The Small Screen

 "For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness..."

                                                                           ~The Apostle Paul, 55 AD

Last week my denomination concluded it's Annual Meeting in Baltimore, MD.
The Southern Baptist Convention is routinely criticized and hammered by the media; many times, unjustly.
There are many fine men and women who are a part of, and believe in, the ministry and mission of the Southern Baptist Convention; of which, I am one. 

Being a student of history, I realized that it took the SBC 150 years to apologize for its support and role in the horrible institution of slavery in the United States.
As I read reports online and watched Baptist Press present the election results, I silently wondered what the church will apologize for 150 years from now, after I am long in the grave.

If I was to apologize for something that seemingly defines the Church in this day and age, it would have to be our complacency. 
Somehow, the command of Christ to 'go ye to all the world' has become, 'Why don't ya'll come to church...'

Unwittingly, we have bought into the the Big Screen message of the world and have stopped being the Body of Christ in the world, teaching the redeeming message which contradicts the values of society.

I recently read a story from 2004 which demonstrates exactly how the Church should act in the world.
The 2004 election in the Ukraine was a mess; if you can remember the election of 2000 in the United States, just know that we don't have the market cornered on 'unusual election practices.'

In that election a man named Viktor Yushchenko challenged the party in power.
When the election was called, the State Run television (there's little freedom of the press overseas) had an anchor that spouted the party line:
                               "Ladies and gentlemen, we announce that the challenger, 
                                Viktor Yushchenko has been decisively defeated."

Sounds good...too bad it wasn't true.

Yet, this fact would have gone unknown to the world except for the fact that there was one person whom the Party did not take into account.

Viktor Yushchenko

In the bottom corner of the television screen was a deaf translator who told the world, beginning with the watchers who were deaf tuning in, that what the anchor was saying on State Run television was an absolute lie.

Anyone who could see and understand the small screen learned the truth.

This act of patriotism and honor began what is now called the Orange Revolution.
Soon there was a new election and Viktor Yushchenko won decisively.

If you have missed the analogy: The world is the Big Screen; the church ought to be that Small Screen announcing the truth to the rest of the world with honor and courage.

According to the world, it is the beautiful, those with money, the powerful; it is these who are important and worthy.
That  is the Big Screen picture, but the truth is that most people in the world aren't like that even though we are told repeatedly throughout our lives we are supposed to be like that image.

When Jesus enter the world seen, He told everyone not to believe that Big Screen picture.
Some believed and discovered the truth; many didn't and still don't today.

The Big Screen message to us today: Indulge. Consume. Enjoy. No Worries.

The problem is that this idea is exactly like Communism; it sounds good but it just doesn't work out.

Nearly all of our health problems in the United States stem from our own over-indulgence.
Smoking - It can lead to COPD, Cancer and a host of other problems.
Obesity - It comes from over eating; which can also lead to Diabetes.
Alcohol - This one will make you do stupid things that hurt yourself and eventually kill your liver.
Sex - Seriously,  if so-called 'safe sex' worked there would be a reduction of teen pregnancies, absentee fathers, and diseases.
But the truth is that STDs are rampant even in retirement homes today; but on a very adult level I must tell you that sex is not suppose to be dangerous. 

Quite truthfully, we are destroying ourselves with that which we believe will make us happier.

One question: Shouldn't we be paying more attention to the people on the Small Screen instead of being overshadowed by the lie on the Big Screen?

It is we who are Christians who are to announce Kingdom values to a decadent society. 
WE are the people who are to lead our culture and teach others that we can refuse to believe the lie that is propagated.
For we are not Masters of one another but servants of a God of Love, who is always reaching out to those who seek Him in truth.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.