Doug Van Pelt

The Real Misfits

The heading for the sixth chapter of Rees Howells Intercessor is titled: Loving An Outcast. It's an exciting chapter, but I've been thinking about this subject...

In the circles I sorta live in, it's kind of cool to be a misfit. Identifying with the goth or punk movement, for instance, is often times identifying with the outcast of society, the rebel, the shunned ones, the ones that don't "fit in." However, this has truly become a scene and is therefore artificial and just another label and an area for pride and exclusivism to come in and reside permanently if possible. Most of us like to root for the "underdog," that person or team that is over achieving and others may look down upon. Wearing goth-like clothing and makeup, etc is one way to identify with the dregs or underdogs of society. 'I am one of them,' we are saying. But this soon turns into a "We are us, they are them" mentality that excludes others. I began to wonder, 'Who are the real misfits?' In my mind they are the people that annoy me, the people that I somehow think I'm better than. In practical terms, these are the people with little to no tact, with social skills that annoy me -- like talking too loud or invading personal space without notice. People that like the bands that aren't cool to like, who tell the same old stories over and over again. These are my misfits -- the ones that I arrogantly deem unwanted or unloved. 'Let their own kind love them' is an insidious thought. For me, a misfit is like that frat-looking guy that sat in front of me in church a few weeks ago. During the time in worship where we greet one another, I leaned forward and said hello to this couple, who had not turned back to shake my hand or anything. He curtly said, "Hi" without turning his head, just kind of using his peripheral vision, as if I was a beggar by an underpass that he didn't want to look at. I looked at him and immediately began to judge him. His short hair was immaculately cut over his pressed collar. His preppy look reminded me of so many frat and sorority people who held themselves as if "too beautiful" or "too upper class" to associate with the fun-loving more casual dressed people on campus back in my college days. 'He probably thinks he's better than me,' I thought. This thought was immediately followed up with, 'I'm so much better than him! How deceived is he?' What a load of arrogant dung! My mind was entertaining the most foolish and absurdly prideful thoughts I can imagine. I was kinda surprised how quickly I went "there." It shocked my sense of self-righteousness, 'which was surely beyond such drivel.'

When we realize that each of us has our own prejudices and pride issues, then we are able to deal with them. Sure, we may not have an issue with race, but maybe our issue is class, or genre, or religion, or political. Embracing and loving these misfits in our lives is the challenge. If we think we're at all a fan of the underdog, a lover of the loveless, a servant of a betrayed Messiah, we should identify with those that we deem un-lovable and love them.

Rees Howells was introduced to a new type of prayer in this way. He was convinced that his prayers needed to stop being his whim and fancy and be only directed by the Holy Spirit. He was given a burden for a down and out guy battling with mental illness and alcohol, living in the boiler room of the tin mill.

"'It wouldn't have come to my mind to love him,' he said, 'but when the Holy Ghost comes in, He brings in the love of the Savior. It seemed as if I could lay down my life for this man; there was a love pouring out of me that I never knew before. Naturally speaking, he would be the last one with whom I would spend my spare time, and the tim mill would be the last place.'

"In his free hours Rees made this man his friend and spent all his Sundays with him. He had more joy, he said, seeking to win this one, than at chapel in the company of the other believers. He even walked about the village with him, although embarrassed once or twice as people turned and stared at them, but 'the Lord pulled me up on it,' he rejoiced."

The joy that came from this man's conversion was amazing:

"I hadn't the faintest idea of the love of the Holy Ghost for a lost soul, until He loved one through me."

Rees had a trial over money in his newly surrendered life. This guy named Jim Stakes was a well known drunkard who got saved in the revival. One morning he suddenly "stood before" Rees (in his mind) while he was in prayer. There was a battle over his soul, as the devil dearly wanted him back, which could be a strategic victory against the revival... Later that night Stakes showed up at his place, telling him that Rees had "stood before" him at such and such time. He had a need. He was two years behind in his rent and his furniture was marked for re-possession. (Two years rent is a ton of money!) Rees hesitated for a moment and then said, "I'll give you one year's rent, and I have a friend who I believe will give you the other half." As he bounded up the stairs, the Holy Spirit reminded him of his prayer, that'd he'd "do anything" if the Lord would keep him. "Why are you only giving him half? Did not the Savior pay all of your debt and set you free?" He turned around and ran down the stairs. "I'm sorry I told you I would only give you one year's rent. I am to give you two years' rent, and all you need beside. I am to deliver you in such a way that the devil can't use this situation any longer to get at you."

Posted by Doug Van Pelt at May 1, 2006 10:01 AM