Hacking at the Root
Live from Salt Lake City, Utah, this is Heart of the Matter ESPRESSO! where we do all we can to worship God in Spirit and in Truth. I’m Shawn McCraney, your host.
Show 19 548 Hacking at the Root – Part XII May 2nd 2017 Prayer
Emails and Comments
I recently read a comment someone posted regarding my discussion with Bryce the Atheist. It was about the hypothetical I presented Bryce with about being stranded in a gang-infested area of LA at night and who would he rather mean – three Christians or three atheists. And Bryce insisted he would rather have atheists help him than true Christians. The commenter said something to the effect of, “Forget about three of this or three of that, just put Shawn and Bryce out there – who would you rather have help you?"
Her reasoning came down to this (and I paraphrase): “Shawn says that he has to fight against his inclination to punch people in the face but Bryce only talks about love and loving others – just looking at these two its easy to see who I would rather meet in a dark alley.” I thought I’d remark to this because it brings out some salient points about Christianity. I am admittedly NOT a good man by nature. I do have to die to my fleshly person every minute of everyday – and am successful in this because Christ lives in me. I cannot honestly claim ANY virtue relative to my flesh – all my virtues come from Christ in me. But Bryce claims self-virtue. Why, he has even convinced this writer that all he has is love, love, love for everyone in the world.
True Selfless Love
And in this, we discover the rub – for where I admit that in me lies no good things but Christ who drives me, Bryce portends to possessing his own virtues without ANY heavenly interventions. Now, let’s go out to that dark alley. I claim that Christ in me drives me to selflessness and self-sacrifice. Bryce is on autopilot. And let’s say while each of us are helping our respondent through the LA madness, we encounter a street gang. I choose to follow Jesus ways of selflessness and Bryce claims to follow His innate goodness. And the Crips or the bloods or the 18th Street gang confront each of us? Jesus tells me to love others first. Jesus, when He was confronted by the temple guards in Gethsemane asks if they will let His disciples go. Jesus went to the cross for all.
This role model is who I trust and honestly claim to follow. Since I am honest about my weakness in the flesh I ought to be honest about who I choose to follow. And if this is the case, I would do all I could to see my companion free – to the sacrifice of my own life. But all we have backing Bryce up is his claims to be magnanimous, and his claims to love, and his claims of being selfless so as to leave a legacy – though he will never know the difference. I trust there is an afterlife that will acknowledge my efforts to follow Jesus ways. Bryce says this is the only life there is, and there is nothing hereafter.
Forget about our personality types – just bet on where and what we actually believe – and you want to tell me that you would trust atheists of the world over the truest Christians. That is intellectually dishonest – or ignorant – you choose. I understand the frustration society has with zealous Christians who choke on gnats but swallow camels whole. But the very principles of the Christian faith – true selfless love, devotion to a King of sacrifice, and helping those in need stands miles above those who preach a Gospel of self – when the rubber meets the road. Again, I thank Adnan, for his insights into this perspective.
And with that, how about a moment, “FROM THE WORD?”
I have had the tendency to see myself as really magnanimous and benevolent when I commit acts that are simply expected of us. I feel good when I pay my taxes, or help a neighbor move a piano, or let someone in my lane in traffic. I tend to automatically think, “Gosh, am I good or what?” This is especially true when I do something a little beyond what is expected, you know, forgive someone quickly, turn the other cheek, whatever.
Duty and Sacrifice in the Eyes of God
Reading in Luke a few weeks back where Jesus said:
Luke 17:7 "And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? 8 "But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? 9 "Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'"
Reading this it sounds like when we die if we go to God and rehearse to Him all the good we have done in reality we have only done our duty or what was expected of us. What is duty – in the eyes of God – and what is a genuine sacrifice that will be recognized as such? It’s sort of tough to say. Some see MOST of what they say and do as a Christian as sacrificial while others may see the majority of their actions as merely doing what is expected of them. In Jesus words, He seems to be telling his apostles that even after they have done EVERYTHING they were commanded, that should still view themselves as “unprofitable servants,” BECAUSE they had only done what was merely their duty to do.
It’s quite fascinating and a very good thing to consider about our lives, because in the end, some of us may be thinking that God is really gonna be “wowed” over our magnanimous acts – like the time we “returned a bag full of money we found in the street to the bank,” or the time we “Didn’t bust a guy in the mouth who insulted us,” or when we gave some help to a brother in need” . . . ONLY TO FIND that God will say, “those were just doing things that were simply expected of you.” Jesus put it this way: “If you love those who love you, what reward do you have. Even the publicans so do.” His point? He says: “I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
Chomsky's Thoughts on Manipulation
Looking back a few weeks we left off finalizing Chomsky’s thoughts on how “the few” (in Government, Big Media and major Corporations) seek to manipulate “the many” as a means to keep them out of their hair and therefore controlled so they can achieve their selfish desires. We left off talking about how “the few” have worked very hard to supply us (the many) with untenable dreams through superior advertising, relentless moving goals and the constant need “to consume,” thereby keeping us so occupied with just “keeping up” that most people don’t have the time or inclination to confront the manipulations being heaped upon them.
