Conformity Gate & Chasing Something More

I have a confession to make. As strange as it was, I was all in on “conformity gate”. I found myself saying “I Believe” to all the content creators that were flooding my for you page with theories about the alleged alternative ending to the Stranger Things story. With the latest release of the “Tales from 85” the theories of the phenomenon known as “Conformity Gate” have returned.

So what is Conformity Gate? The ending of Stranger Things  season 5 left many fans with far more questions than answers, and those fans started taking notes of some of the plot holes and production inconsistencies that they were seeing on screen. From color differences to seasonal variations, viewers were leaving no broadcast tower unturned in their effort to get to the truth. Many concluded that a secret final episode of the series was left unreleased and would address all of these findings. Using context clues and leaving nothing to coincidence they generally concluded that this true 9th episode would air January 7th. 

So that evening, many fans, myself included, turned on Netflix hoping to be rewarded for their curiosities only to find something else instead. We found nothing. No new episode, no alternative edits. Just the same season conclusion we were already given. It felt rather disappointing. Even more than that, there were still many that refused to accept it, and even now continue to search for more clues refusing to give up. 

This phenomenon was fun to watch and even participate in, but it does make us wonder, is this always the case? Does every story have a “better ending” out there waiting to be discovered? We typically hate stale stories. We don’t want stories that have nothing to connect to. We long for stories that grip our hearts with the elements of awe and wonder. Themes of justice, hope, and even sacrifice invite us to stay a while and we often do just that.

But let me ask this question. Why is it that we demand a better story from our favorite heroes, yet we settle for a “mediocre” version in our own lives? Why do we demand a high bar of excellence from writers and creators, yet we are perfectly content to live the next several years of our lives in perfect comfort and routine?

If we were to hold ourselves to the same standard of expectations that we do at our favorite studios, then I think we should also seek to live for a better story. Maybe the deep rooted desire for “something more” isn’t an accident. I think that maybe we are all given this hunger for a better story. And you know what?

Jesus agrees.

Jesus was having a conversation with a group of religious leaders who were having a hard time trying to understand what Jesus was doing and why he was doing it. Jesus uses a great story about a gate. (not the conformity gate, a gate to a sheep pen) He is trying to explain to them that the way to live life to a fullness was by following Him.

“Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” – John 10:8-10, The Message 

Jesus wants a better story for us. Jesus does not want us to settle for simply surviving life. He does not provide a life of religious obligation. Instead, he offers us things like hope, healing, and restoration in their purest forms. A life of following Jesus is a life of living each day in a way that seeks to tell a better story. Is it easy? No story ever worth telling ever is. But Jesus does promise it will be full of life and yes, sometimes life includes hard things. In this full life Jesus offers us, He makes the promise that he will never leave us to do it alone. He is with us in disappointment. He is with us even when we don’t get the “ending” we think we wanted. I think we can look at this cultural dissatisfaction, and let it illuminate the truth that it is ok to be disappointed sometimes. It is ok to want a better story. Jesus is offering us a chance to experience what life would look like if we were to follow Him, and he gives us the freedom to choose whether or not we want to.

The “Conformity Gate” phenom is built around the idea that there absolutely has to be more. There HAS to be a better ending and it is worth obsessing over. It’s worth the ridicule and embarrassment that comes with pursuing something so passionately that the rest of the world thinks you’re crazy. There have been many times in my journey with Jesus where I have felt that exact same way. I have taken big steps of faith in directions that seem uncertain and certainly brought ridicule and some embarrassment.

But I did it because I do believe that Jesus was inviting me into a role that allowed me to live out the best version of my life. God really does have a plan he is inviting us into. It all starts with the same first steps as those of us (yes, I’ll admit it I still cling to conformity gate) who hope for an even better ending to a TV show. It starts with belief, and that belief can lead us into a relationship with Jesus who is inviting us into a better way of life, that has the most spectacular and eternal ending.