WARNING: This is a no-edit zone…
WARNING: This is a no-edit zone…
In the last years, we’ve seen God under attack in the U.S. and we’ve seen the decline that has come with it in ethical standards, morals, and social mores. We have grown so accustomed to it that we too often expect corruption and greed and rudeness and a pervasive sense of entitlement where we once expected respect, honor, dignity and grace.
Some blame an inflated sense of, well, sensibilities that’s often couched in terms like “politically correct.” Some blame apathy. Some blame a decline in the family unit. For the first time, we are a nation of more single parent families than married couple families.
There’s probably truth in all of it. But there’s more. The few mockers have grown to many because mocking God has become a fevered ambition pursued with passion. Doubt it? When a political candidate can make a negative remark about God and be ignored, it’s proof. Remember that this is happening here, in a country where a short time ago a candidate not believing in God was unthinkable and one being Catholic (Kennedy) created serious flack. That says a lot about where we’ve gone on this.
Attacks have come from many sides. And a very recent one uses the guise of humor. Make a movie, make it “funny,” and as its central point, mock God.
That’s part and parcel of freedom of choice and freedom of religion.
Believers find it offensive but feel helpless to do anything about it. And yet there is something that can be done and it is effective. When you view a movie, you support it. When you don’t, it doesn’t generate revenue. Let’s face it, moviemakers like other businesses, are in the business to generate income. No money, no movies.
We underestimate our purchasing power and the ability that we have to express our opinions in what we do and do not support. We too have personal choices, and while I would never presume to make a choice for anyone other than myself, I will share that I will not contribute a penny to anything (not just movies, but anything) that I believe mocks God.
It’s a personal policy. A matter of principle. You want to mock, that’s your choice. Contributing to your support while you do it, that’s my choice, and I choose not to do it.
I’m worried about us. Truly worried. It’s as if we’re asleep at the wheel and taking for granted that we’ll always be free and able to make choices. But those things aren’t rights they’re privileges earned by those who came before us. They are treasures, the legacies they’ve passed on to us, and frankly, we’re neglecting to nurture and care for them. When that happens, as we’ve seen throughout history, they fade and falter and disappear. If that happens, what legacy do we pass on to our children? To our grandchildren?
The danger is real and evident, but we are not without hope. Embracing our beliefs and expressing our intolerance through clear, direct and non-violent means that are impossible to “spin” no matter how valiant an effort is attempted, we can crawl out of this downward spiral and alter our paths.
If you make a CD on infanticide or a movie mocking God or write a book encouraging youths to kill their parents, that’s your choice. Not buying any of them, and not supporting you in your efforts is my choice.
So I guess what’s on my mind this morning is what is your choice? Are you weary of seeing God mocked?
If you haven’t paused in a while, please do and think about it….
Blessings,
Vicki
c2008, Vicki Hinze
