Are we designed to seek “spectacles” – feats of greatness, grandeur, splendor, and glory? I just finished a book called Competing Spectacles by Tony Reinke and I must say that I recommend it…with a caveat. Get ready to feel some discomfort if you read it. The basis of the book is that secular media (T.V., Social Media, YouTube, politics, etc.) is starting to take the place of God for many of us in America.
In this book the author talks about something that I have mentioned on this blog quite a few times, the fact that we are designed to worship. We are designed to bow to something greater than us (God made us this way) and if we do not worship God we will find something, anything to worship to fill that void. This is one of the primary causes of idolatry (which doesn’t necessarily have to be graven images). Paul tells us what kind of things we should concentrate on in the Book of Philippians:
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Php 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
All media is not inherently bad, but we should take Biblical principles into consideration every time we consume one of these “media spectacles”. Many of these spectacles do not conform to the above verses (and many other verses in the Bible). This means it needs to be looked at carefully:
Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
When we see this content we should try and see behind the curtain. We should think a bit about who is pulling the strings and be open to the (very likely) possibility that they have motives for producing the content they do. What are they trying to get us to believe? What are they trying to get us to do? How are they trying to get us to behave?
Now it must be known that the author of the book Conflicting Spectacles is not a member of the Lord’s church. It also should be known that I’m not recommending any doctrinal matters the book might promote, but honestly I don’t think the book mentioned doctrine anyway. What I do recommend is the basic premise of the book, which I feel hits the nail right on the head when it comes to the current social & cultural situation in America.
The Basics of the Book
The core of it is this: we are designed (by God) to worship the ultimate spectacle, Jesus Christ, but when we fall away from Jesus we end up with a “God shaped hole” in our lives. What many in America turn to to fill this hole is secular media. So that might be movies with amazing special effects, YouTube binges, fiery politics, hilarious sit coms, novels, you name it. Even scarier is the fact that the media is getting better and better at “hooking us” with these false and misleading spectacles.
Again I will repeat, this does not mean that partaking in Social Media, T.V., books, and other forms of media is a sin. What it means is that we should actively think about what we are consuming and whether it fits into a Christian life.
One final thing that I’d like to mention is the amount of time we spend consuming secular media. We should be careful to avoid spending too much time on the things of the world at the expense of the things commanded us in the Bible. Studying the Bible, listening to Biblical programs, and doing things that enhance your life (outdoor work, hobbies, learning, etc.) is more valuable than listening to the agendas of the world. The agenda of the Bible is truth and it’s news is neither fake nor untrue – God and scripture should be our number 1 priority:
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Let us search the scriptures daily to see if the things we are partaking in are healthy for our soul. After all, the Word of God has the final say in all matters temporal or eternal. Here is a rather long section of scripture that I think is pertinent to this week’s topic:
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Eph 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
So, if you are brave enough (I’ll warn you, it is almost sure to cut you to the heart as it did with me) you might consider looking up this book. I think it is around twelve dollars on Amazon (I’m not going to link to it from here). Regardless, the core message is one that I’m sure we can all agree on, most of us need to reevaluate our consumption of secular “spectacles” and focus on the ultimate spectacle; Jesus Christ’s death and glorious resurrection. Then, and only then will we be truly fulfilled and gratified.
