The Wizard and I

15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence ; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

We can draw strength from this passage of Scripture from 1^st Peter 3, especially when we realize that believers all over the world face the possibility of being silenced for their faith.   And, those who espouse a perspective that is consistent with a Biblical worldview in the halls of academia are facing incredible pressure these days.  And, I don’t want to make it sound as if Christians are victims these days, because as believers in Christ, I believe God calls us to a higher standard – to walk with confidence in Him.

I was reminded of some of the cultural pressures recently as I watched the musical that set a North American box office record last week – the touring version of “Wicked” at the Fabulous Fox in Atlanta generated over $2.4 million dollars in sales during its final week.  And, we paid our fair share!!

If you’re not familiar with it, it’s basically the story of the so-called “Wicked Witch of the West” from the Wizard of Oz story – her name is Elphaba, and she’s not really wicked, but misunderstood, in the eyes of the playwright.   

In one scene, a professor at a college, Dr. Dillamond, faces the threat of being removed from the classroom and silenced, because he is a goat!!   You see, there is a nefarious plot in Oz – the animals are being silenced.   Well, Elphaba, one of the students who’s a bit different herself - she’s green, for one thing, and talented…she has certain, well, skills, that could prove useful to the wonderful wizard of Oz.    She becomes an advocate for the professor and really animals throughout the land, and when she is brought to the wizard, she reports this plot, not realizing that the wizard is behind it.   Because she knows the truth, she becomes a liability to the wizard, and becomes a fugitive, and she is essentially vilified throughout Oz, and as she disappears, the stories about her grow more and more exaggerated.

I had to think about the movie, “Expelled”, portraying instances where professors who don’t exactly tow the company line and question the theory of evolution have faced and are facing termination.   I hear about Christians who speak out about their faith and are facing the threat of losing their jobs, their reputations, their  freedom, even their lives – all because they dare embrace the principles of Christ.   A pastor in Iran is facing death because he spoke out against the teachings of the Koran.  

And, like the not-so-wicked witch Elphaba, advocates who stand with those taking a stand also become vilified.   Those who speak truth are branded as being intolerant, or “haters”.    Those who stand with pre-born children who are being murdered in the womb are branded as intolerant of the rights of women.    A student in Fort Worth faced suspension and was charged with bullying just because he expressed a particular, Biblically-based opinion.    We are called to stand with those who are being oppressed.    And, reading 1^st Peter 3, this is not a new phenomenon – but we have to make sure that we are 1) ready to defend our faith 2) communicate with meekness and reverence, and 3) keep a good conscience, so that we will not be discredited.