KEEP WATCH
Think Differently
Changing the World by Rejecting Worldliness
Jim Allen
Bob Conway writes, "Unless you happen to be from another planet, you probably own or know someone who owns an Apple product. Even so, it's likely you've never heard the name Ken Segall. Ken was the creative wizard and director behind Apple's widely successful and innovative 'Think Different' campaign, which won just about every award imaginable."
The televised Apple commercial produced by Segall opens with a scene showing Albert Einstein's unruly hair flying about in the breeze. Following are scenes of Martin Luther King, John Lennon, Thomas Edison, Gandhi, Amelia Earhart, Salvador Dali, and others renowned for changing the status quo by seeing things differently. The powerful narrative overflowing on to these rolling images opens with:
Here's to the crazy ones...the misfits...the rebels...the trouble makers...the round pegs in a square hole. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them...because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world...are the ones who do. "Here's to the Crazy Ones — Think Different"; AppleThe commercial closes with the words "Think Different," and went on to convince buyers they could change the world by learning how to see things differently.
For the viewing audience, the Apple commercial was a monumental success. It exceeded all business expectations to sell Apple products even though the most prominent person, in regards to "seeing things differently," was left out.
The business world, for the most part, no longer recognizes Jesus nor acknowledges his life in any of their business practices. They give Jesus no credit for seeing things differently and this is understandable since they themselves cannot see nor understand the thoughts of God (Isaiah 44:18). The prophet Isaiah writes, "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' says the LORD" (Isaiah 55:8).
Two thousand years ago, another message came along that was so powerful it drew millions to its claim, daring them to believe and be different. Even more amazing is that while this new message was from another kingdom, it challenged broken hearts to look away from the world's status quo to a new way of thinking.
So, here's to the crazy ones, those among us who dare to step out from the status quo of the world and see things differently. Here's to those who press toward the prize of the high call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).
To be sure, the ways of Christianity are foolish to many in the world (1 Corinthians 1:18-31). They do not understand why anyone would believe in a Jew who lived 2000 years ago. They do not understand Jesus' crucifixion or believe he rose from the dead; or, why the very people he came to save called him a liar and blasphemer (John 10:33). Nor do they understand why those who call him Savior now allow themselves to be reviled as crazy misfits living in a delusional, make-believe world (Mark 13:13).
There was a time when many of us were nonbelievers and thought the same about Christians. But then one day a message came along that was so different and so powerful that it drew us in like a magnet. The message was about us and our destiny and our need for the Savior (John 3:16). The message seemed to make sense. Looking back it made a lot of sense. It was a message daring us to see things differently apart from the world's perspective...a message to change one's mind...to believe...to live and to have hope...and perhaps change the world.
And now that message about hope has become a reality in redemption, transforming us in ways barely imaginable years ago (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Though the Apple commercial was stirring, inspirational, and a great success, the Gospel message is so much more. The Gospel message tells of the most prominent person ever to walk on earth, of our need for this person, and of his message for us to see and think differently by having the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).
When we allow his mind to dwell in us, we see things anew, and things change. We become rebels against iniquity, misfits among the godless, and troublemakers among evildoers, resisting their ways. Instead of pushing the human race forward, we push Christ and his Kingdom principles forward knowing when hearts change the world will change.
And while it is true the world ignores the Savior, it can never ignore the promise of His soon return (John 14:3). To dare to see things differently means the world will judge us. They will assign us a place us among the crazies just because we do not fit their definition of normal behavior (Romans 1:21-25).
But, if loving God, family, and people defines believers as abnormal and crazy, then we are. If being full of joy and living in peace; if living with integrity by not stealing, lying, and cheating; and if being patient, kind, gentile, and self-controlled defines believers as abnormal and crazy, then we are most assuredly what they say.
In closing and while Christians are indeed flawed, God declared us to be "works in progress" (Philippians 1:6); and in spite of our struggles and failures and alleged craziness we press on (Philippians 3:12-14). Through it all, we are not misfits and we are not crazy.
We are just children of grace living by faith and learning to see things differently — by God's perspective (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are learning to bear our cross, to forgive and love those who call us misfits and trouble makers (Luke 23:34). And if that's crazy, then I am okay with the label because, according to Segall, we can change the world.
Image Credit: Curious Expeditions; "Steampunk gear, flip goggles"; Creative Commons
Tags: Biblical-Salvation | Biblical-Truth | Christian-Life
comments powered by Disqus
Published 12-01-14
