Archive for May, 2010

ABC's Lost

I must first admit that I never watched Lost, other than, a few episodes. I never got into it, and, frankly, I was one of the naysayers who suggested that Lost is simply an amped-up version of  Gilligan’s Island. However, as the series Lost has concluded, and I have conducted a very, non-scientific poll to gauge the reaction to the last episode (i.e., series finale). It appears to be a 50-50 split–one side absolutely loved the finale and one side loathed it (which, frankly, the reaction makes me question Lost’s marketing team, but that’s for another day).

As stated, I never got into the series; partially because I had class on Tuesday nights for the past three years. But I spent countless Wednesdays hearing people talk about the episode from the night before. Another equally talked about show was 24, which I spent countless Tuesdays hearing people talk about how Jack died, then, didn’t, then found out that his lover who he once thought was dead is not, and then CTU blows up, and then Jack gets angry and stops terrorism in all forms and from all people groups–Arabic, Russian, East German, Gorbachev’s cronies, unpatriotic Americans, and even the patriotic ones.

Regardless, I thought about this today, What if Plato watched Lost? What if he spent all his mental energy trying to figure out what was going on in Lost? Would “The Cave” have ever been written? Or would it end with a strange conclusion like the images on the wall are simply shadows of another reality (oh wait…)?

OK. Better example…What if the apostle Paul watched Lost? Would “Romans” have been written? At least, we can agree that it would have been shorter and more ambiguous than it already appears to be. What if he watched 24? There would be less “Therefore’s” (i.e., what is it there for?) at the beginning of his thoughts and instead the chapters would begin with, Previously on the matter of justification… And “Philemon” would have been written differently because Paul would have told Philemon to accept Onesimus and to live by the rules of freedom in Christ by saying, “The rules are what make us better.” To which Philemon would have responded, “Not today.” And then, Onesimus would not have been accepted back. Ugly.

It appears to me that we spend a lot of our mental energy on TV. That scares me a little (or a lot). I am all for hobbies, entertainment, etc. But what would it be like if we took the same time we used watching TV and talking about it for better, more constructive things?

What do you think?

If you don’t know already, I am a huge soccer fan. The World Cup is approaching (beginning on June 11), and this commercial just makes me even more excited. I think it is the best commercial on television right now.

What’s your favorite commercial on television right now? Of all time?

¹ Let everyone be subject to Hitler, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against Hitler is rebelling against who God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of Hitler? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For Hitler is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. Hitler is God’s servant, agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to him, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

It seems strange to read Romans 13:1-7 like this, but this is exactly how the majority of churches in Nazi Germany

Adolf Hitler

applied it. Hitler is God’s servant. Therefore, we should not resist but submit ourselves to what he is doing. When Hitler came into power, Romans 13. When his Gestapo began to take your Jewish neighbors away, Romans 13. When his army invaded Poland, Romans 13. Hitler wisely embraced Romans 13 to give him unquestioned power by the majority of German Christians. Not many Christians spoke up because, let’s be frank, as long as you were on Hitler’s side you were on the winning side. Romans 13 gives Hitler a lot of lead-way to do as he pleases. I mean, Paul would tell the German Christians to be subject to the governing authorities, wouldn’t he? The pro-Nazi churches were just following Scripture, right?

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