Defense of the Innocent

I find myself stunned once again by the irony of the extremist agenda, amidst the confusion of a sinful world. I have just returned from viewing the film "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and am somewhat surprised, though perhaps I shouldn’t be, at the lack of logic amidst the subliminal messaging of films such as this one.

Without ruining too much of the movie, please allow me to elaborate on the bare bones of the plot in order to make my case. In essence, an alien comes to our humble blue and green planet in order to convince us to stop destroying it, because it is one of only a handful of worlds capable of sustaining life in the universe. Humanity, being the evil fools that we are portrayed as being, attempt to kill him and stop his plans of destroying us before we even really know what he is trying to do with any certainty because of a slew of jumped conclusions and misinterpreted behaviors. So our little alien friend, portrayed by Keanu Reaves, unleashes the horror of the apocalypse upon our planet after rescuing all of the animal life he can aboard this special sphere things he brought to earth with him, in order to repopulate the earth with good beast-kind.

That, of course, is not how the movie ends, but I think that at this point you should start to see a few key elements that don’t align at all with Scripture’s view of our purpose on this world.

First and foremost, we as humanity were given dominion over the creation at its start (Gen 1:26). So no alien, no matter how “advanced” should have the authority to command us to abstain from doing anything of the sort. Granted, we are called to be good stewards of what the Lord has placed us over, but it is ours and ours alone to care for.

Secondly, I was struck with something that the author Gary North touched upon in his book "UnHoly Spirits". Dr. North spoke of the underlying theme of all such movies of alien invasion, and indeed all such ideologies concerning them. They all boil down to a concept of salvation from above by means of a higher evolution. Some race that has achieved a more utopian existence offers us a chance at a better life through the one which they have achieved…salvation by means of secret knowledge. Of course this ideology has existed for centuries under the name of Gnosticism, and is as old as sin itself.

Thirdly, I always find it unfathomable how people, particularly radical environmentalists, see the salvation of animal life as a noble quest, while many of these very same people condone abortion. I simply cannot understand how a quest for animal rights, which boils down to a desire to protect that which cannot protect itself, is any different from protecting the lives of infants. Or how we can somehow have the power to choose to kill a baby in the name of convenience, but not choose to kill an animal in the name of survival.

At any rate, the movie wasn’t bad, it was just guided by a false set of rules with very odd logic behind them. But as I said before, this really shouldn’t surprise me:

“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile, there is no one who does good.” – Psalm 14:1

A Broad Path Indeed

I have spent the last couple of days in a state of deep disturbance concerning the above video, wondering how many individuals will be lead astray by the dangers of games such as this one in the coming three months.

The particular industry that created that little jewel prides itself on the vast extent of actions that the player can perform in the game world. These actions include such things as sword fighting, archery, and conversation, and extend all the way to theft, witchcraft, and even polygamy…you heard me right, polygamy. Play your cards right and you can allow your character to marry multiple women…and if they discover that they are not your only wife sparks will fly! But fear not, you can just use one of your multiple invisibility spells to escape her retribution…

Brothers and sisters why do we encourage the use of such tools?! Why do we allow ourselves, our friends, and our families to participate in simulations of actions that God has very strictly prohibited?

As I slowly worked my way back to normalcy by God’s grace after He instilled in me the will and desire to leave behind my interest in fantasy games such as this one, and indeed even as I worked through simply developing that will to begin with, I realized several important facts about fantasy as a general rule. They are subtle, but then again so are most of the tools that Satan uses to lure away God’s people from serving Him.

Primarily, most fantasy worlds are places that we desire to escape to on to some degree or another. Either we see the people and places as “cool”, or we are simply dissatisfied with our current existence here in this life and want an alternate world to run to. This alone can be a problem, since when we are under oppression we are called to flee not to a made up world, but into the arms of our God.

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.” – James 5:13

And this concept is particularly true given the next factor of fantasy worlds, and that is that as a general rule most fantasy worlds are places where God as the True Living God is neither the Creator nor the Supreme Ruler. In many a pantheon of false deities created the world, if its origin is mentioned at all. For the most part, however, the author/game designer will touch upon the religious principles governing the world, because in order for it to fully work as a fantasy universe it must be bound by a set of supernatural laws that allow the characters within it to perform magic. Without this elemental and underlying principle, fantasy itself ceases to be fantasy…I have never understood why… it simply does.

Next, fantasy offers us a chance to guide our own moral actions apart from the sovereignty of an imposed moral code. Much like plastic surgery, fantasy offers the user the opportunity to look and behave differently than they ordinarily do. With this newfound liberation comes the opportunity to create one’s own moral standard. In every single fantasy that I have ever read or played with the exception of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings the characters did what they wanted when they wanted to because they could. Without the Lord of Hosts as the ruler, there is no consistent moral standard, and cannot be a consistent moral standard to guide one’s actions. In fact, the very nature of existence itself on any level cannot be fulfilled if one cannot “Glorify God and enjoy Him forever”.

