The Bachelor Finale

Fans may pity Melissa. And with good reason. I, however, pity Jason.

He’s clearly agonizing over the right thing to do. He hates how he’s treated Melissa. He can’t figure-out what went wrong after the final rose ceremony. I think he spends the most time, though, wondering what went wrong AT the final rose ceremony.

The thing he’s missing – and I think he’s aware it’s missing – is a guide to what the right thing to do would be.

And for that, I pity him.

People we talk to in our everyday lives seem to have life all together. They’re just as happy as we who follow Christ. They’re not confused, they’re in command of their lives, and they exude confidence.

But many of these people also deny any objective standard for right living. Jason clung desperately to the notion that there is a right way and a wrong way to treat a girl. It was such a rare and unique and noble characteristic that I believe it was what so endeared him to his fans. And having treated Melissa wrongly – even though he intended well – was what tore him up so much. The problem, though, was that he rejected the true condition of his fallen human heart. The very thing he looked to for guidance was failing him, and he was grieved at the betrayal.

The folks around us may have a big-enough worldview for their own everyday existence. But it doesn’t take a big event to disprove their assumptions and leave them in denial or – as in Jason’s case – despair.

Those of us who know Jesus must speak-up at such times. We must speak, not with condescension or chastisement, but with news of the God Who created all things, and Who upholds all things by the word of His power. Only Jesus can both acknowledge the failings of humanity and simultaneously offer hope of forgiveness.

Tags: pop culture, worldview