Robots

The big news today of course was Ahmadinejad's anti-American rant at the notoriously liberal Columbia University. Condemned by many for even allowing A-jad to speak, the president of the school, Lee Bollinger, publicly denounced the Iranian leader prior to his speech, citing human rights violations and his fascist ideology. Of course, that his liberal university itself embraces certain fascist ideologies is of little concern.

I watched in disbelief as those present managed to actually applaud some of things this man was saying. He is the leader of a country nearly at war with the U.S. for its role in funding terrorism in Iraq and harboring known Al-Qaeda operatives. Of course, he explicitly denies any wrongdoing. The bad part? Some of these indoctrinated, Pelosi-loving students actually believed him.

Not that they are alone.

A classic example of this robotic, spoon-fed system of obtaining information is the current conflict in Iraq. One could infer from watching the latest headline of the blessed New York Times that the entire world is opposed to U.S. involvement in Iraq and does not believe we are winning the war on terror. Just like those who cheered A-jad in his speech essentially blaming the U.S. for 9/11, these are people who believe an unfortunately large amount of what they hear. It seems our freedom of the press has created a generation of robots.

With nary a blink, we absorb information from our "trusted" news outlets and fail to process it through an objective lens. True, to achieve true objectivity is to achieve an impossibility, but where have the independent thinkers gone? I would like to think that education had taught us how to think rather than what, yet to do so would be naive. Instead, our institutions of higher learning have taught us to be open-minded to a level of ridiculous political correctness where no one is offended and the truth is frequently ignored.

God has something to say about that. In Romans 1, Paul is contrasting the life of Christians and the life of those who are in the world. In contrast to the God's people seeing His righteousness revealed, the unrighteous suppress the truth.

"[...] [W]hat can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles." -Romans 1:19-23

It is profound to think that everyone knows God, but not everyone gives Him credit to this fact. For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. It seems as if much of our efforts are put into glorifying mans accomplishments; statues are erected to honor a top athlete, skyscrapers are increasingly-higher monuments of achievement to the architect who designed them, celebrities are in the news more than the heroes risking their lives for our freedom at home.

I fear that if this course is not reversed and we continue production of robots, we will be far more maligned morally than we currently are. We have slowly etched at the moral foundation of our society bringing us closer to the brink of complete godlessness. To borrow a line from the satirical "1/2 Hour News Hour," this "prayer" is reminiscent of what our nation could one day face if we do not desist from a robotic state of mind and learn to think for ourselves and become approved workers according to 2 Timothy.

Somewhere in the future, Kansas Secular University...

"Oh nonexistent spirit, we ask that you convey your indifference on all of us who gather here today. We raise our voices as one to express our lack of gratitude for the totally random series of events that has accidentally resulted in our existence. We recognize that you’ve had no role in our lives and ask that you continue in that absence. Do not help guide us and let us serve no purpose in everything we do because we know that life has no significance and that anything we do ends in utter meaninglessness when we die. This we ask in no one in particular’s name.
Booyah."

While this may be a humorous outlook on America in the future, let us keep it clear in our minds that Satan is a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Therefore, it is paramount that we keep our guard up, fully clothed in the armor of God. As Christians, we have the advantage-we understand the necessity of absolute truth of God's word to govern our lives. Because we have been redeemed from our empty way of life (1 Peter 1:18), it is our job to set the example and lead the culture and not be led by it. May we all begin each day by killing the robot syndrome and taking a stand for righteousness.

Paradigm Shift

par-a-digm: n. A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline. (American Heritage Dictionary)

Today marks the third week I have spent in the beautiful state of California. To simply recap my time here would be a verbose waste of the English language. Put simply, it is a complete paradigm shift even from my semi-big city Seattle upbringing. California proclaims itself as a republic, evidenced on the state flag. I was introduced to this reality the minute I disembarked.

While waiting in queue to board the aircraft, I overheard two gentlemen conversing about LA, where they were going, what they had to do when they arrived, etc. and I deduced from this conversation that the two men were well-acquainted with the region. Upon arrival in LA, our paths crossed while waiting for our luggage. Being the communicative person I am, I seized upon this opportunity to make their acquaintance. It just so happened that I met some senior executives from CelebTV.

I thought to myself, "Of course, they are from the entertainment industry."

That was lesson 101 in California; as I was told, seemingly everyone is connected in some way to the entertainment industry. This was the beginning of that paradigm shift, from the laid-back midwestern life where everybody knows everybody and nobody cares about who you are, to a locale where it's all about who you know that matters.

Oddly enough, I despise this perspective in a way. Our culture worships the self-glorification and vanity of Hollywood, a belief that runs counter to the word of God.

One of the Ten Commandments reads, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3 NASB). Sounds like Hollywood violates this one. Not that this is surprising, given the current state of our country that puts quarterbacks behind bars for torturing and murdering dogs, yet insists that it is a mother's “choice” to determine her unborn baby’s future.

I find a certain joy in the fact that I could probably walk right by a celebrity and not know who he or she is. I just don't care. Now, this is where it gets a little fuzzy.

See, the whole point is, my paradigm is shifting. When I have the chance to meet someone famous, I jump at the chance. Then, in hindsight, I evaluate my reaction and realize how I too am so easily caught up this cultural love affair.

Celebrities make us feel important. We go home to our buddies and say, "Look who I took a picture with," or "look whose autograph I got," and quickly lose sight of the bigger picture. Careers mean nothing in the afterlife, but as finite humans, we place a certain value on status and the popularity it brings. It somehow makes us feel that we are less inadequate in our daily existences and our mediocrity.

Yet it is in this mundane existence to which some have been called. Not all of us are called to have high profile lives, but there are God-followers out there who have mistakenly quoted the book of Man, the 11th Commandment: "Thou shalt prosper monetarily and be successful in the world."

It's as if some of us expect God to bless us...monetarily.

Of course God blesses us, but not in the ways we expect or desire. He knows what is best and by faith we have to trust that He blesses those financially whom He desires to be wealthy, allowing them the option of where it will be used. He gives to others little, realizing that they too have a choice to be proactive with what little they have or be bitter and wallow in self pity.

As I walk around the Santa Monica area and get confronted with questions about who I've met and where I've been, I keep finding myself asking the question of why I care so much? It is amazing how quickly I forget the paradigm change that is occurring within.

Now, it is not a sin to tell someone about what I have been able to do or who I have met, but when that storytelling turns into bragging, it opens the door wide to pride. When my motive in telling the story is to make me feel better or look better, those are selfish motives, but when they fall within the boundaries of storytelling, it is innocuous and often a great conversation starter as to the nature of Hollywood and the dirt about which many do not know.

I have always wondered why people have such an obsession with celebrities until now. I realize now that I too can be caught up in it at times, and I can only imagine how much worse are those who suffer through life without knowing Christ's love, an eternal love that outshines and outlasts this paltry life. In my heart there is a burden for everyone to know Christ, and I pray that in all I do, each day, I will glorify the Creator of the universe in my lifestyle--no matter if I run into a celebrity or just a bum on the street begging for money. I may be the only light these people see outside tinseltown, and that is a blown opportunity that I do not want on my conscience. Here's to more of this paradigm shift, and a daily walk closer with God.