MOVED BY THE SPECTACULAR
One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole world followed the beast with wonder. Rev. 13:3, R.S.V.
If you have found yourself subjected to prime-time television lately, you may have noticed a curious trend. It seems that virtually all of the thud and blunder thriller programs must have at least one high-speed car hurtling through the air, then crashing in explosive flames--all viewed in slow motion, of course. The producers apparently believe that the viewers simply won't tune them in again if their pulse doesn't race at least once during the show. Having been jaded through the years by lesser dramatic sequences, it takes much larger doses of the spectacular to move the modern viewer past a yawn.
A similar trend is happening in the world of religion. In recent years there has been an increasing number of paractionitioners of stunning Christianity. "Faith healings," flamboyant preachers, dramatic dreams, and various forms of the miraculous have drawn many adherents. In too many cases that which "wows" the senses has had far more impact than that which wins the reason. A God who does things decently and in order has been discredited by people who claim to be His followers.
John the revelator has foretold a time in the final throes of earth's history when Satan will stage a great false religious revival. Virtually the whole earth will be moved to worship an entity called the beast (Rev. 13:1-8). But the people are not moved by adoration of its fine qualities of character. Many will simply say, "Who can fight against it?" (verse 4, R.S.V.).
Rather than for me to name any current religious organization as "the beast," let the reader simply take note: Any organization that is so slender on truth that it must make its case by the help of political power, by constant appeal to the miraculous, and by intimidation of nonadherents is alien to the methods of Jesus Christ. But let the reader also take note that the decision will not be a simple one! It will be particularly trying, even overwhelming, for those who have allowed their mental faculties to become oriented to the spectacular rather than to the unadorned word of God.
Respecting the thoughtful dignity of His intelligent friends, Jesus longs for people to worship Him "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24), not in adrenalin and in amazement. After all, we don't worship a beast!
One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole world followed the beast with wonder. Rev. 13:3, R.S.V.
If you have found yourself subjected to prime-time television lately, you may have noticed a curious trend. It seems that virtually all of the thud and blunder thriller programs must have at least one high-speed car hurtling through the air, then crashing in explosive flames--all viewed in slow motion, of course. The producers apparently believe that the viewers simply won't tune them in again if their pulse doesn't race at least once during the show. Having been jaded through the years by lesser dramatic sequences, it takes much larger doses of the spectacular to move the modern viewer past a yawn.
A similar trend is happening in the world of religion. In recent years there has been an increasing number of paractionitioners of stunning Christianity. "Faith healings," flamboyant preachers, dramatic dreams, and various forms of the miraculous have drawn many adherents. In too many cases that which "wows" the senses has had far more impact than that which wins the reason. A God who does things decently and in order has been discredited by people who claim to be His followers.
John the revelator has foretold a time in the final throes of earth's history when Satan will stage a great false religious revival. Virtually the whole earth will be moved to worship an entity called the beast (Rev. 13:1-8). But the people are not moved by adoration of its fine qualities of character. Many will simply say, "Who can fight against it?" (verse 4, R.S.V.).
Rather than for me to name any current religious organization as "the beast," let the reader simply take note: Any organization that is so slender on truth that it must make its case by the help of political power, by constant appeal to the miraculous, and by intimidation of nonadherents is alien to the methods of Jesus Christ. But let the reader also take note that the decision will not be a simple one! It will be particularly trying, even overwhelming, for those who have allowed their mental faculties to become oriented to the spectacular rather than to the unadorned word of God.
Respecting the thoughtful dignity of His intelligent friends, Jesus longs for people to worship Him "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24), not in adrenalin and in amazement. After all, we don't worship a beast!
RSS Feed
