising me in the faith. By the time I was in college, I felt as I was still building my knowledge in my faith. The reason I chose Bible college, was because I wanted to grow in my understanding of what I believe. Believe me it was the best choice I ever made, but I will say, walking into it at the point of my life, was like walking around naked in a mall.

I realized from the first moments, that I felt uncomfortable. Mostly because I felt like I was a horrible Christian. There was a language. I left America and ended up in a foreign nation. They were saying things and yes even making biblical jokes. Now growing up the way I did, I may have played a lot of video games instead of reading my Bible, so I was really not up to par.

Please don't think I'm bashing people and Bible colleges, they are necessary. I loved my time and would never change it for the world, but that was the moment I was not a normal Christian. I realized most of the people I went to college with, went to Christian high schools, had a long family line of pastors (my dad is a pastor but he was later in life), and knew professors from church. I literally grew up going to public school, my dad being a pastor without us getting the Pastors kid treatment, and not knowing anything about people like John Piper.

It's hard to be...

I imagine this is how the Gentiles felt in the Bible. The Jews were such a great people. They were chosen by God. I mean that's crazy to think. These people were God's chosen. That means that they were selected by God. They were the people He wanted to represent Him on earth. 

I always go back to the story of the Canannite woman. She goes towards Jesus, knowing he's a Jew. He's one of God's chosen people. She ask him to help with her daughter who is possessed by a demon.  In Matthew, it states that the disciple ask Jesus, to tell this woman to essentially leave them alone (Mt 15:23). 

This women persist and even gets Jesus to say the following, "I was sent only for the lost sheep of Israel" (15:24). He even says it's not good for the children's (Jewish nation) bread to be given to the dogs (Gentiles).

DOGS!!!!!!! WE"RE GONNA FIGHT!!!!

So to many people, being called a dog isn't a good thing. So to help people understand, Jesus wasn't being disrespectful. He was testing this ladies faith. His mission was first for the Jews, it's clearly seen. They were God's peeps. Yet, he still had a mission to save all man. In this instance, Jesus is saying what God's chosen, selected, normal people, would say about people outside the faith. 

The Gentiles weren't respected because they were not the true God's people. They were second rate in the minds of the true Israelities. It wasn't normal for a Gentile to interact or believe in things Israel believed in. 

This is my favorite part. This lady after being called a dog, says this to Jesus. 

Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table (Mt. 15:27)

WHAT! This lady straight up isn't normal. Who does this? It's amazing because she accepts the fact that she isn't necessarily important in Jesus current mission. She accepts this and humbles herself to Him. 

I imagine Jesus had a smirk on his face when He heard this statement. The faith of this woman was so great. She did the thing that wasn't normal and was rewarded for her faith. Jesus then commends her and heals her daughter. This incredible story blows the minds of the reader.

JESUS DOESN'T WANT NORMAL

I don't believe Jesus wants us to be normal. I don't believe being a Christian is normal. As I was at Bible College, I realized as I got to know people, they weren't normal. They had their quirks. They even worshipped God differently. I even met people who were like me, growing in their understanding.

I didn't feel bad about who I was and how I was growing in God. I may have seemed like a dog among others but my heart was what Jesus wanted to be right.

We were made unique. I openly admit that I don't like most christian music. That's okay because God doesn't look down on me for it. God is looking to your heart. He desires you to humble yourself before Him. He doesn't want clones but people to go towards Him.

Yes we are to strive to be like Christ. Yet he has given us unique gifts, ideas, and talents to use to worship Him. Be who God has created you to be. Don't be normal. Be you. We were made not to be normal but to be us! Now I will play myself out...