In the recent movie/musical “Wicked”, a fictional preliminary tale to the classic “Wizard of Oz”, The film starred Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp and Ariana Grande as Galinda Upland. Elphaba were enemies turned friends but were also two completely different characters and personalities. Elphaba was a green skinned outcast who was made fun of by many, and mistreated even by her family, but deep down had a depth of character, an ambition for what was right and just, and a profound level of competency and talent. Galinda was a good looking, popular, well received person that was obsessed with her looks, image, and reputation. She lacked a certain level of competency and talent but attempted to make up for the lack of it by maneuvering and manipulating others into her favor.
In the end of the story, the Wizard of Oz himself, along with his cronies, wanted to offer Elphaba a coveted title. But Elphaba realized that the Wizard was a corrupted, duplicitous political figure, and Galinda ended up receiving the Wizard’s offered title and accolades while Elphaba became vilified, thereby becoming the Wicked Witch of the West!
The error of the Pharisees, the religious leaders, was Galinda’s error. They wanted recognition. They wanted to be known as “holy people”, instead of taking on the reproach of Christ. They wanted the everyday people of Israel to look up to them and really moral, significant characters. Outwardly, they put on a relilgious show. Inwardly, they would have sang right along with Galinda:
It’s all about popular
It’s not about aptitude
It’s the way you’re viewed
So it’s very shrewd to be
Very very popular like me!
Why do you call yourself a Christian? So that people will like you? Look up to you? Think you’re “moral”? Think you’re “special”? So that you’ll get a title in the Church? So that people will know you’re a Direction Team Leader? Coordinator? Chair of the Board? Elder? Deacon? Worship Leader? Treasurer? Pastor?
Do I desire for people to look up to me as a pastor, or do I desire to be a faithful pastor of God’s people, pointing them to His presence, and seeking to imperfectly honor Him in every way? There’s a difference, brothers and sisters!
