#8 Digital-Age Slaves

  "When I look at culture, I see we have so many gifts given to us that allow us to be lazy. I've heard it said that any culture that makes ease its goal has already begun its demise—I can't think of any nation where this would be more relevant than my own. The United States has become the culture of comfort—growth, strength and beauty are not things that come from comfort. They are refined qualities that are brought to the surface often by pain or trial. … All of us, myself included, have a tendency to be caught up in hype. But the Gospel is about being humble to the point where you're willing to pick up your cross and daily pursue a communion with this gracious God who loves the world." 

—Jon Foreman

It is no surprise to me that Jon Foreman is about to become the spokesperson for the concept which I named my blog after and have been kicking around for a while now.  Foreman is the closest thing to a theologian/sociologist that surfing has ever produced, and I have always appreciated his raw, genuine approach to understanding the gospel in a culture saturated with false ideas.  It is without further adieu that I will try to explain my thoughts about what it means to be a digital-age slave which I put in italics for dramatic purposes only.

Foreman could not have stated my ideas any better.  Are we not a nation built from our early years on the ideals of the pursuit of happiness?  This is the concept in a nutshell.  From the Enlightenment, thinkers like Montesquieu and Locke were causing a scene by radically challenging the ways in which ordinary folks looked at the world.  Our country is psychologically rooted in the radical language of liberty and equality (at least for white wealthy men).  It was Locke, after all, who first claimed all men had a right to "life, liberty, and property."  Our American founders, however, made a radical change of their own by altering that language to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."  This rhetoric is littered throughout American history and continues into today-- the ideology of freedom shows up in our movies, our literature, and our actions, as it has permeated the very soul of the American conscience.  Unsurprisingly, this pursuit of happiness had a scathing affair with an eternal villain known through many disguises of wealth, status, success, beauty, strength, and opportunity.   In this way, the pursuit of happiness gave birth to comfort: a generation of disgruntled children I fondly refer to as digital-age slaves. 

I am fully convinced that comfort is the most significant challenge my generation faces not only to general satisfaction in life but more importantly to spiritual growth.  We are incredibly swayed by the seductive call of comfort.  We idolize it as a facet of our Enlightened American identity, tantalized so powerfully that we begin to believe it is an unalienable right.  Don't I have the right to comfort?!  I am entitled to an easy life of pursuing my own happiness my own way!  I am entitled to the pursuit of my own dreams, to following my heart!  Don't I deserve it?

Do you see how it works?  We are slaves to the digital-age, too lazy to think deeply, too apathetic to change.  We are content with our Hollywood, our video games, our Facebook, our text messaging, our blogs...  Our digital-age Christianity allows us to download any book or sermon or verse or worship song by any means in any place in thousands of deceitful pixels.  But we are still unsatisfied when after the 5000th sermon on podcast, the result is the same: we are no closer to Jesus.  Our screens have not brought Him to our communities in a video message.  Because sitting in our beds tearing through the pages of the latest Christian best-seller or raising our hands as the band pounds out another huge bridge with triumphant melodies and flawless musicianship, we have sacrificed nothing!  It has costed us nothing!  We wait and wait and talk and talk, and we expect everything to land in our laps like comfort does in our American mind.

Spiritual growth doesn't come easy.  In fact, it is the opposite-- it costs everything!  Don't get me wrong: there is absolutely nothing we can possibly do to earn Jesus.  His unwarranted grace is beyond anything even remotely comprehensible by the feeble human understanding--  He has chosen to issue us free, free sweet grace.  Salvation!  He has saved us despite the fact that we are owed death and Hell forever for the wickedness that we do.  He has also given us life and the opportunity for a fulfilling, meaningful one at that.  But unlike everything we have been taught by our American ideology, we are not entitled to it.  God owes us nothing, yet he chooses to give us everything.

That leads us to the challenge.  Are we ready to lay down our lives for the gospel?  Are we ready to deny comfort and pursue God's endlessly satisfying call for our lives?  Brothers and sisters, we are missing out not only on life's fulfilling moments, but also God's most splendid mysteries.  Being a disciple of Jesus costs our entire lives-- look at his own followers.  They forfeited any opportunities for material prosperity or security, and instead relied on a humble carpenter from Nazareth.  Oh, how many times have I chosen the more comfortable, safer, easier option when in truth, I will find God dancing in the difficult ones, begging me to follow Him as He reveals to me the wildly untamed and relentlessly beautiful things He has in store.

Jesus says some truly radical things to his followers in Luke 9:
Verse 58- "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his lead."
Verse 60- "Leave the dead to bury their own dead.  But as for you, go, proclaim the kingdom of God."
It costs everything… it costs your status, it costs your wealth, it costs your comfort, it costs safety, it costs your family, it costs your own ambitions…  But it is worth it to give your life to Christ.
Matthew 10:38- "And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

We are owed nothing Christians, but we are given everything.  And we must give our lives away in order to grow with Jesus.  I pray that our generation continues to resist the tendency to be lazy, safe, and comfortable, but more importantly I pray that we continually to allow God to reshape us into something he can use to bring about his wild plan for redemption.  I think we are digital-age slaves, but I know that God is offering us freedom.  Let's go do it.  Let's work hard in life and pray for God to give us difficult things to do for his kingdom.  It is a scary prayer.  It is uncomfortable and unsafe…  But as for me, I will not be a made a slave to comfort.  