We talked about how Chomsky said that they “manufactured our consent” by presenting us with a constant barrage of images and ideals aimed at changing our attitudes and behaviors toward what really matters in life – and that we bite hard on this bait. This makes us “conspicuous consumers” which amounts to us becoming spectators to life around us rather than participants in it.
The Culture of Conspicuous Consumption
So successful was this approach that society as a whole has fallen under their spell – to the point that most people under forty today don’t really even know what it means to “think for themselves,” or what it feels like to truly go against the grain (truly) of societal norms, or to live their lives free of the input of an overt demanding culture of consumerism and consumption. Truly, in our day, we the masses ARE the prey and the established culture created by the few IS the predator. Look around. The culture of conspicuous consumption is in full operation at almost every segment of society. At the one end, “the Seven Eleven end” – there is constant consumption. At the Walmarts, consumption, at the Sports Arenas, the fairs, the malls, everywhere we turn are “opportunities” “demands” pressures to consume – so as to fill that hole.
Societal Influences on Consumption
Behaviors create a constant demand to produce either cash or bigger credit lines. Moving up the socio-economic ladder, conspicuous consumption is demanded and illustrated in fashion and lifestyle magazines, puff-pieces on the rich and famous, and in almost every media depiction of how the bold and beautiful “live.” Be “this” . . . by and through buying or obtaining “that.” Fit in . . . by following what this hero or star does. Please yourself (and the watching world) by participating in the superfluous (and never the substantive).
So those are Chomsky’s views on society. Much of what he says has merit. Many of you have appreciated the study. But we’ve lost some of you too—perhaps it’s too painful to face the reality. I get it. But we have finally arrived at the point where we can apply all of these principles to the modern Christian faith.
The Role of Conspicuous Consumption in Faith
See, most of these VERY same principles apply. And I am going to go to the board and explain how the power and wealth and influence of the “institutional few have,” over the course of history, (and on into today) have been extremely successful in keeping the masses in the faith utterly neutralized by and through “conspicuous Christian consumerisms.” Now, these consumerisms are only in part material. We’ll talk about them. But many of them fall in the arena of being behavioral and attitudinal. But these things are still presented as “the Christian way” and people are still invited to “buy into them,” to consume them.
We are going to then spend the rest of the year—in between guests, etc.—explaining in detail how the imputation of each of these factors in the faith have created a body of “Christian lemmings” who have allowed themselves to be lulled into a state of religious slavery—while thinking themselves free. See, that’s the beauty and sinister nature of these tactics—they promise freedom and emancipation from the world, but they are in actuality only a religious reflection of all that is in the world.
Criticism of Institutional Religion
Please KNOW that the arguments I will present are NOT against flesh and blood—not against individuals trapped in the rhetoric and practice. Not even against the Pastors who promote the principles. We love the flesh and blood—all flesh and blood—no matter what system has trapped them—Mormon, Catholic, Protestant, Islam—whatever. These criticisms are aimed at the institutional thinking that have inserted themselves into the direct relationship all people can have with God WITHOUT their interference and demands playing a part. Additionally, this is not an indictment against ALL gatherings of believers in brick and mortar locations in order to learn more about God. It’s against religious INSTITUTIONS and their Demands and Rules of Religion. Try and keep these qualifiers in mind.
Interpretation of Apostolic Writings
I want to begin by asking you—YOU—a question: What did the Apostle Peter mean when he wrote to believers late in the Apostolic age: 1st Peter 4:7 “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” We have to admit the following in the face of his words IF—IF—we are to believe he knew what he was talking about. First, we have to believe that he was right—the end of all things was at hand. The suggestion that Peter was wrong destroys all trust in anything apostolic. So Peter was absolutely correct.
Next, we have to admit that Peter wrote this to a group of people then and in his life and age, that “the END of ALL THINGS IS—IS, IS . . . at hand. Then, we have to decide what Peter could have meant when he wrote “all things.” And to this we have to admit that he meant all things pertaining to a certain group, or way, or lifestyle, or society—because in order for Peter to be right he certainly could NOT have meant ALL things—or else nothing would remain, right?! Let’s pretend that back in the day that Peter was not an apostle of Jesus but was instead a primary leader of fruit pickers around the world. In Peter’s day all the fruit pickers applied their skill using ladders, baskets, knives, and gunnysack bags. When Peter says that “the end of all things is at hand” to the fruit pickers of the world he is telling them that everything that was present and related
The Evolution of Fruit Picking and Faith
To that specific group was about to come to a complete end, and an entirely new way to live and apply and understand fruit picking was to begin. Everything – the labor, the sweat, the ladders, the filled gunnysacks, the knives and clippers – all of it was going to end. Now, some literal minds might decide that the end of fruit and picking fruit was over too – due to this proclamation. I would say this is unreasonable, overzealous and not in line with history. No, only the things that were in place for that unified group of fruit pickers was about to end. In other words, fruit picking was going to continue – trees would still bear fruit that needed to be picked so that it could be enjoyed by people on earth – but it would all be done by machines in the future.
