A devotional site that lifts up Jesus our Lord as well as confronting the falling away of the modern church.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Patriotic Idolatry
PATRIOTIC IDOLATRY
Although I often disagree with Ken Sila and the site called Apprising Ministries, this post is very appropriate. It reveals where nationalism almost always leads.
We're commanded to be have good fruit and set biblical examples. I have nothing against Glen Beck, but after having heard him complain and criticize on his past cable news programs, his aggressive accusations against politicians didn't show good fruit. Here I am, who doesn't show good fruit either. But I am talking about those who make a living off of giving their opinions.
Even if Glen Beck's accusations were true, whatever he claimed was exaggerrated and open to debate and his need to shock viewers with gimmicks and such were not conducive to setting Christ's example.
It's so hard for people who have careers in the entertainment industry, to not compromise with the world, since they need sponsors to endorse their 'products' even if these products are christian movies, tools, documentaries. Kirk Cameron maybe doesn't realize yet that he is yielding to mammon, in that he needed Glen Beck to scratch his back, and now he has to reciprocate and scratch Glen Beck's back. Any christian who makes large sums of cash in an endeavor will most likely always yield to the temptation of Success. And, they invariably end up having to defend each other in order for their 'selling points' to make great profits.
So, again, compromising with the world. It is producing unfruitful 'ends' to justify gospel message 'means'.
"Any christian who makes large sums of cash in an endeavor will most likely always yield to the temptation of Success."
That is the essence of capitalism. It isn't just the making of money, it's the pursuit of money. And Cameron's sin is that he is consumed with suggesting America was a Christian nation, and he has found some obscure monument that suggests a certain subset of pilgrims felt that way. The original documents and the spiritual commitments of the founding fathers prove otherwise.
I read the link to the article that article quoted most. Very interesting. Do you mind if I summarize?
Secularists claim the founding fathers were deists, and firmly for separation of church and state. Evangelicals claim the founding fathers were Bible believing Christians. Neither is true, in spite of all the real evidence either side presents.
Coming right out of the enlightenment, our founding fathers were "Theistic Rationalists". They believed God created the world and, unlike Deists, He was still actively involved with His creation. They also believed that he could best be understood by observation of the world around us. Our morals and values were based on "Natural Laws" that God had put inside us.
The early American population was a Christian majority so, being elite politicians, the fathers had to phrase their speech and writing to be the most well-recieved by a religious public.
Christians point to the wordings Washington and Adams used in public declarations as proof for their Christian faith. Secularist point to letters the fathers wrote each other to proof their lack of a religious faith.
John Adams in particular has been singled out by Christians a lot for being a believer, and yet he utterly rejected the trinity, virgin birth, and all the miracles of scripture.
I take no pleasure in bursting people's bubbles, but I LOVE the truth, even when it doesn't fit my preferred view. When someone's faith is built upon even one lie, that lie uncovered can be used by the enemy to undermine all one thought was true.
Is there in the true spirit of the Kingdom, such a thing as a "christian" "product?" or "christian entertainment?" Jesus said, "Freely you have received, freely give."
Our American materialist mammon-pursuing mindset has fostered the development of the monster of "christian celebrities, christian bookstores, christian radio and TV", christian consumer junk, and trivializing and nearly blasphemous christian tee shirts and bumper stickers.
I call the whole "industry" a monster: an unnatural perverse dangerous organism. Like Dr. Frankentstein created a being, albeit from authentic man-parts, (in delusions of grandeur in arrogance and presumption), the thing was not authentic man-life because the quickening power in it was not divine. Of course, the monster took on a will of its own, to the destruction of many innocent bystanders and its creator. Dr. Frankenstein couldn't destroy his creation, even when he realized it was deadly, because of his personal investment in it.
The original Frankenstein novel has valuable allegorical lessons still today.
"I call the whole "industry" a monster: an unnatural perverse dangerous organism. Like Dr. Frankentstein created a being, albeit from authentic man-parts, (in delusions of grandeur in arrogance and presumption), the thing was not authentic man-life because the quickening power in it was not divine. Of course, the monster took on a will of its own, to the destruction of many innocent bystanders and its creator. Dr. Frankenstein couldn't destroy his creation, even when he realized it was deadly, because of his personal investment in it."
That, my sister, is one of the most profound insights I have read. I wish I had said it, but I will attribute it to the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit within you and as such give Christ the glory. Thank you, Victoria!
Rick, certainly I freely give what was given to me, by the Holy Spirit as you witness to. Go where the Lord leads. I will pray that you be His spokesman (prophet and pastor) for His messages to us. Of course you may use any of my comments.
I am very grateful for the fellowship here at your blog. Your sister, Victoria
Great article! Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ!
