The World Around Us

As I made the decision to begin this ‘blogspot’ I, truly, had no idea just what I would write about. Sure, I would maintain the common thread of Christ; I mean, hey, that’s who I am, but what direction should I go? That question has floated around in my simple mind for a few days now.
As I look around it seems that the distinctions between the Christian and non-Christian are becoming less and less visible everyday. Every time I turn on the TV, pick up a newspaper or listen to the radio I see a world that reflects less our Christian heritage and values and seems to embrace, more readily each day, the temporary pleasures of the world. No, I’m not passing judgment on the non-Christian. This is about our Christian population. I am calling those people, who call themselves Christians, to step up to the plate and act like it. I love the words of the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 18. Elijah was addressing a large group of Israelites who were struggling with their allegiance to God. In their case a new ‘idol of choice’, Baal, had found its way into their midst and to that group of Israeli people Elijah said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." What a great question!
What is the “Baal” of today? Is it money, fame, popularity, success, sex, drugs, career? I believe it is a combination of all of those things, along with many others, and it all goes back to our love of the world instead of our love and commitment for and to the God who created all that we see and all that we are.
One of my favorite movies is The Matrix (I know, I know, it’s rated R and if I practice what I preach I wouldn’t watch that garbage but I found much metaphorical truth in that movie). In The Matrix, during one particular scene, as Morpheus describes to the hero, Neo, what the Matrix is he says this, “The matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes, to blind you from the truth.” WOW!!! Sound familiar? I believe this world of fast-food, quick money, instant success, quick highs, and no responsibility has been pulled over our eyes to blind us from the truth of God’s Word. How do we reverse course and set the ship right again? How do we glorify God in the midst of a world that is becoming less and less concerned or even aware of Jesus Christ? It’s a question each of us must ask ourselves.
Maybe we should begin in Matthew’s Gospel when Jesus Himself said, “"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Words difficult to digest indeed but words so important if we are to lift Christ up everyday! We must first start, in my opinion, by owning those words and following Christ daily, regardless of the direction the world around us has chosen.