We all had a good laugh over the guy electro-shocking the pickle to demonstrate the transformed Christian life.

Mofast said three people walking by the house overheard it and were instantly saved.

Gordan suggested the video should come with a warning: "Warning: This video kills brine cells." He then ducked in anticipation of oncoming fruit.

But seriously...

Jar full of pickles. All pretty much the same. One pickle gets plugged into a power source. It begins to look different than the other pickles. Not outwardly, but by virtue of the light emanating as a result of the power source...

Hmmmm?

Could Grandpa John be on to something? If we look past the whole pickle-zapping thing, maybe he's hit the nail right on the head. Power of the Spirit. Light of the world. City set on a hill. Lampposts. Think about it.

Isn't one of the central truths of the entire biblical narrative, one that is so often overlooked, that we are called to be God's children not simply for our own sakes, but so that the light which then naturally emanates from us would shine through us to light the darkness around? Is that not why Israel was elected as God's special people? And is that not why the Son was sent, because Israel failed to live up to her vocation?

And aren't we promised, over and over, that although we ordinary pickles cannot dream of emitting such a light, that that light will be given to us by the Spirit of the Master Battery Cell?

So why were we laughing? Could it have something to do with a older, white male with a Southern accent talking about God?

Well, not entirely. The whole pickle thing was pretty darn funny. But what if we say the same point being made by someone who looked and sounded like, say, Rob Bell?

OK, bad example maybe. But you see my point.

Sorry, Grandpa John. Shine on, brother.

And don't mind us arrogant Emergent pickles poking fun. That's just what we do. May God forgive us.

Grace and Peace,
Raffi