In 2009 Obama and Congress passed a stimulus bill of $830 billion. That was preceded, you may recall, by a 2008 loan of $700 billion (TARP) to stimulate the sluggish economy. And did you know that Obama is now asking for another stimulus bill of $500 billion in this year’s proposed budget?
But it isn’t just government trying to stimulate us. If you watch CNN or Fox cable news, you are familiar with the banners at the bottom of the screen that say “Breaking News” and “News Alert”—messages intended to stimulate our interest enough to keep us watching. And have you noticed that if there is no exciting news to report on, they sensationalize almost anything?!
As I reflected on yesterday's post about earthly stimulants, I realized how fundamental it is to human behavior. God created sensual human beings, who, with their senses, would be able to appreciate His glory (Ps 19; Rom 1:20). But it was the senses that Satan used to spoil the human race, when Eve succumbed to the serpent’s sensational suggestions. And he's still trying to fool us into following our fickle feelings. Which is why Paul says “walk by faith, not by sight [senses]” (2 Co 5:7). Wouldn't that be sensational?!
An article in Sunday's paper tells of a different struggle facing American soldiers returning from war: a loss of purpose and camaraderie. One soldier says, “When I was in Afghanistan as a platoon commander, I had a task; I had a purpose; every day I knew what I was going to do.” Now he says boredom is his greatest fear.
It’s a law of natural life: men seek stimulation because men need stimulation. But there is either the stimulation of the flesh or the inspiration/motivation of the Spirit. Without the latter, there will be an endless search for new and exciting activities and relationships to satisfy the flesh—to find something worth living for.
As committed Christ-followers, we are engaged in a battle—and we find our purpose and solidarity in serving our King. When we are living “kingdom life,” we are anything but bored. Rather, we enjoy a sense of urgency—just like soldiers, a warfare mentality—which is more than enough stimulation for even the most vigorous among us! Is this not what Christ demanded (Matt. 16:19) and Paul restated (2 Co 10:5; Eph 6:12)? So then, “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds… encouraging one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25).
Earlier this year, a 20-year old Seattle man, known as the “Barefoot Bandit”—he committed his crimes wearing no shoes—was sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison after a 2-year international crime spree, stealing planes and boats by which he travelled to foreign countries. Like the character in the movie "Catch Me if You Can," the Barefoot Bandit was an adrenaline junkie.
Adrenaline junkies are addicted to the exciting, pleasurable effect of adrenal glands dumping a large doses of adrenaline into the bloodstream. People will do many things to get that rush: leap out of airplanes, climb rocks, race cars, bungee jump.
God has designed us with a spiritual appetite for stimulation too. Stimulate one another (Heb. 10:24), the word meaning, “to incite, provoke, or contend.” (Most churches don’t really encourage that kind of thing!) Watchman Nee clarifies that it isn’t what happens on Sunday morning that stimulates individual growth, but in between Sundays whenever people meet, each encouraging the other to faith and commitment. The proven fact is if Christians don’t get that stimulation they are looking for, they will become bored and leave the church. Instead, you may find them out on Sunday morning looking for an adrenaline rush.
When I saw this article "Is Walmart Killing Small Businesses?" it occurred to me that BIG churches are not unlike BIG Box stores. Both are forcing the LITTLE guys out of business! Half the churches in America are under 75 members. But as the BIG Box church movement grows, LITTLE churches are disappearing (nearly 4000 close their doors each year), while the number of megachurches is doubling every 5 years.
Is Bigger Better? One can argue the pros and cons, but BIG or LITTLE, the question is: are they just filling seats or growing people into Christ's fulness? Watchman Nee said 'church' is what happens in between Sundays, when members love and serve one another, stimulate one another, confess sins to one another, forgive and bear with one another, and build up one another. Let's call them the "one-another" ministries!
By now the word ‘stimulus’ is etched into the American psyche, albeit with mixed reaction. How affective it will be in stimulating a sluggish economy remains to be seen! But the debt it has incurred is quite apparent. Of course the logic behind stimulus spending is that it will generate jobs, income and tax revenues to pay the debt. In short, stimulate now; pay later.
The temptation toward stimulation is as old as Adam and Eve. One of the most famous (infamous) examples of a self-made stimulus was David’s moral failure on an uneventful Saturday afternoon—resulting in death and despair. But the most celebrated example of stimulus is that of Abraham and Sarah who, growing tired of waiting for God’s promised child, conspired to speed things up, a stimulus that resulted in the birth of Ishmael, whose ancestors—the Arabs—are the bane of their existence to this day.
The current stimulation strategy has a lesson for us. Let’s face it; it is natural for us to look for stimulation during slow times. The temptation to make something happen increases the longer we wait. Nonetheless, our self-made stimulus packages incur a debt that will have to be reckoned with later. You may stimulate now, but there is always payback (Gal. 6:7).
But thank God, that even though our sinful impulses may carry natural consequences ('Ishmaels'), God will not leave us in debt: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all [the debt of] unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).
The idea that people want deep conversations (read yesterday’s post) speaks to man’s universal need to relate to others with meaning and purpose. As Christians, our conversations ought to be meaningful, purposeful, stimulating, encouraging, and refreshing. When Paul wrote to Timothy, he said he had been “refreshed” by Onesiphorus (1 Tim.1:16). Later he commended certain other brethren who had “refreshed my spirit” (1 Cor. 16:18). Do you refresh others?
The word “refresh” originates from the word “breath,” implying a “breath of fresh air.” In conversation, it means to breathe life into the exchange. Jesus must have been very “refreshing” because “The very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63).
Are your conversations full of “spirit and life?” After you have spent an hour with a friend, will he say he has been refreshed by you? Do your conversations stimulate others to love and good deeds, or encourage them to outbursts of love? (Heb. 10:24 NASB, NLT).
I grew up watching some pretty tame family sitcoms (by today’s standards), like “Father Knows Best,” “Leave it to Beaver,” “Ozzie and Harriet!” So it was with special interest I noted USA Today's announcement of 2 new family friendly shows on ABC this Fall: “Cougar Town” and “Modern Family.”
Since “cougar” is vernacular for an older woman who “hunts” younger men, you can guess what that “family” show is about. Then there’s “Modern Family.” Think of all the hot-button ‘family-values’ issues of our day, and you will have a good idea what constitutes ABC’s version of a modern family.
I am convinced the decline of Judeo-Christian values over the last 50 years can be gauged by the moral content of TV programming. Biblically-defined family values have been turned upside-down. In 2 Peter we read that Lott, who lived in Sodom and Gomorrah, was oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men... his righteous soul tormented day after day with their lawless deeds (2:7-8). I am afraid instead of feeling tormented, the majority of today's evangelical Christians are just feeling indifferent. But apathy is not a choice on the menu for those called to be salt and light to the world, as reflected in Paul's exhortations: Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them...When the light shines on them, it becomes clear how evil these things are. And where your light shines, it will expose their evil deeds. (Eph. 5:11-13, abbreviated, NLT)
What are we to do (besides turning off the TV and going to bed)? As I see it, there are two extremes to avoid: becoming sensualized by the evil or becoming desensitized to it. It's the latter the Bible especially warns of as we approach the end times. The writer of Hebrews says we ought to stimulate and encourage one another all the more as we see the day drawing near, (Heb. 10:24-25, paraphrased) not unlike Paul's warning: Let us not sleep [be indifferent] as others do, but let us watch and be sober (1 Thess. 5:6).
