Christ

Barna on Media Exposure, Addiction: Part III

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Scary media – whether that be in the form of slasher films, episodes about demonic possession or other portrayals of the dark side and sick behavior – have become the favorite genre of the Mosaic generation. One noted result is that feelings of fear about one’s environment are reaching record levels, manifested in nightmares, judgment of other people based upon appearance or stereotypes, and changes in daily behavioral routines to avoid scary places.

via Media Exposure, Addiction.

Okay, one more point I want to make.  This one is simple.  The fascination with slasher flicks is nothing new.  I can remember Friday the 13th movies, Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street.  While a part of this is simply human nature, another part of this growing fascination is a failure of parenting.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things,” Philippians 4:8 tells us.  Yet, what are these kids consumed with?  Violence, fear, pain and all the ‘sick behavior’ of horror flicks.  Where they never taught that the Christian is to train their mind to meditate upon the things of God? Have they not been taught that perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:8)?  Or that we are not to fear anyone other than God (Matthew 10:28)?

So, simply put, I believe this growing fascination with horror results from 1) the de-Christianization of America and 2) Christian parents failing to disciple their children.

Media Exposure, Addiction from Barna

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One of the latter conclusions is this: media exposure has become America’s most widespread and serious addiction.

via Media Exposure, Addiction.

Read the whole article.  It’s an interesting take on our media saturated age.  One one hand, I wonder if its simply a new age.  Before books became widespread, folks were largely illiterate.  Ever since we’ve had some folks who prefer not to read, some folks in the middle and the bookworms–people with a voracious appetite for reading.  Yet, I’ve never heard a bookworm referred to as an addict.  Of course, like media, not all forms of books are edifying–and some folks love forms of books that a Christian might label problematic (think: romance novels, erotica, etc).  So, perhaps future generations will see our modern media age as another societal transformation which enabled more folks to become more informed.

On the other hand, silence and solitude are indispensible in the spiritual life of the Christian.  Christ set this example for us, as He regularly took time to be alone.  During these times we find Christ praying.  Likewise, the Christian ought to spend time alone with Him in prayer and quiet reflection.  Not only does this help us to hear Him, prayerful reflection upon His word helps us to internalize Christ’s teaching so it becomes a part of us.  Also, that quiet time digs a deeper well of peace in the Christian soul, enabling us to face the frustrations of life with a Christlike mindset.

Why not unplug the TV, Wii and Computer for awhile, sit down with the Bible and pray, read–even discuss it with your family?

Christ, Suffering & Punishment

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As a Pastor, I’m often confronted with Christians who wonder if God is punishing them.  Sickness, or unemployment or other difficulties and tragedies make them wonder.  They often ask, “Why me?,” and wonder what God is trying to teach them.  While books are written on such subjects, I generally answer with three key points.

First, there is ‘no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,’ (Romans 8:1).  If they are a follower of Jesus Christ they need not fear that God is attacking or punishing them for some mistake they’ve made.  To illustrate, we look at 2 Corinthians 12 together.  There we read of Paul’s thorn, given by God to keep Paul dependant upon the Lord.  This wasn’t as a punishment, but as a tool to help Paul and glorify Christ.  As the Lord says, “My power is made perfect in weakness.”

So, tragedy, suffering or difficulty is not alien to the Christian life.  Like everyone else, we experience hardship.  Yet, we can safely say that these experiences are not God’s wrath against us, nor are they a cosmic punishment.

Second, we turn to Hebrews 12.  Here, we find that God, like a father, disciplines His children.  Of course someone will say, “But I though you said we aren’t punished!”  To which I would reply, “Punishment and discipline aren’t necessarily the same thing.”  Punishment is retribution, it is paying for a crime.  Discipline is training, seeking to improve the targeted person.

Now, the Hebrews 12 passage compares God’s disciplines to a father’s.  This comparison ought to give us great comfort.  This is doubly true if we’re wondering, “what did I do?” or, “what lesson am I supposed to learn?”  You see, when I discipline one of my children, I never hide what they’ve done wrong.  I also do not make them guess.  I explain very clearly what they’ve done wrong, so that they can learn and grow.

God does the same.  If He intends the circumstances of my life to teach me some lesson, then I don’t think He will let me miss it.  To do so would be like spanking a child without explanation.  The child is hurt and confused—and learns nothing.

Finally, we turn to 1 Peter 1:3-9.  Here Peter encourages Christians in persecution by reminding them that persecution refines their faith.  While persecution may not be our hardship, all suffering can produce a similar effect in us.  When faced with suffering we either turn from God or to Him.  When we turn to Him, casting our anxiety upon Him, we learn to love God more and this life less.  Over time, that develops a heart which treasures the things of God.  Romans 5:3-5 explains how enduring suffering develops character and hope.  So even when life seems endlessly frustrating, when sickness or tragedy hits, even when we cannot see why—we can know it will develop our faith.

More Unseriousness

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On the fan forum site “Avatar Forums,” a topic thread entitled “Ways to cope with the depression of the dream of Pandora being intangible,” has received more than 1,000 posts from people experiencing depression and fans trying to help them cope.

via Audiences experience Avatar blues – CNN.com.