Ending Reflections: I'm probably rambling again.  Maybe you don't struggle with idolizing comfort like I do, but I have a feeling that at least a few American Christians have been struggling in their faith because, like me, they have been told their whole lives that they are entitled to what they have.  My real struggle is not a desire to hold on to my material wealth, but rather a fear of losing the securities that I believe I am entitled to.  If you are like me, you are afraid that God's plan may include pain, loss, humility, meekness, no glory, no recognition...  But it probably will do all of those things at some point.  And it is good.  It is wild and unsafe and uncomfortable, but also hopeful, peaceful, and satisfying to serve the Lord.  And if you are like me, satisfaction, peace, and hope are the root of your desires anyway.  Make sense?  Probably not... Ok good.  Just keep fighting.  And give your life away.  And if you have the time, pray for me too.  This is probably the biggest hindrance I have to following Jesus fully. 


~dk~

#7 Pet Peeves in Epic Movies

 
My history teacher raised a valid point today in class.  Well, he raises many good points every day, but this one was especially relative to the wide world of Hollywood today.  When asked about Hollywood's portrayal of the crusades in Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven, my professor sighed and shared a few ideas about the problems he had with the film.  He then sarcastically remarked that the most accurate crusade-era film is Disney's hippie-influenced cartoon Robin Hood.  Lastly he followed that up by sharing a pet peeve of his with all epic and historical movies in general: nearly every one of them has a sex scene (or implied one) the night before a turning point or huge battle.  What the heck, right?  I totally understand his frustrations on a historical level and personal level.  For one thing, these historical figures are probably not as sexually active as Hollywood desires them to have been.  Romance, particularly in the Middle Ages and before, is hardly Hollywood worthy.  Marriage, after all, was generally arranged for money and status purposes more likely than love.  And as seen in Kingdom of Heaven, Troy, 300 countless other recently-produced epics, these guys are probably not having rampant sex before some of the most critical moments in their lives.  Women are far away from all things related to battle in the these time periods.  

It got me thinking about historical film in general.  Now that I have studied some history stuff and interacted with professors who have to constantly debunk Hollywood-born myths about history, I find myself irritated at the Hollywood drama stuff which often clouds the way I understand historical events.  I mean, just the other day, I watched Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (a really disturbing movie for one thing), which ends with our man character Mayan guy seeing Spanish ships landing in the new world.  No, Mel...  You have it wrong.  You could have done the entire movie and based it upon the Aztecs and been OK...  but you just chose to go ahead with it.  Shame on you!  And your movie-maker friends too.  Seriously, Ridley Scott... you end Gladiator by indicating Rome is about to become a republic again in A.D. 180.  I say, do your homework.  I realize that you have to heavily dramatize the events to sell movie tickets-- that's acceptable.  But do a little research first and at least get the big picture stuff right.  And keep the sex out.  That leaves an obvious late 21st century handprint on any movie you make.

#6 Educating

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904265504576568351324914730.html

Interesting article on the need for history education.  I am a history major, so this gives me hope that I won't grow up and be jobless living in my parents' metaphorical basement.

#5 "Asante Sana Squash Banana"

"Asante sana squash banana"

That is one freaky looking monkey.  For some wild and seemingly senseless reason, I have been thinking a lot about the Lion King lately.  In my literature class we were drawing comparisons between the Lion King and the famous play from which it was "stolen": Hamlet.  However, to me there is still just way too much biblical comparison going on here.  Today, I have been thinking a ton about this friggin' monkey.  He is so insane, really.  He seems senseless.  He is wild.  But like that Christ-like lion before him (woot woot C.S. Lewis), he is good. 

To me, Rafiki is like the Holy Spirit (or God...  they can duke it out later).  Usually I feel like He whispers little things into my ears.  Maybe sometimes he is yelling like Rafiki, "Asante sana squash banana!"  Foreign jibberish, right?  Craziness right?  But always for good.  Whether it is the whispering or the yelling, He is often calling me to do something way out of my comfort zone.  That's what I'm learning these days: for my life to tell a better story, I have to be willing to listen to old Rafiki asking me, "Whooooo are you?" and yelling, "Asante sana squash banana!"  Then, I need to be willing to do it-- even when it is wildly uncomfortable, as is often the case.  But I think it is time for me to stop metaphorically shrugging off "Rafiki;" it's time to live a kinda wild story of deciphering God's whisperings and embracing those uncomfortable calls that fit into God's insane plan for the world's redemption. 

