THOUGHTS
I have been perplexed the last few years, feeling like I have been reading a book with some of the chapters torn out . . . point A does not lead to Point B. It is disconcerting to arrive at a particular destination with no idea of the route we took. The culture seems to be moving on without a map, wildly racing down roads that have no destination in mind and many of us wonder why we are in a wilderness. I have been pondering this for several years, with no real explanation other than men are like sheep and sheep are stupid.
Last week while studying for a lesson in Galatians the Lord gave me at least a partial explanation for the cognitive dissonance which lures us to the wilderness. I got a little insight on how really smart people can be deceived by politicians and others who compartmentalize their religion, thus facilitating a laissez-faire attitude in their political decisions. I began to see how Christians are lured onto roads that lead them far from their original destination.
In his letter to the churches in Galatia, Paul is perplexed about how they could have left the truth of the grace of the gospel for bondage to the law. At one point, he proclaims, �You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?� The Greek word for �bewitched� means �Who has fascinated you to the point of distraction?� The discovery caused me to think about what is fascinating us to the point of distraction and leaving the main road; it turned out to be a partial answer to my state of perplexity about people�s reaction to cultural issues.
We are fascinated by everything; that fascination with the pop culture, sports, the latest fad, the newest, the most avant garde, and our self-seeking pursuit of anything and everything that pleases us has led us to distraction from the task at hand. Our nation sat mesmerized at the scene of a white Bronco racing down the highway, the story of Tanya Harding, the saga of Lorena Bobbitt, the telling and re-telling and spinning of every event under the sun, even the weather, until all becomes Vanity Fair . . . with the same meaninglessness. This is not a new phenomenon. The emperors of Rome used to distract the people from the ills of the empire by holding chariot races, gladiator contests, and other events. Our media and our lives replicate that diversion . . . every day. In our quest to avoid the truth, we keep shopping around for more information just like we run from store to store searching for that perfect outfit that is at the next shop. Ironically, as all women have experienced, often the perfect outfit was the first one we saw.
Important issues, candidacies, crucial decisions and vital actions are delayed, neutralized and made impotent by those who trivialize, tantalize and manipulate our thoughts. We contribute to that manipulation by being fascinated by what the stars think; by the latest prediction of self-proclaimed gurus of special knowledge; and by the editorializing pundits who mask their opinions in �news� articles. We can�t wait to see what the latest �expert� has to say on anything and everything; then we check our brains at the door and do what they say.
The Galatians were in danger of being in bondage to the Law because they listened to a distorted gospel of grace + the Law = Salvation; we are in danger of being in bondage to trivial pursuits that blind us to the real issues that are eating away at the fiber of our country like a rat gnawing into a bag of grain that is meant to feed and nourish starving people.
The Old Testament prophets lamented that the people perish for lack of knowledge; modern man and western civilization is in danger of perishing from the fascination of too much knowledge of trivial things. Paul reminds the Galatians about what they already have, that it is sufficient, and to take hold of the basics in the practical areas of their lives. Information can increase as the Bible says it will in Daniel, but the truth remains the same; we cannot add to it or subtract from it. We must seek the truth while it still may be found: not allow ourselves to be tossed by every wave of new information. We must seek information that persuades us with fact; not what appeals to our vanity or self-interest. We must be sober, alert steadfast to the truth; not tossed to and fro by those who will benefit from deception. Determine today to take hold of that which you know to be true and stand firm.
In Him,
Judy Smith
State Director