ReplyDeleteWe're commanded to be have good fruit and set biblical examples. I have nothing against Glen Beck, but after having heard him complain and criticize on his past cable news programs, his aggressive accusations against politicians didn't show good fruit. Here I am, who doesn't show good fruit either. But I am talking about those who make a living off of giving their opinions.
ReplyDeleteEven if Glen Beck's accusations were true, whatever he claimed was exaggerrated and open to debate and his need to shock viewers with gimmicks and such were not conducive to setting Christ's example.
It's so hard for people who have careers in the entertainment industry, to not compromise with the world, since they need sponsors to endorse their 'products' even if these products are christian movies, tools, documentaries. Kirk Cameron maybe doesn't realize yet that he is yielding to mammon, in that he needed Glen Beck to scratch his back, and now he has to reciprocate and scratch Glen Beck's back. Any christian who makes large sums of cash in an endeavor will most likely always yield to the temptation of Success. And, they invariably end up having to defend each other in order for their 'selling points' to make great profits.
So, again, compromising with the world. It is producing unfruitful 'ends' to justify gospel message 'means'.
"Any christian who makes large sums of cash in an endeavor will most likely always yield to the temptation of Success."
ReplyDeleteThat is the essence of capitalism. It isn't just the making of money, it's the pursuit of money. And Cameron's sin is that he is consumed with suggesting America was a Christian nation, and he has found some obscure monument that suggests a certain subset of pilgrims felt that way. The original documents and the spiritual commitments of the founding fathers prove otherwise.
I read the link to the article that article quoted most. Very interesting. Do you mind if I summarize?
ReplyDeleteSecularists claim the founding fathers were deists, and firmly for separation of church and state. Evangelicals claim the founding fathers were Bible believing Christians. Neither is true, in spite of all the real evidence either side presents.
Coming right out of the enlightenment, our founding fathers were "Theistic Rationalists". They believed God created the world and, unlike Deists, He was still actively involved with His creation. They also believed that he could best be understood by observation of the world around us. Our morals and values were based on "Natural Laws" that God had put inside us.
The early American population was a Christian majority so, being elite politicians, the fathers had to phrase their speech and writing to be the most well-recieved by a religious public.
Christians point to the wordings Washington and Adams used in public declarations as proof for their Christian faith. Secularist point to letters the fathers wrote each other to proof their lack of a religious faith.
John Adams in particular has been singled out by Christians a lot for being a believer, and yet he utterly rejected the trinity, virgin birth, and all the miracles of scripture.
I take no pleasure in bursting people's bubbles, but I LOVE the truth, even when it doesn't fit my preferred view. When someone's faith is built upon even one lie, that lie uncovered can be used by the enemy to undermine all one thought was true.
Is there in the true spirit of the Kingdom, such a thing as a "christian" "product?" or "christian entertainment?" Jesus said, "Freely you have received, freely give."
ReplyDeleteOur American materialist mammon-pursuing mindset has fostered the development of the monster of "christian celebrities, christian bookstores, christian radio and TV", christian consumer junk, and trivializing and nearly blasphemous christian tee shirts and bumper stickers.
I call the whole "industry" a monster: an unnatural perverse dangerous organism. Like Dr. Frankentstein created a being, albeit from authentic man-parts, (in delusions of grandeur in arrogance and presumption), the thing was not authentic man-life because the quickening power in it was not divine. Of course, the monster took on a will of its own, to the destruction of many innocent bystanders and its creator. Dr. Frankenstein couldn't destroy his creation, even when he realized it was deadly, because of his personal investment in it.
The original Frankenstein novel has valuable allegorical lessons still today.
...down from my soapbox now...
Victoria
"I call the whole "industry" a monster: an unnatural perverse dangerous organism. Like Dr. Frankentstein created a being, albeit from authentic man-parts, (in delusions of grandeur in arrogance and presumption), the thing was not authentic man-life because the quickening power in it was not divine. Of course, the monster took on a will of its own, to the destruction of many innocent bystanders and its creator. Dr. Frankenstein couldn't destroy his creation, even when he realized it was deadly, because of his personal investment in it."
ReplyDeleteThat, my sister, is one of the most profound insights I have read. I wish I had said it, but I will attribute it to the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit within you and as such give Christ the glory. Thank you, Victoria!
Victoria - Can I use all or part of your comment for a future post? It has captured my imagination.
ReplyDeleteRick, certainly I freely give what was given to me, by the Holy Spirit as you witness to. Go where the Lord leads. I will pray that you be His spokesman (prophet and pastor) for His messages to us. Of course you may use any of my comments.
ReplyDeleteI am very grateful for the fellowship here at your blog.
Your sister, Victoria