When I was a kid I was a huge wrestling fan. Mr. Wrestling II was my favorite. I remember seeing him wrestle in the local gymnasiums around north Georgia. He had those white trunks and robe with the white mask with black trim. My dad bought me a replica of his mask. I would wear it and pretend that I was II. Then a few years later "Hulkamania" was borne, followed by "Macho Madness." I was hooked. I followed the weekly episodic male soap operas religiously. From Vince McMahon's sports entertainment to the Mid South and the NWA with the Four Horsemen and Sting and Luger, the American Dream. At this age I didn't realize that it was staged. I thought it was REAL. Now during this time I attended a small town Pentecostal church. At this church one summer we had revival, a revival that was preached by a man who was a professional wrestler! He was a local independent wrestler that I had never heard of but still, he was a wrestler!! He was an enigmatic evangelist. He captivated me. I had already "made the walk" down the aisle and accepted Jesus into my heart and was baptized by immersion. But this revival did exactly that, revived me. I was 12.
As it ended up our current pastor at the time felt called to another church and the Evangelist Wrestler became our pastor! Excited is an understatement and udder disappointment.
All of this to get to this point. I learned that wrestling was "fake", staged, a show. I also learned that a man is a man and not a whole lot to be excited about. I learned that pastors are human. They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like me. They are called to service by God, just like everyone else who accepts Christ as Lord and Savior. Sometimes we lose sight of that. They need our prayers and support. They are God's vessel, ordained to deliver His message to us. They are not to be put up on a pedestal and worshiped as an idol. Reverence and respect as a brother or sister. We are all "set apart" for His work. We all have a job to do. Now we need to be like the Samaritan man and get down of our donkey and do as we are commanded. Love the Lord our God with all our hearts, all our minds and all our souls and love our brothers the same. Go into all the world, spreading the Gospel, being witnesses and Baptizing new believers in Jesus's name and teach them to observe all He has commanded.
