The Wild One has been a favorite of mine for decades, actually wearing out
VHS tapes. We all seem to know the dialogue, I even have the soundtrack music,
incredible for the time and now, makes you want to go out and ride, but some
conversations tell more about the leader of the BRMC, and about us than we may
admit. When John Strabler, played by Marlon Brando is asked “what are you
rebelling about?” after being told the BRMC stands for Black Rebels Motorsicle
Club, he responds, “whata ya got?” And they keep dancing...it seems old Johnny
was deeper than we give him credit for, and deeper than many today. Clubs back
then put thought into their name, just the opposite of picking a trendy acronym
and finding words to fit. They were rebelling against the pressures put on
their freedoms, which laws and social justices, or injustices were hindering.
Sounds a lot like today...but no one likes to be called a rebel today. Even
back then If you asked, you were told “Johnny Yuma was a rebel.” All you had to
do was ask any 10 year old.
I was in 10th grade when the moratoriums, the days off to protest the Viet
Nam War took place, and we took off one day to go. Not to listen, we stood
firmly behind our military then and now, but because the hippie girls were
there, and were easy. They were so busy standing against something they didn’t
stand for anything. Free love, free sex, free the Black Panthers, free
whatever, but never any solutions. And heaven help the ones who asked them for
solutions, they were immediately called names and labeled. Seems it was OK for
them to protest and name call, yet if you asked or did it to them, well you got
the wrath side of these peaceful beings. “Don’t Bogart that joint my friend,
pass it over to me...” and guess who got misquoted on the 5 o’clock news that
night?
So it seems protesting is nothing new, just join in, even if you don’t have
a cause, and you will find a mob, or group to hide within. But how many really
know the facts before they take a stand? And when they do, change their
position on it? Protesting gun laws is nothing new, remember when John Lennon
was murdered, shot, by a crazy man. The shooter broke over 70 established gun
laws of the time, would another have saved him? “Oh, sorry, I didn’t know
that.” But yet we go after the weakest member, a gun that cannot speak for
itself. And yesterday with kids taking off of school to protest, how many just
saw a free day off? How many watched the protester’s speakers protected by gun
carrying law officers? How many don’t know, but are just following the crowd?
Which is nothing new....
With Easter coming up, it is easy to remember how a crowd turned on Jesus,
who cried “crucify him!” less than a week after he was greeted with shouts of
“HOSANNA!” Save us. But we need to look at the message, which is the most
important, and a message we as Christians still are responsible to carry today.
The message of Jesus Christ carries on in love, not in protest. No one wins a
argument, maybe why Jesus kept quiet. But one messenger worth noting by Paul,
Epaphroditus, is mentioned to the Philippians. He calls him a fellow brother,
co-worker and soldier, a man who stood with Paul against the insults and
accusations. He is a messenger to the Philippians, the word referring to an
apostle, one who has seen Jesus. He is not one found in protesting, but in
spreading the gospel, good news. How many of us at night have turned off the
news, just wishing to hear some good news, yet Jesus offers it? This was the
message Paul was preaching, and the message he sent back with Epaphroditus. the
good news of Jesus Christ. He represents him, not himself. And he is hurrying
back, because he hears of someone who is ill, himself, and he is returning to
minister to those who may get over excited about it. He is showing love with
compassion, to them, lest they worry, so “whata ya got?”
Sadly the message isn’t always told. After my open heart surgery, and
being gone over two months from church, the head of men’s ministry came up to
me. Wondering where I had been, I was part of a team that mentored. As the
leader, he didn’t even know I was sick? “Why didn’t I call?” Why didn’t he? I
already knew the answer....We all know someone like that, I hope it isn’t us.
Epaphroditus in his distress looked beyond himself, a true sign of the love and
compassion of Jesus. So are you so busy rebelling that you aren’t standing for
anything? Why do so many good folk protest the devil, yet don’t take a stand by
showing love to others? Maybe even a card from Hallmark, they care. Says so on
the card. But do we?
So “whata ya got?” often shows more in “whata ya showing.” The best way to
protest hate is to love, the best way to protest tyranny is by being free. Only
in Jesus will you truly be set free, and when we can labor and show concern for
others before ourselves, then his love will show. Then you will see the
character of Jesus living, going beyond words. Actions that we will remember.
You see, life like movies is viewed, we don’t remember many words or quotes.
Thankfully Jesus has written his word on our hearts. Just in case they can’t
hear us, they can still see us.
And if you see the movie, remember who committed the murder, remember who
was happy with all the money flowing. Remember who got the bum wrap. So,
“whata ya got?” I got Jesus, man.....and like Epahroditus, he is coming back to
those he loves.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com