Would Jesus Go to Dragon Con?

As I get ready to head off to Dragon Con I have been reading the posts on the Dragon Con Facebook page.  There were several posts about the people with megaphones yelling at you to repent or go to hell.  There was also a post about conservative relatives believing that it is “Satan Con”.  That made me very sad.

            I don’t believe that either of those groups really represent what Jesus would want or do.  First, the only people that Jesus got really mad at were the Pharisees, because they judged others and heaped extra rules that no one could follow onto the people.  Jesus didn’t come for the ultra-religious judgmental people.  Jesus came for the sinners and the outcasts.  Jesus came for everyday people.

            Their biggest argument is that Dragon Con is just a big party.  Everyone is drinking and partying all weekend… Ummm they must have missed John Chapter 2.  Jesus went to a wedding in Cana.  He had started calling disciples but hadn’t really started teaching and hadn’t done any miracles yet.  Now a Jewish wedding lasted 3 or 4 days!  It was feasting, dancing, and drinking.  It was a multi-day party.  Jesus, his family and the disciples all were there.  It was a BAD thing for one of these parties to run out of wine.  It would be mortifying for the couple.  Jesus’ friends ran out of wine.  So, what is Jesus’ first miracle?  It isn’t healing or raising someone from the dead.  Jesus made 20 to 30 gallons of wine.  You heard me, twenty to thirty GALLONS so that the party could go on.  Jesus wouldn’t bat an eye at a four to five day party.

            Jesus was always talking to crowds of excited people.  They would travel for miles and wait in the hot sun just to hear him.  Thousands of people would gather.  I think Jesus would fit right in at Dragon Con.  Except that he would never make you empty the room so they could get ready for the next panel.  He would just miraculously make it so that everyone who wanted to come hear him would fit in the room.  If he went too long so that the food court was closed, he would multiply con snacks that we were carrying, and everyone would eat their fill.  OK, I may be getting a bit silly with this one…

            But I believe that not only would come to Dragon Con.  I believe he does… And I am not talking about the awesome Jesus Cosplay that I saw last year.  Since Jesus went back into heaven, we are called to be his body.  We are his hands and feet here on earth.  So, when Geeks of Faith gather at Dragon Con, Jesus is there.

            So, when that person threw a chair off the balcony hitting an innocent young woman, Jesus was there in the concern showed to her by her fellow con goers.  It was shown in the care of the paramedics and hospital staff.  Jesus was there in how everyone rallied around her.  Some of us prayed for her well-being.

            So, this Dragon Con there is one way to be sure that Jesus is there.  Be his hands and feet.  Say a kind word to the tired volunteer trying to make the lines go smoothly.  Hold the door for the person in the heavy costume.  Let the person in the wheelchair have your spot in the elevator.  Ask someone to share your table in the food court.  Be kind, compassionate, patient, accepting, and show unconditional love to your fellow human beings next weekend.

            Oh, and there is no need to yell at the misguided people with their signs and megaphones.  I feel sorry for them, because they totally missed what Jesus was trying to do here on earth.  Our kindness and gentleness may even help them see Jesus next weekend!  See you there!