It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. – Galatians 5:1a

My niece was a Barbie connoisseur. She had a collection of Barbies, all shapes, sizes, hair color and clothing choices.  For years she made clothes for her Barbies and sent me pictures of her latest creations.

Not long ago she piled them all in a container and marched them down to my sister.

“I’m done playing with Barbies.”

She left the container for my sister to donate, turned around and started a new chapter in her life.

Barbie is patient, Barbie is kind, Barbie does not talk back, Barbie is always smiling, Barbie is always waiting, Barbie’s the perfect example. But more realistically, Barbie is not real and plastic.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not against Barbie. I had my own Barbies growing up. They are fun to imagine as friends when yours aren’t around. They are fun to project future dreams and life situations on before delving into real responsibilities. Good make-believe can prepare young people for life as they learn age-appropriate responsibilities growing up. Barbie has her value, but not as a life-long friend, nor as an ultimate model for young people.

Ideally Christ is our model. But more immediately and tangibly, our spouses, parents, aunts, friends and teachers are better pools of models to pull from. In the end, we can be our own best model in select areas as we continue to learn and grow in God’s grace. Young people coming along behind us might find a thing or two in us to imitate along the way. Only Christ is complete. We are broken and incomplete, but we can be a model for the thing for which God created us in our present season.

This is just my idea and may be obvious or may need a little more thought. But here’s how I am thinking at the moment: Jesus didn’t walk in a Barbie world, nor did he seem to promote a Barbie theology that I will call “false humility.” It looks like this: The more closely we walk with God, the more invisible we are to be to humanity.

Christ was not so. He was free to be himself. He was visibly humble. So can we. Christ shunned perfectionism the way the Pharisees and elites preached. So can we.

God creates visible, tangible, soft-hearted souls doing good work in their corners of the world. He created people who need hugs, validation, upbuilding and experiences with their family and friends all their life.

Barbies can’t hug, laugh with us or cry with us when we are hurting. Only people can. But it is us who must accept God’s great gift of the freedom that is free indeed.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed  – John 8:36/NIV

Jesus didn’t play with grown Barbies, he ministered to real people no matter what they looked like inside and out. So must I make the effort to as well.

Amazing!