Along that line, fantasy allows the player to perform more specifically evil acts such as the open practice of witchcraft, and sets forth those patterns of behavior as the accepted social standard in the world at hand. Even in the Lord of the Rings, Gandalf was a perfectly accepted and even somewhat messianic symbol, though he was a practicing wizard. Notice the simplicity and strength of Deuteronomy on this topic.

“When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.”

On the other side of this issue please note that I am not suggesting that we start writing Christian fantasy that somehow attempts to fit God into worlds that we in reality have created ourselves. Not at all! Rather I feel that such an action would be adding to creation, and thus the fundamental message of Scripture itself, that God came and died in this world for humanity alone. I do not recommend writing about how he also came to Fakeland and died for elf-kind, dwarf-kind, and all other manner of made up beings. To do so would be to mock creation and the design of God Himself who purposed salvation as He did for a reason, and established man himself as the created head of the rest of his design.

Rather readers, I urge you to be content with where God has placed you, and instead of seeking an escape, seek His glory in all situations that you find yourselves in.

The Underground

Berea Kentucky is a massive mission field. After being here for less than a full week, I’m already overwhelmed, stressed, and have had my faith challenged by several means…but I’m having the time of my life because of it.

For years I have wanted to be a part of what I like to call “the Christian underground”. Now I finally get to live that dream. I am a follower of God in a place where that is not an accepted practice. But by God’s grace I’m not alone. He has already introduced me to others who claim the faith, brothers and sisters who hold dear the same fundamental principles that I do. We may disagree on a few doctrinal points, but we can all come together on the common ground of Christ’s atoning work. Once again He has made provision when I least expected it. Once again I am the fool for not simply trusting in Him from the start.

Starting this afternoon a few of my fellow students and I began what we hope to be the first of a course of prayer meetings and/or Bible studies where those of us who claim faith can meet to encourage and uplift one another. At this point in time we number less than a dozen, but we hope to increase that number by God’s grace, if He so wills to use us thus.

We have agreed to meet in relatively public places, not that we may pray to be seen, but rather that those who are afraid to speak of their faith at this point may feel more welcome to simply come and join in. With hope, should we start an actual Bible study, others who do not claim the faith will overhear God’s Word being read as well.

We must seek to strike a balance between sharing our faith openly (Matthew 5:15), and not losing our credibility by beating everyone over the head with our Bibles (Matt 5:5). So please keep us in prayer. Pray that we would be salt and light. Pray that we would remain steadfast when literally everyone around us is living in sin and inviting us to participate with them. Pray that we would remain respectful and resolute when people harass out faith. Pray for us…we are the Christian Underground.

Safety First

Let me start this off with a disclaimer. Though it is nothing too horribly off color for those over the age of maybe sixteen or so, this topic does touch upon some adult contentof the nature that you may not wish to explain to young children just yet...so choose caution in reading it aloud.

Things have been absolutely nuts around here...I mean insane. I finally got down to Kentucky and established here in Berea to start my new life as a college student, and all the good stuff that comes with that pursuit.

Sadly though, there's a lot of garbage that comes with that role as well. There's temptation to sin all around from things that peers are doing, to my own twisted and sinful creativity. I truly need no help to sin...

But what really struck me this week is something that happened as I was going through the whole "registration" process that comes with move-in day here on campus. After unloading my stuff with the help of the AMAZING Berea student staff who made it all go so fast, I went down with my dad to activate my "CPO" or "Central Post Office" box.

I had a little trouble getting the stupid thing open, given the fact that I was home schooled and had no prior locker experience. But once I finally cracked the combination in the right order and I removed the mail inside, I was pleasantly surprised to find additional items inside...at least at first.

The items were relatively small and individually-wrapped, so naturally I assumed they were some kind of hard candy. I said just so to my dad as I removed them, but he very quickly corrected me.
"Um, Ben...those aren't candies...those are condoms."

I immediately turned red with embarrasment, which quickly turned to rage. The college had just given me a free licence to sleep around with my future classmates. After quickly desposing of the items I started talking to my dad about how wrong the whole concept was. We agreed that in essense they were saying, "Well, they're going to do it anyway, so we might as well make it safe", but when you think about it, aren't they really saying "hope you get lucky this week"? And even more t han that, aren't they saying "not only that...go be permiscuous...hope you get lucky twice!"

I was quick to explain that the logic behind that idea would be much the same as giving all incoming students an extensive list of pornographic sites "to avoid". In sinful man does such an action prevent trouble, or merely enable it?

What a tragedy that such a policy exists, but particularly so in a college that labels itself as "Christian".

Praise of the Saints

Just last week I had the distinct privilege of attending an evening worship service held at the RP Home (a nursing facility for members of my denomination) where my dad was scheduled to preach.

