ARE CHRISTIANS MERE PRETENDERS?

People who saw it are either laughing or crying.  On the streets of Las Vegas the image of one of Disney’s most beloved characters was dashed to pieces… 

Violent Masquerade

…Minnie Mouse, Mickey’s sweet bride, attacked a female security guard.  It was a one-sided brawl.  Minnie threw off her mousy head – to expose the truth that nothing but an impostor was underneath. Then she belted the poor woman with roundhouse rights and lefts.  Even when the security guard fell to the ground, “Minnie Mouse” wasn’t satisfied.  She jumped on top of her and continued to batter the woman’s face.  Her attack forced Mickey and Goofy to quickly remove their masks in order to help the security guard.

Parents were shocked and appalled.  Children were confused and crying.  But what can you tell them?  Is there a lesson to be learned?  “These aren’t the real Mickey and Minnie Mouse.  They’re only bad people pretending to be them.  The real Mickey and Minnie live in Disney World and Disneyland, not Las Vegas.”  If only it was Spiderman (one of the other characters on the Vegas strip that day) who had gotten into a fight.  But Minnie Mouse?

I pity the poor children of one mom who dismissed the matter. “Hey, you just tell your kids that sometimes you have a bad day.” Hopefully someone will enlighten her and her children that “having a bad day” is never an excuse for committing a crime.  No judge or jury will ever grant acquittal for such a worthless defense.

Image Bearing

But one thing is certain.  Disney executives are hanging their heads in disgust and horror.  They know that clips of the “Minnie Mouse brawl” have gone viral over the internet and are being played on every news program.  They’d be wise to revoke all rights from Las Vegas companies to use their characters.  Besides, what business do Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy have in Las Vegas anyway?  Are they trying to give “sin city” a wholesome look?  For Disney’s sake, go back to Disney World.  Just look at the evil effect Las Vegas has had on Minnie.

One outcome that’s really got to be troubling Disney executives is the humor people have found in the Minnie Mouse brawl.  In thousands of comments viewers are poking fun at Mickey and Minnie.  The two characters seem to have fallen from grace in the eyes of millions.

The effect is quite the same as when Christian believers behave badly – except that God is hanging His head, not Disney executives.  Yes, Christian believers have their bad days.  But this is never an excuse for sinning.  And the consequences for throwing off Christ’s image so they can behave like the devil will be just as devastating to the cause of the Gospel.

Fortunately, Christian believers are not mere impostors wearing a costume.  They’re the opposite of that short-fused pretender in the Minnie Mouse suit.  Christian believers are “Minnie on the inside,” though dressed in frail humanity on the outside.

New Leadership

According to the Bible, Christian believers do not just simply set out to live a good life and perform good deeds.  True believers are those who’ve been born again by the Spirit of God (John 3:3-8), by the Resurrection of Christ (1 Peter 1:3), and by the word of God (1 Peter 1:23).  “If anyone is in Christ Jesus they are a new creation.  Old things have passed away.  Behold, all things are new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Those who put their faith and trust in Jesus to save them, receive purification from their sins.  And God gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit, who transforms and keeps renewing their hearts (Acts 15:7-9; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 4:16-17; 5:5).  Their spirits have been reborn into the image of Jesus (Colossians 3:9-11).

So the challenge that Christian believers face is not to live down to the cravings of the outer person, the mere costume.  It’s to allow the Holy Spirit and the reborn inner-person to rule in our lives, that they may act as Jesus would act in every circumstance.  By doing so they will glorify God and undergird the Gospel they preach with our mouths.

PRAYER

O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer; this is my constant longing and prayer; gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit, holy and harmless, patient and brave; meekly enduring cruel reproaches, willing to suffer, others to save.

O to be like Thee! While I am pleading, pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love.  Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling, fit for a life and heaven above.

O to be like Thee, O to be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art.  Come in Thy sweetness.  Come in Thy fullness. Stamp Thine own image, deep on my heart.