I just really dig how Jesus is so counter-cultural and counter-nature.  Seriously, he is the original indie rockstar.  He says "Blessed are the meek."  He says "Give.  Be a servant."  Our culture and our nature says "Take.  Take.  Blessed are the beautiful, the smart, the talented, the rich, etc."  And his message is perfect love.  I mean, He has called us to do some really ridiculous, nonsensical, counter-cultural, counter-human nature things.  I have witnessed numerous people around me listen to "Rafiki," and God has done amazing things through them.  This, of course, is not to say that all will turn to green, healthy pride rock right away-- it is hard to follow Jesus.  If you don't believe that, take a look at Jess best friends on earth.  But it is my turn to give...  And not just to look good...  but honestly at the moment because I would really love to know what "Asante sana squash banana" really means.

Personally, I would also really love a Timon or a Pumba out here in San Diego.  But that's another story...

ps- "Asante sana squash banana" means "thank you squash banana."  It still fits the metaphor, though, because what the heck does that mean?...  ;-)

Enjoy...

#4 A Couple Weeks Ago

The power went out a couple weeks ago.  It was the last decent conversation I've had.

#3 Dancing

Dancing is one of the most embarrassing things a tall person can do.

(Pause for dramatic effect)

You can be the most musical person in the entire world but if you are tall and lanky, you are screwed.  That is the situation which I am faced with every time that I am at a wedding, our school's swing dancing nights,  or in the rarest of rare occasions, a club.  I mean, I'm 6'2''...  I think it makes a lot of sense anatomically because it probably takes an extra split second to send the signal for "two hops this time" from my brain to my feet.  In that extra split second, I fall a bit behind and cannot get myself to complete the next step in time.  So while Mr. Shortstack is busy impressing people with his dirty fedora and ruffled shirt, I am off to the side watching his brain send the same neuro-messages that I am desperately trying to send...  only his take far less time to reach his feet.  (But good luck reaching your hat when I put it on the top shelf of your cupboard...)

So that being said, I have some advice for my height inclined brethren.  Avoid dancing like the plague- all it is doing is embarrassing us as a population and making our dates uncomfortable.  So let us stick with what we do best.  You know... playing basketball, dating models, becoming presidents...  etc.  ;-)

#2 These are My Great Great Grandparents

There is just something really cool about old photos.  Sigh...

#1. Daily Dose of Random Stuff

I learned the following things today.

1. Women shoplift four times more than men.
2. Beards and broad shoulders are secondary sex characteristics in human males.
3. The U.S. government spends between four and five dollars on elderly folks for every dollar it spends on children.

Food for thought, I suppose.  As for the women bandits, I was surprised by this until I recalled the high-school memories of my sisters sneaking into my room seemingly every morning while I was still in bed and swiping my coolest t-shirts before I "woke up."  Thus, women = thieves.

As for the beards and broad shoulders, I would love to have a little more in that department.  Particularly beards.  A regular old stringy beard is fine...  maybe even good if you shave it just right.  But a thick beard is like In-n-Out's neapolitan shake...  a delicacy.  For those of you who haven't tried the neapolitan shake, you really haven't lived quite yet.

The whole spending thing is way more complicated, so I will leave it to the experts.  But I will say that it doesn't make me feel all that good, since I much more resemble a spry youth than a wise elder.  Does that mean that I am not worth as much?  I guess I wouldn't be that offended if that were the case.  After all, those elderly folks have been paying taxes and fighting wars and working hard for decades before my parents even were alive.  They planned on having Social Security, Medicare, and other entitlement programs, so I would imagine that's why they are getting at least four dollars for every dollar I get for diminishing education and what not (side note- it would sure be great to have a woodshop class or even an art or music class in public schools these days).  All I would ask is that we just not have to pay towards this system which we can no longer afford.  I love my grandparents and my older fellow American citizens and I mean no offense in saying this, but I naturally don't want to pay for your stuff.  Seriously, just tell me that I am not getting a piece of this entitlement pie, and I will be much happier.  Who knows?  Our grandparents fought in wars.  Maybe our war to fight is not against Nazis or communists but against the heavy burden of debt?  While it may be difficult, the naive child inside of me would help pay for the health of our retirees, if only it meant change to the system was coming and my voice would be heard.

I would venture to say that we (the royal we, who in this case represent children and high school students) get one dollar compared to the four dollars of a retiree for another reason, too.  We cannot vote.  Yes I can because I am 19, but in high school, I could not.  Furthermore, we cannot make aggressive campaign contributions like our older folks can.  Our American democracy has become very effective in catering to every single interest group with even the slightest desire to obtain something.  But we are the interest group that has no voice.  Students.  And now we sit in high school English classrooms with 49 of our closest friends.  So don't ask us to compete with Swedish or Japanese students until the adequate priorities are in place.  That's my soap box.  That's some classic college student frustration.  Poop.  I didn't mean to go on that long.  Thanks for listening.

~dk~