Century of the Self, Part 4

I would say that this series has done a good job of pointing out the problems with our modern mass market society. But the solution it offers is totalitarian in nature—salvation by politics. There is a yearning for completeness that the producers think can be provided through society. It can't. 

Last week I wrote about a Jesus-shaped whole in us that needs to be filled, and fill it we will with sex, drugs—even with Rock ‘n’ Roll. The producers of this series, as people of the left, might try to fill it with society. There is an element of society in our individual Jesus-shaped holes. The assembling together of believers is a good thing. But it has a downside.

We risk confusing the shape of the Jesus-sized hole and trying to make it a church-sized hole. 

 The corporations want you. Government wants you. Society wants you. Even the church wants you. And God wants you too. But what he wants from you is different from what society wants. Jesus said this at the end of the parable of the unjust servant in Luke 16 (from The Message paraphrase version): 

 No worker can serve two bosses: 

      He'll either hate the first and love the second 

   Or adore the first and despise the second. 

      You can't serve both God and the Bank.

 ^14-18When the Pharisees, a money-obsessed bunch, heard him say these things, they rolled their eyes, dismissing him as hopelessly out of touch. So Jesus spoke to them: "You are masters at making yourselves look good in front of others, but God knows what's behind the appearance. 

    What society sees and calls monumental, 

      God sees through and calls monstrous.

While the point of this is that you cannot serve money and God, what are corporations, governments, society, and yes, most churches, really after? You know the answer. 

You cannot serve Babylon the Great and God. You must choose. Maybe the toughest part of leaving Babylon for a Christain is to understand that most churches are a part of the system we must leave. They too use these techniques in order to make you a slave. I quoted the Phillips translation last time saying, “Do not let this world squeeze you into its mold.” Do not let your church do this either. 

I hope this series has helped you understand the process by which Babylon wants to choose for you. I hope you choose wisely. Choosing to choose, and not drifting with the crowd—what a concept! 

If you want to catch up on the series here are some links to the videos I embed here in the blog.

Part I 

Part II

Part III

and here is part 4.