Be That Guy!

Be the man or woman God is looking for

“Don’t be that guy.” It’s a phrase that has been used to warn us off from behavior that is antisocial, weird, or annoying. It warns us from being the person who stands out for doing something different from the norm. Don’t be the guy who walks out of the men’s room trailing toilet paper. Don’t be the guy who has to prove how many pushups he can do during your LifeGroup meeting. Unfortunately, our fear of standing out as different from the norm can also keep us from standing out in ways that are positive. Instead of distinguishing ourselves by over-and-above accomplishments, we just blend in and accept the status quo. 

In the history of God’s interaction with humanity, God has always looked for people who are willing to stand out from the pack. When God wants to restore a nation or a group of people, he always looks for a man or woman who will be different. This dynamic introduces some real challenges to us in today’s society.

First, it requires a group identity. For God to use us to save a nation, we have to love a nation. For God to use us to lead the church into revival, we have to love the church. For God to use us to guide a family into his best for all our lives, we have to love our family. The truth is, even though we love our families, for most of us individualistic Americans it is very challenging to embrace a community identity as our primary identity. We see ourselves as primarily individuals who belong to a family, not as family members who have a degree individuality, too. There’s a big difference.

Second, for God to use us powerfully to restore a nation, a church, a family, or any other group, we have to be willing to be individuals who in some ways stand alone before God. When God wanted to rescue Israel from slavery, he raised up a Moses. When God wanted to save and restore Israel, he looked for a man or woman who would stand in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30). When God initiated a plan to bring salvation to lost humanity, he started with one man, Abraham.

So here are the questions that arise: Are we willing today to submit our individualistic identity for the greater good, especially for the good of the family of God? Surely that’s a biblical principle. (See 1 Corinthians 12-14.) At the same time, are we willing to step up and stand out, to say to God, “Here I am! Send me!”? (See Isaiah 6:8.) I encourage you, be that guy! Be that man or woman of bold faith!

I’d love to get your comments and responses: In what ways are we challenged to embrace our identity as a part of a group or family? In what ways are we as individuals challenged to embrace our identity as members of the household of faith? And on the other side of the issue, what keeps us from being willing to stand out from the rest, to be different? Are we afraid of both losing our individuality and of being different? How can we overcome these challenges?

Photo by Devin Avery on Unsplash.