Cool people (do they actually exist?) always feel at home. People are drawn to them. They know that warm feeling of belonging, at least on the outside. Cool people are drawn to other cool people. They get together in college and call themselves fraternities. They do ministry together on college campuses and call themselves RUF or IVCF or Crusade.
Geeks, however, know what it’s like to feel alone in a room full of people. They know what it’s like to feel like you don’t belong to an organization that you’ve been part of for ten years. They know, existentially, that this world is not their home.
I think that this is why geeks make better evangelists and missionaries. They actually experience the message of the NT: This world is not, in fact, our home, and this is just as much a part of the good news of the Christian message as “all sinned and fall short of God’s glory.” Jesus needs Geeks to preach the gospel to a world full of estranged and isolated people, to preach the gospel to foreigners in the
Incidentally, I think Jesus needs persecuted people, too. But that’s probably another day’s post.
12 comments:
But the geeks (well this geek) have an incredibly hard time approaching people cold to tell tham about anything.
Except ubergeeks who don't even know they're being socially inept.
I mean, if people are already talking about programming, wargames, comic books, or Gene Wolfe, or Christainity, I'll glady put in my contribution. But otherwise I feel like I'd better not bring any of them up.
Some geeks are simply uncomfortable because have a difficult time identifying themselves (existentially, not just as a theological affirmation) as united to Christ, so they're in the same bad spot as the cool. That's where I often find myself ... an uncomfortable geek for all the wrong reasons. Does that make me cool?
You know, I've long suspected I'm an ubergeek (neat term). I'm pretty sure I act much more geeky than I'm ever aware of, but it's hard to tell cuz I just think I'm being 'normal'. :)
I think I grok what you mean buehrles. Like if I were really united to Christ, I'd be much less geeky, because Christ sure wasn't a geek (was he?)
(he did deliberately obfuscate his teaching... hmmm)
So Daniel, you consider yourself a geek?
-Stephen
Doesn't matter. Everyone else considers Daniel a Geek (I thank God for not letting me feel alone in the world!)
Justin, this is an excellent point. By the way, I am Stephen Young. Nice to 'meet' you Justin. I hear about you every now and then down here at WTS. If I am not mistaken, I live in your old stomping grounds: the Limekiln house.
-Stephen
Hi Stephen,
Nice to meet you. I can't help but wonder from whom you hear my name...and whether it's in a positive context (if it's Steve Taylor or Doug Green disregard everything you've been told!).
Yes, I used to live in the Pink Palace--what a wonderful place. Please feel free to email me if you like; not sure when I'm coming to WTS next, but for certain by the end of Nov (SBL is in Philly this year). jedombrowski-at-msn-dot-com.
How many of you folks are going to be at the AAR/SBL in Philly this year? It'd be great to meet some of you.
Good call, Joel! UberGeeks for Jesus need to stick together.
I'll be there. Why don't we e-mail some offline to set something up?
I'll be there as well.
I plan on being there too. Then again, I live 'there.'
-Stephen
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