Top five underrated/overrated people in the Bible. This is not a complete and comprehensive (some may even argue “holy”) list, but it’s always good to know who is getting too much love, and who’s not getting enough love within the church today.
Here are a few, completely objective, qualifications/statistics that may be a helpful guide to us. The statistical features will be calculated on a very specific and scientific scale from 1-10:
1. Are they named after a book? Did they write a book? - Actually contributing to a book in the Bible can be a pretty big deal… Or maybe not…?
2. .If they are Old Testament figures do they get mentioned in the New Testament. – Nothing says ‘value’ like being acknowledged by your biblical “peers.”
3. Number of signs and wonders completed (or SWC). – Easy, quantifiable statistic. And a great standard to see how holy you really are. *Does not count if God does it to them rather than through them.
4. Any major sin committed (or MSC) – This can be partnered with (3), do we overlook a certain sin, or place too much emphasis on it?
5. Sunday school prominence (or SSP)* – If they hold celebrity status in the Sunday school arena, odds are they’re probably overrated. And if they are not in the familiar graces of kindergartners – then they're probably underrated.
*Also proportionate to VTA – Veggie Tales Appearances
The list begins:
5. Overrated – Jonah
Jonah is a classic overrated figure with all the statistics to back it up. He’s named after a book, he rates a 0.0 SWC (what tends to be overlooked, is that “The Whale” and “The Vine” are all Yahweh), an 8.9 MSC - cowardice and self righteousness, contrasted with a respectable 7.7 SSP. The only thing that prevents him being higher is that JC does name-drop him – albeit somewhat negatively.
5. Underrated – Lot
Poor Lot. More or less a righteous man, who definitely acquired much within a short span, so much so that he had to find his own land apart from his grandfather, - The Patriarch of Patriarchs – Abraham. Here is where the stats can be misleading:
An 8.5 MSC – Having to be rescued many times, especially from a town called Sodom (I mean really you live in a town called Sodom, what do you expect?), just shows lack of wisdom and discernment. Oh and sleeping with your daughters isn’t the most prudent either.
BUT this gets countered by a deceptive 8.2 SSP. All Sunday schools will reference Lot, but the true focus is on his wife. Jesus agrees (see Luke 17:32). And he does have an abysmal 0 SWC.
What makes Lot underrated is how we view him. Lot does not get the sympathy that he deserves as the unlucky schmuck that he is.
4, Overrated – Job
Similar statistics to Jonah. Job is the opposite of Lot. He gets a lot of sympathy and understanding by the media, but does he really deserve it? I know he may “get it” at the end of his book, but man does he complain a lot before he gets. He’s not a bad one per say, he’s just ranked way too high on the Sunday School circuit especially when he has a 0 SWC, and is only mentioned in the New Testament by James.
4. Underrated – Saul
Saul gets the short end of the stick when it comes to reputation. Trying to kill the greatest king of Israel will always put you on the crap-list and get you a 9.7 MSC. I argue however, he is a much better scout/coach than king. The talent – the future king in David, all those amazing warriors, priests, etc. – that will prove itself during the greatest period of Israel, all began under the reign of Saul. (Some may say this could be traced to Samuel, and I will counter, that yes, they are right.) One can also argue that he is a decent father. Jonathan turns out pretty well.
The rest of the list will come tomorrow.
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