The Apostolic Era and Its Conclusion
Now, of course, we know that Peter was NOT the head of fruit pickers world-wide. He was an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and he wrote these instructions to those who were believers in THAT day and age – that day when Peter was an apostle over the Church. EVERYTHING related to being a believer then, to being in the body then, all things related to walking with apostles, to religion established with deacons, and bishops, and elders, and communal living, was coming to an end. That is a proper understanding – spoken by PETER to believers IN THAT DAY and AGE. Is believing over? Never. Is loving God and others in Jesus name over. No. Is sharing Him and learning of Him, and growing in Him over? No more that consuming fruit from trees is over simply because of the way they are harvested has changed!
Nevertheless, Peter the Apostle did write to believers in his day, “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” So what are all the things that ended? The Bible tells us. All material religious appeals. All playing church. All that was set up in the Old Testament, all that was in operation by the Apostles materially – all of it, Peter says, was about to end. Scripture puts it this way – “Anything that could be shaken was going to end and the only things that would remain would be things that could NOT ever be shaken again.” Scripture puts it this way, “All Laws would be written on human hearts.” “The faith would become fully Spirit led – as EVERYTHING else was going to end. Even Jerusalem was going up in flames. All things related to everything materially established in the Bible – over.
The Aftermath and Spiritual Continuation
But man did not want all of that to die. They wanted to reclaim the “all” Peter talked about and reinstitute it – though God Himself wiped it out. And so as Jesus was coming back to wrap up the material church men became creating and concocting religious institutions, external rules, denominations, creeds, mission statements, memberships, demands, and religious empires that ALL ALL ALL have corruption. The carnage that followed as a result of the former things being reinstituted is living proof that institutional religion has been a complete fail – without exception.
What should remain? All that is in operation by the Spirit. The individual right to pursue God through the Spirit without the input, approval or consternation of Men and their false religion. On our board I’ve created a table to help establish a visual of what I am talking about. Take it and its failures or successes for what they are worth.
BASIC IDEA
JESUS and the GOOD NEWS FOR THE MANY
Encouragement unity, freedom, and love
RELIGIOUS BONDAGE BY “THE FEW” upon “the Many”
Discouragement Bondage, Disunity His Victory Described as . . . THE RESULT INSTITUTIONS THE RESULT
The Good News “Come, buy without money free of price” “all the world” Gratitude Freedom Love and Joy Conform to us by joining us. Always Bad News, somehow, in the end.
He has all Authority
Christ is our direct Head by the Spirit. He is IN us.
Faith, trust, and growth in the Spirit “We have the Authority” “We represent Him on earth.” Pleasing Man, trusting Man and fearing man more than God.
- True Humility
“Become as Little Children” “Weak things of the World”
Humility and the Spirit Intellectualism Fleshly Wisdom Endless Debates Power Plays Politicking Arrogance Dogma Worldly Strategies
- Unburdening of Cares Come unto me and I will give you rest. Yoke is easy, His burden light
Joy Assignments and Demands of Man. Support our causes.
Burdens
- Live by the Spirit Laws written
Spiritual Freedom and Guidance
Manipulation their advantage
Legalism and Its Impact
All things lawful and legal Walk in the Spirit Freedom to be led internally by God through Faith “Legalisms” Law = Sin Hamster wheel. Measuring up.
Open free Financial lives Give Cheerfully and without compulsion The Spirit Leading Tithes and Offerings Law Burden Flesh
End of Materialism “Son of Man has no place to rest His head” and “he will shake everything until the only thing left will be unshakeable. “A Kingdom Not of this World” “It’s a Spiritual Kingdom.” “The Kingdom of God is within you.” Materialism Strategy Market Share Brick and Mortar Worship Concerts
Worldly vs. Spiritual Kingdom
A Worldly Kingdom that reassures itself that it is not of this world. • Emotionalism • Materialism • Consumerism • Participationism
Hell and afterlife punishment He has had the Victory End of all things Hope and Peace Hell and Lake of Fire FEAR
Eschatology End of all things All will happen within a Generation Bible all about that day and age materially. Reasonable Context provides freedom & rest Second Coming is eminent This end is still coming! Uncertainty, compulsion, fear
An open, spirit lead faith subjectively lived by each individual All “go alone” to God after this life. Mark 9 No man judges another Free by the Spirit Liberty in Christ Law written on hearts
Freedom to seek a DIRECT relationship with God in whatever ways we are lead. An Oppressive Objective Faith Ontology of God Baptisms Holy Spirit Authority Rites/Observances Lifestyles Bible Types Judging Dogma Denominationalism In-fighting “Us verses them” And in the end, those who have embraced all of the above become so ensconced in the system, so zealous, so committed to it, they have little time or inclination to question what the few are doing to them.
