weird
1. suggesting something supernatural; unearthly. /wɪəd/
If I had a dollar for every time I have been called weird, I could buy a lovely gift for myself (and rightly so because I do say the most outlandish things sometimes, I admit). So, I decided to talk about weirdness in Christianity. Or maybe this is just an excuse to talk about KB because it is long overdue. Probably both.
KB and I are really nothing alike - at least on the outside. While he's recognized for his distinctive locked hair, high confidence and rebellious spirit, among other traits, these are the last things I would probably be characterized with. Again, I grew up in the church and found CHH along the line. KB started outside and was actually saved and brought into the church through a CHH album. Clearly, two very distinct journeys, and ideally, I should not relate and stan as much as I do.
Yet still, I do. And frankly it isn’t too difficult to see why from my POV.
Not being too big on “trap” music, KB is one of the few artists I give a pass to because he doesn’t sacrifice the purity of the message with the electrifying beats he uses in his music.
As a very regular gym user (I will not be taking any comments, thank you), you know there’s something to get you hyped while being safe because the lyrics are uplifting. For a genre that often receives a lot of criticism for perceived lukewarmness (sometimes rightly so because some CHH artists can be questionable), KB makes sure to wear the kingdom boldly on his chest and leaves no room for doubt. His love for Jesus is so evident - outside of music, his podcast and clothing line is a testament to this. His tagline, HGA (His Glory Alone), is one I try to live by because everything I do and am is exclusively for God’s glory.
Okay, enough about the artist, let’s dissect the art. Probably one of the biggest songs ever in CHH (and the music video is chef’s kiss), Sideways will be the main ingredient for today’s meal.
I will not be doing a full breakdown since you will probably find better ones out there. But for the sake of people who may not have heard the song before, the idea of Sideways stems from THAT look people give when looking at something strange/weird/different/funny. It’s a pretty natural thing: you see something weird, you squint and look sideways.
And what does this have to do with Christianity? Well, a lot. Because if there is one thing we are or should be, it is weird to the world (Romans 12:2a)
2a Do not be conformed to this world,
By not conforming to the world, we subject ourselves to being looked at sideways from those of the world. KB and Lecrae, who he featured, tackle different aspects of their lives where they get sideway stares.
Degree in theology, raps for a livin’.
Black man in first class that is reading the scriptures.
Did I forget to mention that KB has a degree in Theology? (what a guy)
A young, smart black man getting a degree in theology and not in engineering or medicine? WEIRD.
A theologian who raps for a living instead of wearing a clerical collar? WEIRD.
A young black man sitting in first class in an airplane and reading scripture? WEIRD.
Don’t need a side chick the main dish a problem boy
I be turnin’ down girls by the volume, boy
Deciding to focus on only one partner and not mess around with others? WEIRD.
And lately I’ve been hangin’ in the hood
Everbody lookin’ like what?
You for the people, you pusin’ back evil
Not just in the steeple, you out in the woods
Not staying in the church but actually going to the hood to reach out to the lost? WEIRD.
A lot more where these came from, but I would leave you to listen to the song and fish out more if you are interested.
As Christians, our primary trait is that we are zealous about the things of God before personal things. This is where our difference comes into play. The average person is zealous for their own well-being. But that’s not the case for you and me.
The average person would not put their lives at risk for others; the WEIRD person would travel to (in KB’s words on his song 100) Nimba County, Liberia or a jungle with a mosquito net, a concrete bed and a Bible and still be smiling if it is the will of God.
The average person would invest their resources into their immediate family; the WEIRD person would sell their property and distribute the earnings to the poor and needy if it is in the will of God. I can already see people looking sideways at this.
The average person would retaliate a heavy slap on the face with a double portion; the WEIRD person would turn the other cheek with a smile.
Ultimately, it is clear that the behavior and actions of a true Christian is bound to cause others to stare. And rightly so. Because we are different.
But are we different just for the sake of it? Our weirdness is not in the fact that we may look different from the worldly man. Our weirdness stems from the light that we bear. The Holy Spirit gave me this analogy. Consider a box with several white wax candles and one red one. All of them are unlit, just in the box. Of course, the red one is different on the surface but fundamentally similar to the rest. Now consider one of the white candles is actually lit and producing light. This is, in fact, the different candle.
If you ask me, the Pharisees in Jesus’ day were like the red candles: outwardly different but not the type of weird that brings change. Jesus Christ on the other hand, was the good type of weird. May have looked just like the regular person, a normal carpenter even. But he produced a light that caused all who encountered him to look at him sideways - The white candle that actually produces light.
And that applies to us Christians as well. It is not enough to say we are different or boast about the fact that we are weird if this is, in fact, not producing anything.
Being weird means being unconventional at the end of the day, and that’s who we are. We don’t live according to the principles of the world but that of the kingdom.
We are not going to cheat our way to the top even though it seems easier.
And yes, we may get a few sideways looks in the process; after all, it seems irrational. But we don’t budge, in fact we embrace the squints. Because we are built different.
WE ARE WEIRD.
1 Peter 2:9
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people.
You are royal priests, a holy nation,
God’s very own possession.
As a result, you can show others the goodness of God,
for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
NB: Sorry for the delay in posting consistently as promised; school got in the way. To make up for it, I'm throwing in a bonus post.
As you might know, I'm a big fan of basketball, especially Steph Curry. Since it's NBA playoff season, I thought I'd stay on theme with a very short post about some CHH where Curry gets name-dropped. Nothing too serious. Check it out:
Good read bro. I'm weird
Love this!