A Message by long time friend, singer song writer and Lay Preacher: Lawry MacLeod:
I Don’t Belong Here Aug. 26, 2018.
Two years ago, a gentleman by the name of Brian Justin Crum, appeared on
America’s Got Talent and sang a song called “Creep”. He told a bit of his
life story, about being gay, being ostracized and beaten up because of it, and
how he poured himself into music to escape his torment. Then he sang, and
when he was finished, something extraordinary happened. For three whole seconds, there was absolute silence;
no one moved, no one spoke, no one cheered. His last chorus read, “I’m a
creep, I’m a weirdo, what the (heck) am I doing here? I don’t belong here, I don’t belong here.” After those three ominously-quiet seconds,
all 2000 people in that theatre erupted into a cacophony of clapping and
screaming and cheering and every judge, except Simon Cowell, gave Brian a
standing ovation. There were smiles and tears, whispers of amazement and
shouts of adulation. And Simon Cowell
gave one of the most amazingly positive reviews he has ever shared on the
show. If you have a computer or an I-pad
or I-phone, go to youtube and type in “agt” and the word “creep” and watch the
video for yourself.
What was it that caused that three second stand-still? What was going
through the audience’s minds in that moment that totally immobilized them?
Did they think, “He’s gay so I’m not going to encourage him,” or “Who
sings songs about creeps and weirdos,” or did they sense and perhaps share
Brian’s despondency in “I don’t belong here”?
I was going to quote
all kinds of examples from scriptures of people who didn’t fit in, didn’t quite
fit the mold, didn’t think they were worthy; people who were displaced into
someone else’s country or the outskirts of the village or the dark corner of
someone’s thoughts. But I’m going to cut to the chase and say, “Jesus was
the most displaced person ever to walk this earth.” He voluntarily left heaven to come to earth. He said so himself, “My kingdom is not of
this world. I don’t belong here.” As long as he remained incognito, everything
was fine, but no, he had to go and make his presence known with a public
baptism with voices from the sky and doves landing on his head. And then
he started speaking out, and speaking out loudly, against the current religious
and political status quo. And not just
in Jerusalem but on every shore and hillside he could get to.
For three years he pushed people to their limits; good and bad.
Who is this Galilean with his outrageous belief that he is the son of
God? Who is he to tell me I’m a sinner.
What right has he to forgive whatever I’ve done? He doesn’t belong
here. Crucify him. And in the end, he felt the hand of the
people pushing him out, pushing him up to Golgotha; up to where they would be
rid of him. Just days before he was lifted up on the cross he shouted at
God and said, “I know this is what I am supposed to do. I know I wasn’t meant to stay here. I don’t like the method you’ve chosen for my
deportation, but I trust you to make sure I get home safely.” Even the
thief on the cross beside him said, “You didn’t do anything wrong, you don’t
belong here.”
Many ill-informed people consider foreigners a threat to their set of
values but which set of values? Are we more agitated towards immigrants
who worship God differently from us, or those who live here but don’t worship
God at all? Who is the real enemy, where does the true evilness lie, who
should we be exonerating as model citizens?
Our morning reading from Ephesians has the answer, “10 Finally, be strong in
the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor
of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is
not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms.”
Have you ever felt or said, “I don’t belong here?” Have you
ever heard anyone say, “I don’t belong HERE?” 28 “Come to me, all you
who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you
and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest
for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Did you catch all
that? “All you who are weary and
burdened.” “I am gentle and humble in heart.” “You will find rest.” You belong here.
From 1 Kings Solomon said, 41 “As for the foreigner
who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land
because of your name— 42 for they will hear of your great name
and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward
this temple, 43 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner
asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear
you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built
bears your Name.”
And
lastly from Ephesians again, “18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and
requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the
Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I
will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an
ambassador.” Now say, “I belong here,” and believe it.
Brian Justin Crum "Creep"