So, now people are depressed and suicidal because the beauty and wonder of Pandora is not real.  What’s next, being upset because you’ll never spin webs like Spiderman?

Seriously, though, this underlines the fact that we are not built for this world.  We were created for more, for something far greater.  And we will find something to try and fill that void.  For these folks, an impossible fantasy is their void-filler.  Others turn to utopian ideals, and other, more pragmatic folks, turn to sensual pleasure.  But whatever your kick, you will look for something else, something greater.

Perhaps this is because we are fallen creatures.  Within us is an innate realization that we were made for more than this fallen world.  But we don’t want to accept the simplest conclusion:  we were made for God.  You see, if I accept this conclusion it means I am no longer master of my domain.  It means I am servant, creature and beholden to the God who made me.  It means He calls the shots, not I.  It means I must live according to His plan.

For many this is simply unthinkable, and so they reject the concept of God.  They turn, then, to the Creation and fellow creatures to try and find what they are looking for.  For me, I turn to God.  I figure if I was created by Him and for Him, then I can never realize the fulness of all that I was created for apart from Him.  Thus, satisfaction, peace, joy and all those desires of my heart can only be finally and fully found in Him.

So, why would I trade lesser pleasures in the Creation when I am offered the superior pleasures from the Creator?

“my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord,” Jeremiah 31:14 (ESV)

All are one in Christ Jesus

~ brandon ~ 1 Comment

So, I had to take the family to the doctor yesterday.  Being as I am the only healthy adult, I bundled three sick kids and one sick wife into the family car and headed off into the frozen morning.  When we arrived at the doctor’s office, my wife signed the kids in while I ushered them to the waiting room.  Sitting down, I said, ‘Hello,’ to a gentleman sitting next to me, and began the wait for to see the doc. Continue reading →

What does your Christmas say about your Christ?

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Most of our communication is nonverbal.  What we say is hardly as important as how and where and the way in which we say it.  ‘I love you,’ can be meaningful or it can seem hollow, all depending on the accompanying nonverbals.  So, I began thinking, what do the nonverbals of Christmas say about my Christ?  In other words, does how I celebrate Christ accurately reflect who I believe Christ to be?

Let me illustrate.  Christ promises to give peace and rest to those who will follow Him.  Thus, my life should reflect a growing sense of peace and rest.  Yet, during Christmas time most of us become busier than a 1-armed paperhanger.  Between decorating, baking, parties, Church, cooking, meals, etc, we barely have time to breathe, let alone reflect the peace and rest of Christ to a busy world.

So, the question becomes, does a lifestyle of hurry and busyness celebrate the giver of peace and rest?  Or, is it another example of the radical disconnect between the Jesus revealed in Scriptures and those of us who claim to follow Him today?

Waiting for Jesus to Show Up | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

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We shouldn’t scold ourselves for this. There’s no point in shaming ourselves because we don’t love God. To begin with, you can’t make yourself love someone or some activity. You either love or you don’t.

via Waiting for Jesus to Show Up | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction.

A great article on loving God.  Especially at Christmas we need to remember that love is not forced, it is a gift.  At the same time, we need to call our lovelessness what it is:  sin.

God commands us to love Him (Deuteronomy 6:5).  Though I cannot make myself love Him, yet I must repent of not loving Him.  This, I believe, is the first step to learning to love God:  recognizing my lack of love as sin.  Having done this, I can turn to Him who is Love, find forgiveness and His love begins growing within.

What Roman Polanski teaches us about Depravity

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Recently Swiss authorities arrested Director Roman Polanski on an outstanding warrant. Years ago, Mr. Polanski raped a 13 year old girl, pled guilty than fled the US before his sentencing. He has been living in Europe trying to avoid the consequences of his despicable act. Now, it would seem, he may finally pay the piper.

Yet, throughout America celebrities seem up in arms. Whoopi Goldberg excused him because it wasn’t ‘rape-rape,’ whatever that means. Diplomats and stars alike are shocked, not at Polanski’s crime, but at the authorities from having the audacity to arrest him. As shocking as that sounds, should we really be shocked? No, I don’t think so.

You see, darkness HATES light. Polanski’s crime, and cowardice clearly fall into the category of darkness. He has spent a large portion of his life avoiding the light of justice. His amoral Hollywood and political compatriots may not like what he did, but they have an equally visceral hatred for light. They don’t want to face up to the evil of his act because it might mean their lifestyles are also less than good.

From serial womanizing, to drug and alcohol problems, Hollywood (and, perhaps, Washington) is filled with folks who are convinced that right and wrong are mere constructs. They want to believe that good and evil don’t actually exist. This allows them to live however they please, and act self-righteous toward anyone who might question their choices. Thus, to allow one of their own to be exposed as evil gives rise to the reality that their own lives are similarly fallen—that they aren’t the nice people, good citizens they pretend to be.

If nothing else, Roman Polanski teaches us that we are so depraved we’d rather run than face our wickedness. He reminds us how we each choose to hide, rationalize or ignore our own sin—much easier to act as the victim than to face consequences. He shows us just how important the Light of Christ is. Only that light can reveal my wickedness, convict my heart and cause repentance.

May the light of Christ shine upon Mr. Polanski, and each one of us, that we might turn to Christ and be healed.