Survivor: Redemption Island

I have been a fan of Survivor since its inception over ten years ago, and I've seen a lot of schemers pass through. I've also seen quite a few Christians attempt to play the game. I must say, though, that I have rarely been so impressed by a player as I have this season.

This season is Survivor: Redemption Island. Basically what this means is that when someone is voted out, they don't leave the game for good. Rather, they are sent to "Redemption Island" and when another person is voted out the two duel to determine who remains in the game. The next episode, the winner of the first duel faces off against the next person, and on down the line until the merge, when the surviving duelist rejoins the game.

Redemption Island is not the only aspect of redemption this season: this time two players from previous seasons returned to have another chance at winning the game. One was voted out very quickly in the season, and the other, Rob, is still in the game. He is very obviously an all-star - his strategic/manipulative abilities are very superior to anyone else in the game - his entire tribe is at his beck and call.

The second episode, a guy named Matt was voted off of the island as a result of Rob. Matt is one of those players who comes into the game being very obvious about his Christianity. He made no attempt to hide what he believed, and made no attempt at deceit or treachery. I always get really nervous when Christians act this way - many times they either are or are portrayed as hypocrites and end up making Christians look like fools. Matt was somehow different. He was very clear about God wanting him on Survivor, which made me nervous, but it somehow rings true.

His downfall came when he congratulated the opposing tribe at a challenge for winning. Rob immediately assumed he was betraying his tribe, and coerced his tribe mates to vote Matt out. Of course, Matt got sent to Redemption Island, and proceeded to win all six duels. This week, he rejoined the game as the tribes were merging. His former tribe had a numbers advantage on the other tribe (7 to 5 with Matt), but the other tribe immediately approached Matt to join their side. He considered their request, but ultimately felt that he needed to remain loyal to his former tribe (Rob and co.) even though they had betrayed him. He approached Rob and told him about this - how he had been offered a final four deal from the other tribe, but had decided to stay with Rob. Rob, being the all-star Survivor that he is, interpreted this as "I'm flipping" and immediately made plans to vote Matt out. Matt had no idea it was coming, and loyally voted for who Rob told him to. Matt was voted out, and sent back to Redemption Island.

I do not think I have ever been so emotionally affected by a Survivor episode as I was last night.

Over the years, Survivor has become more and more cutthroat. I remember back in the day, when people made alliances and stuck to them, or even when people were voted out based on merit rather than an alliance. People thought even alliances were dishonest and bad game play. That quickly lost to a more cut-throat style, though, and now the only way to survive the game is to have several alliances and be an expert liar.

Matt is the very antithesis of that. He came into the game wanting to get to know everyone, and wanting to be absolutely honest at all times. He has done that, and twice it has won him an early dismissal at the hands of Rob. The saddest part is that if Rob was able to understand that when Matt says he's with him, he's with him, Rob would realize that Matt is the absolutely best sort of ally to have. And yet, he is blinded to Matt's purity of heart.

When Matt got voted out last night, I found myself hoping that he does not survive another round of Redemption Island. He was betrayed and was obviously very affected by that. His presence on the show exposed very clearly what kind of people play that game. His innocence, naivety, and honesty left him entirely vulnerable. And yet, that is what God calls us to do. To be vulnerable, to be honest and loyal no matter the cost. To love without reservation.

Matt has said several times that he just wants God to use him. That he's willing to go as far as God wants him to, so that God can receive all the glory. And for perhaps the first time in the history of the show, I truly believe that last night, God was glorified. In a heart-breaking way, Matt exemplified the real story of Redemption. In a similar way, Jesus entered a world that did not understand his love, his honesty, his goodness. They misunderstood him, they crucified him...and yet, he forgave them. He was loyal to them at all costs, and he offered them a place as sons and daughters in the kingdom of God. He rose again, and he offers redemption to all who recognize and serve Him.

Thank you, God, for using Matt to make me think, and for reminding me what my calling is as a believer in a world that has rejected the only One who offers any real hope of redemption.