To start things off we arrived an hour too early. I hunkered down, pulled out my Bible and prepared to spend the upcoming hour preparing my heart for worship (a practice, which to my great shame, I was dreading at the time). But lo and behold, we were soon joined in fellowship by a few unexpected residents who noticed us sitting alone and came to see what we were doing.

Time flew from that point onward, which really shouldn't have surprised me given how wonderful and edifying my trip to the Home was last summer while I attended TFY. The fellowship was deep and the company very amiable. It was a joy to experience.

But as my dad started the service I noticed something even more amazing. It really seemed to catch my attention during the congregational prayer, as numerous voices gave verbal and genuine agreement to what was being lifted before the Lord by way of a hearty grunt of approval, or a warm "amen". What I discovered was that these people were actually enthusiastic about their prayer!

I had made the mistaken assumption that because they were elderly, they would somehow be a dull crowd, barely able to stay awake past their six o'clock bed times. But to my shock they were more alert and responsive than I was being!

But it didn't end there. When the psalms were sung, though they were off key a few times, the emotion driving them was far more sincere than I have heard in a very long time. The experience of lives spent in service to our Lord and Savior in the deepest devotion rang out through the words of the psalmist...and thus, through the Great Psalmist Himself. It was truly a sight and sound to behold.

What I have taken from that very brief experience is a conviction that my own generation needs to be far more vocal in our own praise...and far more sincere. Truly, we do not have the experience of full lives lived in an attempt to fulfill our chief end of glorifying God by His grace, but we do have the advantage of youth and can surely muster more praise and enthusiasm in our worship by making use of that energy and the zeal that it affords.

Once again, I am dumb-struck by the simple wonder of just how much we can learn from those who have lived before us. Praise be to the God who created our fathers, and our fathers' fathers to give us a godly example to follow throughout the years.

Surender

God used some things to really convict me the other day about my need to rely on Him more and more in all areas of my life. I have always had difficulty just blindly relying on His providence, and I realized how selfish that is.

In merely the past year, He has given me a full ride scholarship to a college that simply brims with opportunities for unique educational, extracurricular, and most importantly ministerial endeavors.

But in addition to that, he has blessed me with incredible friendships, some that were established long ago and have simply blossomed anew, and some that have just started but have already shown their worth, and other that never stopped, but have seemingly always been from years and years ago.

He has given me the safety of a roof over my head, safe food and water, and a safe place to worship...commodities that are oft taken for granted, but can be very difficult to attain in other countries.

And many, many, many other things that I have not time nor space to list.

It really struck me though as I considered all of that just how foolish I was to ever doubt His providence. So many times, I have counseled others to trust in His provision, while I myself tried to "take the necessary steps" to ensure my own happiness or well-being, lest God not do it "how I wanted it done". And in every single situation the outcome that He established, was always far better than anything I could have fabricated or wanted accomplished myself.

It is so true that hind-sight is always twenty-twenty.

So I will now, more than ever before, seek to retain the caution of Philippians 4:6-7:
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Particularly now, as I enter a stage of my life that is completely foreign and unknown, where many important parts of the course that the rest of my life will take will be established. So I ask you brothers and sisters, to please pray for me that I may learn to increasingly surrender my life to the One Who had all control to begin with and deserves all control to the end.

Harmony

After having some time to think this past weekend while down in the south once again, I was finally able to solidify my own opinion on a theological issue that has eluded me for years and years: the use of instruments in worship.

After worship yesterday at a church which made use of instruments during their service, I found myself wondering just why exactly I felt that their use was inappropriate. I knew from early childhood that the answer had something to do with Old Testament worship, much like the issue of exclusive psalmody did. So I started thinking about just what Old Testament worship was, and what it stood for.

If we look at Old Testament worship, from animal sacrifices through the use of incense and even the use of instruments we will observe that all of the worship practices of that day had one element in common. They all revolved around one's senses. But more importantly than that, they all caused one's senses to picture something that was to come...that is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. They were all pieces of an infinitely larger portrait.

They were all a foreshadow of Christ's coming. So once He came, the things that pointed to that event became obsolete. But what happened after Christ's coming was that Christianity as a whole, particularly the converted Jews, still wanted certain elements of the worship practice (things that had been implemented for centuries upon centuries of their history) to remain in use for the sake of tradition.

As we all learn early on in life, change comes hard to all of us...

The books of Hebrews and James were both written to those who wished the practices of the Old Covenant (the agreement concerning worship that God made with his people before the coming of Christ) to continue. In those books the people of God are told that to attempt to continue on with those practices was an insult to God, since Jesus already fulfilled them. Why wish for what was merely a symbol, when the very thing that it symbolized has been given to you in full?

Now, since the use of instruments in worship was a part of this Old Covenant practice, it falls among the same category of activities. Why wish to use what merely symbolized Christ, now that he has already come?

Thoughts? Additional arguments? Counter-arguments?