May 05, 2010
Actors
I get irritated with Hollywood actors who think that their star-power somehow entitles them to a political persuasion and authority in social issues. It would be more understandable if they were trying to engage just their fan base, but it appears that they really think that the world is their stage and everyone is an admirer. Likewise, there are those who have a certain amount of star-power within the body of Christ that think the masses will embrace their views when they take the political and social stage. Paul has a warning for all who think highly of themselves. “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (Gal 6:3 NIV)
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Gail;
-----Certain facts of life give these people their stage. Social problems are complicated by a great plurality of philosophies that have grown around the variety of concerns involved in forming community out of individuals. Individuals address the issues surrounding their own lives, for sure, but always with awareness of cultural norms. Whether by laziness, lack of time, or lack of ability, most people do not carefully study these norms. They tend to just accept influence from what is being done around them. Therefore, they give greater credence to those whom the more people admire. And that carelessly constructs stages for ambitious and manipulative people to use in self-assertion.
-----I thank God for His Word, His Spirit, and the truthful simplicity of human nature. His people do not have to look to icons upon stages to know the truth about life. Although community and culture can be complicated, the norms which make for a healthy society are all in His Word. And when His Word is accepted by humble hearts, not manipulative ones, obedience assembles from it the understanding and insights He knows will direct mutually beneficial solutions for everyone’s problems.
-----Paul wrote, “If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.” (I Cor 8:2) This verse used to confound me greatly, until I read the Greek behind it. Paul is playing two different Greek words together which both translate into “know”. One is a book or learned knowledge. The other is knowledge of experience. Paul is then saying, if anyone thinks he has learned something, he does not yet know as if he has experienced it.
-----So His people look into the Word by practicing it to know the truth about life. But that is not to say there is no utility for staged icons. Jesus was put upon a stage, and He certainly was an icon of obedience. His apostles went into the world as examples to be followed, as every generation also has had its godly examples following the principles of His Word. Although I John 2:27 states, “...you have no need that anyone should teach you,” John wrote this only about those who would deceive you. Paul acknowledges that God Himself gave us gifts, “...that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints...” (Eph 4:11) And these all stand upon stages of certain sorts in certain ways helping others to understand how the Word guides their lives.
-----But other parts of human nature makes complex what should be simple. Identity is a big thing to everyone. And the need for one’s personal identity to be validated by others makes stages attractive. Moreover, the bigger the stage is made, the more a society will identify with the icon upon it, making society itself more befitting for the one upon the stage. Everyone exploits this tendency to one degree or another. So it is not surprising to see the Word of God mixed with personal aspirations being promulgated from stages. It is up to the audience before the stage to take who is upon it less serious than they take the Bible in their own hand.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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