Apples of Gold

I resisted watching The Hunger Games when the movies first came out. I didn’t like the premise. Part of my resistance was the concern that our culture was shifting in ways that could actually make the reprehensible system plausible in our own society. The mind-numbed and repressed masses participate in something they hate because they do not realize the power they actually have if they would all work together. My kids eventually got me to watch the movies with them. The outlandish attire, over-indulgent culture, and hypnotizing lure of the games was quite unsettling at the realization of how close our culture was to actually crossing into this type of environment. 

This reality was exemplified during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. I am grateful that I wasn’t watching, the still shots are disturbing enough for me. They actually look as though they could have been lifted out of a scene from The Hunger Games. There is some debate over whether or not it was supposed to depict the Last Supper. I’m not sure if that really matters. The world was given a birds-eye view of the depravity that is normally carried out behind closed doors. The question is what do we do now? 

With an array of cultural issues the stance of the body of Christ in recent years has been silence-or the other extreme-judgmental anger. I think both of these responses are short-sighted and probably not even biblical. 

Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. Ephesians 5:6-12

Paul exhorts the body of Christ to not only remove themselves from this kind of behavior, but to expose it. Sweeping it under the rug, pretending it didn’t happen or doesn’t really matter does not seem to be the biblical option here. But don’t rush out with your pitchfork and torch calling down fire on the godless heathen. 

We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. 1 John 5 18-21

The display of immorality was deeply concerning, but to those who have been paying attention to the course of culture it was not surprising. The church seems to gasp in shock when the lost act like they are lost. Maybe we need a reminder:

But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 1 Corinthians 2:14

What if we decided not to ignore the issue AND not to condemn the participants? What if we chose to see the desperate condition of their souls? What if we were more upset that they were on their way to Hell than we were that they were behaving like they were headed there? Instead of condemnation we can compel them to step into the light. Not everyone will respond-many will not-but for those who will listen and receive the truth rescue awaits. 

The multitudes have been transfixed and brainwashed by the enemy. In Jungle Book, Mogli finds himself trapped in the vines being slowly lulled to sleep by the snake, Kaa, as he sings: “Trust in me”. His eyes begin to get heavy as he relaxes with no concept of just how close danger lurks. 

We might see more people turning to God if we spent more time fighting for the lost rather than fighting with them. 

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. Matthew 9:35-38