JP: Pants on the Ground, Dad's View

JP Writes:

Seems like the latest craze to hit America comes to us via American Idol. Now, I never have been a fan of the show. Two reasons: 1) the title - might as well be America's Next God by the way people hang on every vote, and 2) the way the hosts degrade these poor people who cannot sing. I too cannot sing, but thankfully God made it quite obvious to me a long time ago. Don't get me wrong, I am not judging those who watch the show. This blog is coming from someone who loves to watch overgrown men attempt to tackle, maim, and injure one another, while trash talking each other, all in an effort to move an oblong pumpkin across a white line.

But, I digress. Back to the latest craze. Seems like this wise gentlemen auditioned recently with a self written tune called "Pants on the Ground" (worth the google). This little diddy became an instant hit among those of us whose momma taught us how to properly wear our clothes and to make sure that we didn't have anything in our teeth when we went out in public. One of the lines goes, "Looking like a fool with your pants on the ground." Did I just hear a chorus of amens!! Somebody get me the nail gun, I'll fix the problem! Nobody should look like a fool! Or should we?

Were there any people in the Bible that looked like a fool? Absolutely!! Let's start with Noah. This man built a boat nowhere near water because God said it was going to rain. Rain, what's that? It had never rained before the flood. "Oh, and by the way We're going to put two of every animal (some of which eat each other) on the boat with you. It'll be ok, trust Me!" Pretty foolish looking.

Next up, Joshua. I can hear it now, "Joshua what's the plan for capturing Jericho?" "Uh, God said to have everyone get in single file line.... army, then 7 priests with trumpets, then the ark, and then the rest of the army. Next we're going to walk around Jericho once and then come back to camp and rest. We'll do this for 6 days and then on the 7th day we'll do 7 laps and then blow the trumpets and yell. Got it!?!" Great gameplan, don't you think? Can't you hear them now..."Do what??"

David. King of Israel. Mighty warrior. Anointed of God. Dancer extraordinaire. Just look at him as the ark of the Lord is being brought into Jerusalem. All the news outlets catch him leaping and dancing in his undies (albeit fancy, high dollar linen ones) in front of his adoring fans. Looking foolish? Just ask his wife, Michal.

How about John the Baptist? Talk about looking foolish. In the wilderness, wearing clothes made out of camel's hair, eating honey covered grasshoppers, yelling "Prepare the way for the Lord", and wanting to dunk me under water. I don't think so!

And that's just barely scratching the surface. The Bible is loaded with similar stories. So, lookin' the fool isn't a bad thing if your doing it for the right reason. Noah, Joshua, David, and John the Baptist all had their eyes focused on God. They all trusted in Him and relied on Him to deliver them. None of them cared what man thought. They didn't fear man's opinion, only God. They all shared David's heart when he told Michal , "It was before the Lord......I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes."

What about you? When was the last time you were willing to look like a fool for the Lord? You might not have to actually look like one, just be willing.

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the the heart" - 1 Samuel 16:7

Jeff