In 2003 when a CT scan found a tumor in Steve Jobs’ pancreas, doctors urged him to have an operation, but Steve chose alternative remedies. Nine months later, when the tumor had grown, he agreed to surgery, but by then, the cancer had spread to his liver. Though a liver transplant bought him a few years, ultimately his battle strategy failed.
You will recall that God's strategy for dealing with cancerous idolatry in Canaan was total annihilation. Sadly, Israel compromised, choosing alternative remedies. Fast forward 4,000 years, and we now have two generations of Americans who have grown up without another world war. Our strategy has been diplomacy: peace at all costs. However, recent unofficial talks by our government with Iran seem to be demonstrating a national naiveté that we can make peace with an avowed enemy.
Canaan illustrates the necessity
of a good battle strategy against the enemies of our soul—both within and without.
Coincidentally, we are living at a time in history when God's People are being asked to make peace with a sensually-driven culture. But it is a strategy as perilous as living with a tumor.
Last week I received a telephone call from the Blue Shield cancer-consultant, advising me she will, at the end of my treatments, prescribe a diet to build up my immunities. I'm anticipating a
toxic-free regimen of organic, fibrous fruits and vegetables that will not, however, do well in my no-pancreas stomach.
Coincidentally, I happened to read an e-teaching about eating for life, claiming that godly eaters will be blessed with long life. I wondered
how other people like me, who have been given a prognosis of a shortened life,
would respond to his “godliness = long life” assertion.
After Jesus provided a free lunch to the 5,000, they all wanted to be His disciples-for-life. But He rebuked them, “You’re
following me, not because of the miracles you saw Me do, which should have
convinced you I am God, but because you think I can satisfy your sensual appetites” (John
6:26 paraphrase). Prescribing a better diet for life, He said, “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you” (John
6:53). Fruits and vegetables are good for the body. But lettuce eat for soul. Lettuce eat from the Tree of Life.
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?!
T.D. Jakes, popular author/pastor has produced a new movie "Sparkle," rife with sexual promiscuity, nudity, domestic abuse, and drugs. How does Jakes justify such sensuality as entertainment? His feeble attempt to emphasize love, faith and perseverance is over-shadowed by the film's underlying values: deceit, jealousy, strife, greed.
“It has been asked whether certain kinds of entertainment are appropriate for Christians. When entertainment is crude or off-color, the answer seems too obvious. When actions we would never allow in our daily life are part of entertainment, something is wrong. Much of the content of popular entertainment contains elements the Bible expressly forbids. Somehow, when it comes in the form of entertainment, we find it less offensive. In reality it is all the more dangerous. We often let our guard down when engaging in entertainment. I fear we have ben conditioned to accept such things in much the same way that a frog learns to accept ever-warming water, until eventually it is boiled to death. Such is the influence of the entertainment industry in our time.”
The above quote is an excerpt from “Real Christianity” written by William Wilberforce in 1797. I am sure he never imagined anything like what we call entertainment today!
