Wicked

2013/April by Marji Laine 5 Comments

A green baby, a blond prom queen, and a rich fairy tale combine to give inspiration? Really?

My family saw the hit show “Wicked” this week. (May I just say, Wicked Good!)

The story twists up the witches from The Wizard of Oz. Glinda the Good Witch is really pretty self-absorbed, while Elfaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, is just a normal person with a special gift.

Having never heard the story (and I won’t spoil it for you) the premise I absorbed at the beginning really bothered me. “Great. What’s evil is good, and what’s good is evil.” Please! The last thing we need in the world today is more confusion and questioning of the difference between good and evil. Most people can’t tell one from the other anyway.

But as the musical continued (with very satisfying and believable character arcs – well, except for that flying broomstick thingy), I found myself equating the plot line to something completely different.

Lets see if I can explain my thought process:

• The Wicked Witch of the West was really a compassionate person who stood up for what she believed in.
• Because she was different, and opposed by those with authority, she was easily criminalized.
• Hence the truth was hidden, and lies became believed even by those who should have known better.

Sound like a spiritual message? Reminded me of the way people can be blinded to truth.

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:14

or

The world cannot accept him [the Spirit of Truth], because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:17

or (and this one’s a biggie!)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Paul had it going on, because he added another, a couple of verses later:

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21

I think even Christians can be blinded to truth when they let their own agendas sway their behavior. I’m not talking salvation-losing. I’m speaking of missed opportunities because of arrogance, self-absorption, distractions, stubbornness, etc.

Just today I read a tweet by someone who claimed to know Jesus, “better than you.” (Wasn’t talking to me, just part of my feed.) How easy it is to get drawn into the lies that we understand so much better than anyone else. Or that our way of *** take your pick of any endless number of tasks – ministry, working, writing, organizing, washing the dishes, *** is the best or only acceptable way. And then when personal gain or interests are added into the mix – private agendas – things get even more confusing, but easily justified.

All that from a musical? Yep! That and a lot of laughter and clapping and even a couple of tears.

Guess you just have to see it!

Your Turn: Have you ever found yourself blinded to truth, maybe just missing an important element that changes everything? Was there a reason you missed it?