We are a society bombarded with various social movements. YouGov.com lists 40 social movements currently active in the U.S. I was really surprised to find that the most supported movements are NOT Black Lives Matter, gay rights, gun control, pro-life, pro-choice, or MeToo. These are actually a third of the way down this list. The number one movement in America right now is the Disability Rights Movement.
Nowhere to be found on the list but a movement that we see in action nearly every day was created by one woman: Allison Parliament, a Canadian resident of Alabama. It began in 2020 and had absolutely nothing to do with COVID.
“Parliament, a five-year financial professional at the time… split her time between Titus, Alabama, and Washago, Ontario. After receiving some negative attention [she was verbally and physically accosted at a rest stop1] when she returned to Canada with an Alabama license plate amid the COVID-19 pandemic that had her shaken up, she joined a friend on a shopping trip to Stedmans V&S department store in Bancroft, Ontario. Looking for a laugh, Parliament walked down a toy aisle where she spotted some rubber ducks, which she bought with the intention to hide around her friend’s house as a prank.
“Outside the store, though, Parliament spotted [a] Wrangler. She used a permanent marker to write, “Nice Jeep” on one of the ducks and placed it on the vehicle.
“The owner was this burly, scary-looking, 6-foot-5 guy, asking, ‘What are you doing?'” Parliament said. “I think I peed myself a little. He was this big, scary guy, but he was smiling. He thought it was great. He said it was the best thing to come up with, and the world needs more of this.”2
And thus began the movement of ducking jeeps. Parliament was 34 at the time and passed away unexpectedly two years later but her movement lives on. The official Facebook page has 79,983 followers. The Instagram page has over 52,000 followers.
It is not unusual for Jeep owners to find a new rubber duck waiting on their vehicles. Typically, a kind note is to be written on the rubber duck. The Jeep owner adds the new duck to the “duck pond” – the row of ducks lined up across the dashboard.
Jeep Ducking has been the catalyst for car enthusiasts of different makes and models to do similar things: Buckity Buck Buck Bronco, Moo Moo Subaru, Chevy Sharking, and Yoda Yoda Toyota, to name just a few. One woman started a movement with a single rubber duck. One person can make a difference.
Did you ever think that Jesus started a movement? I don’t mean that in any way that would degrade or devalue Jesus’ work. But, Christianity was viewed as a movement and a dangerous one, at that!
Peter and the Apostles had been preaching when they were hauled in to stand before the High Priest and Sadducees. Peter took the opportunity to preach the Gospel to their accusers. The reaction of the council is not what one would have hoped! “When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.” A voice of calm and reason, though, was about to speak.
“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 5:33-39)
If Christianity is just a trend, just a movement, it will fade into obscurity. Give it time and people will get bored with it. They will discard the trend just like I think very soon, Jeep ducking will be a thing of the past. It was fun while it lasted but it will run its course.
If Christianity is more than a movement, it cannot be stopped. The more it is resisted, the faster it grows.
Aren’t you glad to know that Christianity is far more than a movement?!? Today, it flourishes. During the years of early church history when the church suffered great persecution, the church grew. Its flame and fervor could not be extinguished but seemed to grow brighter and bolder with each martyred saint.
Often called “The Way,” Paul knew that it was so much more than a movement. May we echo his confidence found in Acts 24:14-15. “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: (15) And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.”
1https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a61438882/jeep-ducking-trend-founder-allison-parliament-dies/
2https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/detroit-auto-show/2022/09/13/worlds-largest-rubber-duck-detroit-auto-show-celebrates-duck-duck-jeep-movement/10359914002/
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