Reading on a rainy day is one of the most underrated things ever. If no one has ever told you, you’re missing a lot. I am not sure whether it’s the coolness of the air that slightly freezes your fingertips, creating a sensation whenever you flip a page over. Or your freezing toes that demand to be cuddled. Whichever one it is, you should try it some time. I finished a novel called The Other Black Girl yesterday. The best way to describe the book is like the movie Get Out *** – a twisted social commentary of the experiences of black people in the USA . I drew some interesting parallels that I believe were befitting for a blog post. The main conflict of the story coincides with believers standing out for Christ’s sake.
Simply put, the story looks at how the OBGs (Other Black Girls) mask who they really are, in order to not feel enslaved to racism. They act in ways that were supposed to make them more likable to their white counterparts. This is to make them more acceptable. How this was achieved was so freaky, because you just had to apply hair grease to your scalp to effect the necessary change.The OBGs, use this hair grease in order to get ahead at all costs, while denying their true black roots. It sounds absurd, but as Christians we do this too by not standing out for Christ’s sake.
Bold Christian Living
As Christians, we deny who we are when we do not uphold the standards of a life that is befitting of a believer. Hazel, one of the OBGs, portrayed a certain tone around other black people that showed she was a ‘black sista’. However, she acted differently when she encountered white people. This was all in the name of being acceptable. OBGs would much rather enjoy the perks that come with confirming to their white counterparts, than stay true to their identity. We do this too; act in an acceptable way on Sunday and live the rest of the week like we have never encountered Jesus. As Christians, we do this all the time – twist and morph ourselves, to fit into the world. Notably, a world that we are in, but not considered a part of.
It may not seem like a big deal, to deny who you are in order to live a more ‘comfortable’ life. It may not seem like a big deal to be passive about standing out for Christ’s sake. However it becomes a big deal when you consider the fact that you are denying the very fabric of your being. We are sons of God; that is our identity.
Standing Out for Christ’s Sake at a Cost
We received this new life, at a very high price. Because the cost of this new life was so high, walking in that new life is equally costly. Matthew 13: 45 – 46 NKJV:
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
We would be fools if we give up and not continue seeking Jesus as a precious jewel, while standing out for Christ’s sake.
I am not sure if you understand the gravity of the situation. God tells us that He will spit out the lukewarm. Jesus also tells us that if we deny Him before men, He will deny us before His heavenly Father in heaven. Do you realize how grave such a statement is?? It is like you accepting Jesus to be the Lord of your life, and basically avoiding certain worldly things because it was sinful, but in the end you are still denied. Like it would have been better if you just stayed an unbeliever, and satisfied all your heart’s desires.
The cost of this life of a believer is far too costly. It was paid for by an invaluable commodity that can never be replicated in history ever again. The blood of Jesus. A blood that is so rich in mercy, that does not only give you salvation. It also calls you worthy to be joint heirs with the one who provided it. This God is beyond sweet, I promise!
Persecution for Christ’s Sake
Another theme that stuck out to me about the OBGs was the idea of not suffering. The hair grease was meant to make a black person not feel the pain associated with their race or be hyper vigilant about what black people experienced. Like Christians, we don’t want to suffer for God’s sake. We don’t want to be persecuted or ostracized because of our faith, so we would rather just conform. However, the Bible tells us that we share in Jesus’ suffering in order to share in his glory. Our main focus as believers is beyond this fallen world and weak flesh. We hope for the full redemption and glorification of our bodies that will free us from all sin (Romans 8: 23-24). However, persecution and suffering, as a result of standing out for Christ’s sake, is a part of our journey.
Don’t Become the ‘OBGs’
We will have to continually navigate the course of our lives on this side of eternity. We must know that we can’t afford to compromise who we are for the sake of society’s ever changing trends. Society’s fickle ideas will never match up to the constancy of God’s word and truth. In a time when God’s morality is being overturned everyday, we must stand up for Christ’s sake more fiercely than ever before. We can eventually share in Christ’s glorification, because we also share in His persecution. A servant is not greater than His master, so like servants, we must shine as Christian examples, with Hands Lifted High.
*** Get out is by far one of Jordan Peele’s greatest movies. If you like thriller, it is a top notch recommendation.
Romans 8: 23 – 24 NKJV – Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?