Fads. Did you ever get into any when you were a kid? Maybe you did as an adult. Perhaps the most prevalent fad in my adult years were the Beanie Babies. I wasn’t into them, but my mom was into them. Allegedly, it was for her granddaughters, but she didn’t seem to have any problem buying them for herself!
As a teen, it seems like everyone had a hacky sack or Rubik’s cube. I had neither and really wasn’t interested in them. But those were the two big fads of the 80s.
Through the years, there have been some bizarre fads that have captured the public’s attention. For instance, in the early 1900s, people had to try their hand at flagpole sitting. “The first instance of flagpole sitting was in January 1924, when former sailor and fledgling stunt performer Alvin “Shipwreck” Kelly was hired to perch atop a pole outside a Hollywood movie theater for as long as he could, in order to publicize an upcoming film. Kelly stayed aloft for 13 hours and 13 minutes.”1 While the fad came and went, the person who holds the world record for flagpole sitting is H. David Werder who sat atop a flagpole in 1984 for 439 days, 11 hours, and 6 minutes.
Another craze that seems a lot safer and lower to the ground involved stuffing as many people into a phone booth as possible. Sadly, the younger generation has never seen a phone booth, much less used one so they don’t quite understand the small space. This fad morphed into stuffing as many people as possible into a VW Bug.
Here’s one some of you might remember: goldfish swallowing. Typically, the participants were high schoolers or college students who challenged each other to see who could swallow the most goldfish. Joseph Deliberato deliberately swallowed 89 and holds the record. Laws were passed, though, forbidding this because it was considered cruel. Now, you have to catch the fish the old-fashioned way, kill it, filet it, coat it in corn meal, and fry it before ingesting it. Makes sense, doesn’t it? While the fad had more health related issues that should have taken center stage, leave it to liberal activists to major on the minor!
One final fad came about in 1975 and lasted about one year. It was the Pet Rock. People went to stores, bought a rock in a box complete with a booklet on how to train your rock. Obviously a novelty gift but people flocked to the stores to get one. In fact, by the time the fad was over, one million rocks had been sold. I don’t know what they cost but if they sold for a dollar, the creator made $1 million in a year. That is nearly $6 million in today’s money!
Did you know that Christianity was deemed a fad? In Acts 5, Peter and the Apostles had been brought before the council and the High Priest. They had previously been ordered to stop preaching about Jesus. In a respectful defiance, Peter declares, “… We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) This didn’t sit well with the council and the death of the Apostles was desired.
“Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; (35) And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. (36) For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. (37) After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. (38) And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: (39) But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” (Acts 5:34-39)
In my mind, the verdict is still out concerning Gamaliel. What was he really trying to say? What side was he really on? What did he personally believe?
As for the people, I think they believed this was just a fad. They didn’t believe in the message the Apostles were preaching. They took Gamaliel’s advice, figuring that Christianity was just the newest wave that had riled up everyone. It would eventually phase out.
How wrong they were!
Christianity cannot be destroyed because of the first six letters: CHRIST. Through the centuries, many have tried to stamp it out. Christians have been killed, Bibles have been burned, and yet the surge of Christianity continues to get into closed countries. Eventually, the Gospel message will be heard by all.
Allow Psalm 2:1-5 to remind you of the power of Christianity because it is the power of Christ. It’s not a fad. It’s a fact! “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? (2) The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, (3) Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. (4) He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. (5) Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.”
1https://historyfacts.com/arts-culture/article/the-most-bizarre-fads-in-history/
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