Special
Part III: the Gospel seen through: Do androids dream of electric sheep? (Blade Runner).
In chapter 2 of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? we are introduced to a new character: John Isidore. He was a man categorized as “special.” A word that in that world had a very different meaning than we would expect.
In the reality that Rick Deckard (whom I told you about in Parts I and II) and John lived in, there were some people who were categorized as “special.” But what was it that made them fall into this category?
The world had been devastated during World War Terminus. As a result, the air was thick with radiation and pollution, making reproduction extremely difficult, since prolonged exposure to this environment rendered living beings sterile. Furthermore, in some cases, this same exposure could impair the brain function of individuals.
And that was John Isidore’s case. He was a man unfit to reproduce and with brain damage due to radioactive contamination. So, he was not only categorized as “special,” but also as a “chickenhead.”
In fact, this phenomenon had been one of the main reasons why humanity began its migration to other worlds.
The book says:
“Loitering on Earth potentially meant finding oneself abruptly classed as biologically unacceptable, a menace to the pristine heredity of the race.”
The moment a human being was classified as “special,” it was as if that person simply disappeared from the rest of society. As the book says:
“He ceased, in effect, to be part of mankind.”
These people lived alone, isolated from others, invisible to society. Not because their condition was contagious, but because they occupied the lowest position on humanity’s “scale of value.”
And what made this situation even more painful was that these beings were not fit to migrate.
Another paragraph describes what happened when John decided to turn on his television:
“But the ads, directed at the remaining regulars, frightened him. They informed him in countless procession of ways that he, a special, wasn’t wanted. Had no use. Could not, even if he wanted to, emigrate.”
This is where I’ll pause in the book for today.
Does this dystopian future really sound so different from the reality of our current world?
The answer, sadly, is no.
Yes, it’s an apocalyptic scenario, but the logic behind it isn’t so far removed from our reality. Today we don’t use the word “special” to classify people, nor do we base our social hierarchies on our ability to reproduce. But, of course, we do construct systems that determine who seems to have more value and who less.
We have subjective social scales where certain characteristics are rewarded and others are relegated. Beauty, intelligence, emotional stability, health, economic capacity, productivity, academic degrees, number of social media followers; even nationality, skin color, etc. All these things, even if we are not aware of it, often become silent measures of human worth.
And the problem isn’t recognizing that these differences exist. The problem is when we allow them to define people’s dignity and worth.
Because for a select group to be considered superior, there must, by default, be a counterpart considered inferior. When society begins to place more value on those who are more capable, attractive, healthy, or successful, it inevitably begins to consider those who do not meet these standards as having less value.
That is what we see reflected in the book.
In Blade Runner, people who do not meet the standards of value imposed by society simply do not deserve any value.
And it may sound shocking to say that this is how our world works too.
Perhaps we don’t use words as cruel as “biologically unacceptable.” But we often live as if some people are more worthy of admiration, acceptance, and value than others.
And I don’t see this only as a critique of society in general; I also see it in our reality as independent individuals.
Each of us creates our own versions of what is considered fit and unfit (in the book, individuals are classified as fit or unfit to emigrate to other worlds).
We create our own versions of the “special ones.” People who, because they don’t meet certain standards, end up feeling less worthy, less accepted, and less valuable.
Even as Christians, we have created these same kinds of divisions based on theology, denominations, knowledge, spiritual discipline, gifts, and so on. Some may feel superior to others and end up disqualifying the faith of those who are not “fit.”
And the problem here is that we ourselves create the feeling that some people are worthless, that they aren’t and never will be enough, that they simply don’t qualify. And yes, perhaps we aren’t inherently bad to them, but our indifference to this is what’s wrong.
When human worth is measured by merit, there will always be people who are left behind.
There will always be people who don’t meet the standard. And that’s one of the deepest wounds of our society: the idea that value is earned, but that some, no matter how hard they try, will never be able to earn it.
That’s what the advertisements on television were telling John Isidore.
And it is precisely on this same idea that the Gospel becomes so radically beautiful.
Because while the world builds categories to decide who is worth more, Jesus completely breaks with that logic.
Jesus breaks that logic with grace.
In Scripture we can see that Jesus did not come for those who seemed most capable, worthy, or valuable. He came for those who recognize their need for him.
Romans 3:23 says:
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23 NLT)
If humanity had to migrate to other planets to survive and holiness was the standard for deciding whether you are fit or not, we would all stay on Earth.
Because before God there are no categories of human value. There are no “special” people, no fit or unfit people. Before Him, we are all special (in both senses of the word).
None of us are capable of qualifying on our own merit. And although none of us deserve to be accepted, God offers grace to us all.
Romans 5:8 says:
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8 NLT)
The world teaches us that value is earned, that we are only valuable if we possess characteristics that make us valuable, and that to be accepted we need to fit the mold and meet the expectations imposed by society. But Jesus tells us that he loves us even knowing that we can never perfectly meet God’s standard of holiness.
That’s “ridiculous” and beautiful.
God loves us, even though we are “special.”
God loves us, even though society classifies us as “chickenhead.”
And if God accepts us even knowing that, what gives us the authority to measure others according to human standards?
Nothing. The answer is: nothing. We don’t have that authority.
We cannot continue creating categories of value where God does not create them.
Jesus himself said:
“…Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” (Mark 9:35 NLT)
As sinners in desperate need of grace, the ambition to feel superior to others is not a realistic option. According to the Gospel, it doesn’t even make sense.
Not when we all depend on the same mercy.
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT)
So none of us can boast of being saved, and therefore none of us has the right to look at someone else as “unfit.”
Here you can read Parts I and II of this series on the gospel as seen through: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Blade Runner).
Part I
Lifeless
Rick Deckard wakes up one morning next to his wife, Iran. They lived in a nearly empty apartment building.
Part II
My treasure
After arguing with his wife, Rick Deckard went up to the roof of their building. There, Rick kept what he considered his most prized possession: a mechanical sheep.
If this Pensamiento resonated with you or blessed you in any way, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Also, if you’re going through something and need prayer, please feel free to send me a private message.
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