Unto Him shall the gathering of the freakish be

I read The Freak Factor: Discovering Uniqueness by Flaunting Weakness via ChangeThis today, and suddenly realised what it is that I love about my congregation, BLC. I was asked to share a few words about why I attend the church during our anniversary last year--with the bishop visiting. I said that what I liked about BLC is the fact that freaks and outcasts are welcome there. I mean that in a good sense. the place may be full of freaks and outcasts, but they're my fellow freaks and outcasts. am I proud that my church is simply full of misfits? not precisely. what I am proud of is that misfits are welcomed and allowed to misfit. not that we don't want people to change. we want them to change, but by growth, not behaviour modification. this paradigm speaks more to an internal divine DNA rather than any external standards document. I guess that's what "The Freak Factor" PDF helped me to realise today. it's not just about accepting the freaks, but it's also about allowing the freaks to be freaks. there are churches where freaks are accepted for a trial period during which they need to enrol in the defreaking process--or else. (the defreaking process is sometimes mislabeled "discipleship.") ever notice how the original twelve disciples were a real motley crew? they were not like a military squad. they were perhaps more like the Village People. or the X-Men, if the first imagery bothers you. James could be Wolverine and Thomas could be Cyclops. my wife could be Storm, but that's another story for another post. and who will be Professor X? thank God for places (yes, there are others) like BLC where freaks are welcomed, otherwise where would I be? here are two song dedications to my posse: - Jesus Freak by dc Talk to celebrate your freakiness. - I Want to Be a Clone by Steve Taylor to celebrate what you don't do. tell me if you like 'em!