The Question of Play

 

The problem is not that children like to play. This is what they are supposed to do. Play and games creates an environment where children learn hard work, teamwork, and sacrifice. The problem is that this love of play has moved into adulthood. The normalization and prevalence of it on social media has made play seem like “this is what life is supposed to be like”.

If you aren’t beautiful, laughing, and having fun, then you must be a failure. This has been a slow decline into immaturity. We need to learn how to be adults.

The Problem of Perspective

 

So many of our problems come from our shortsightedness. We only look at the moment and forget about the omnipotence of God, the love of God, and the big picture. 

We forget about resilience, and the short-term impact of emotion. We need to learn to step back, acknowledge the temporary nature of the current situation, and remember that every situation changes, either by our efforts or by the flow of everything around us.

Spirituality as an Objective Goal?

 

I am currently reading a collection of essays/lectures on suffering, pain and resilience written by those in the psychology field. One of the papers is exploring the idea that American culture has turned spirituality into a marketable field. The idea is that appealing to one's spiritual needs is really no different than appealing to one's physical needs/wants.

While that may be how religion is commonly viewed in our culture, but this is not how Christianity is. The Christian faith is about one's relationship with God. It's not about feelings, or about things to do to avoid going to hell nor is it about appealing to God as a Santa Claus to get what one wants.

The final goal of spirituality is not an object to be gained but about loving and being loved by the one God in three persons. This is similar to thinking that marriage is for financial reasons rather than love and relationship. 

https://www.amazon.com/Suffering-Resilience-Orthodox-Christian-Perspectives/dp/1936773481

The Problem of Authority

 

The problem of authority. Rebellion is always about pushing back against authority. But it is likely the case that the way that the West has established and enforced authority has been wrong. Proper authority is not about control but about preparation. Authority is in place to prepare the immature for making decisions for themselves when they become mature. Sometimes errors should be allowed with the subsequent negative consequences, not from punishment but from natural results.

Idols for Lost Souls

 

In the past, the world was immersed in idolatry, in many different forms. Some were so crass as to make statues of wood and stone, images of their perceived gods. Others used already made objects such as silver, gold, or sex as items to exalt as the center of their lives.

God addressed this in the Mosaic law, when he told the people of Israel to not make any image that was meant to be a representation of him. Because he is the uncreated Creator, there is nothing in creation that accurately represents him. This was the law for mankind until the incarnation. With the appearance of the Godman, God himself fulfilled the perfect representation of himself, Jesus Christ.

Because Jesus is fully God and fully man, man is now the image of God, as he progresses in his theosis. With the fulfillment and subsequent fading away of the Old Covenant, the New Covenant has taken its place with no prohibition of images. Since the first century, the Church has used and understood icons not as art, but as theology in picture. Those recognized as saints by believers are seen in icons as alive, as perfected, and acting as intercessors for those still in physical form.

But still, there are those who build statues of wood and stone, as representatives of their gods and there are still those who idolize gold, silver, and sex as the center and goal of their lives. These are idols for lost souls. Whatever the object may be, even ideas or concepts, it is still idolatry. Man was made in the image and likeness of God his creator. It is with the incarnation that this path is now open. Man is called to God-like with Jesus Christ as his model.

We worship God alone and are called to take dominion over the rest of creation, loving all men as made in the image of God and understanding that death is no longer to be feared, for with our physical death we move from this world into eternity, but only for a time, awaiting the final resurrection and final judgment. Death has no power over us, and we are surrounded by billions of faithful believers, both physically alive and alive in eternity. There is one Church, there is one God, and there is one command, to love, both God and one’s neighbor.

The Environment, Our Responsibility, and the Sovereignty of God

 

It is a mistake to think that mankind, at any point in history would be able to destroy the Earth. God created the world for man to live in and take care of. Even with the fall into sin by Adam and Eve, the world was not destroyed. The great flood eradicated all but Noah and his family, but God restarted his covenantal relationship with man, and restating man’s responsibility to take dominion over the earth. 

With the incarnation, Jesus fulfilled all that Adam was given to do and now that Jesus is the king over all creation, it is only a matter of time before mankind fully matures and takes dominion over all of creation. The world will never be destroyed. While it may be misused and abused, eventually it will be brought back to its right relationship with its Creator.

Profit

 

Jesus said in Mark 8:36, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Usually, this passage is understood only in the financial sense. The idea being that if someone pursues wealth instead of holiness, he is choosing the temporary comfort and distraction of money instead of a life of love and holiness. That which we love now will shape us for eternity.

But we shouldn’t limit this to just money. Someone can exchange a love for God and his Church for just about anything. Someone can exchange it for comfort, for fame, for romance, or for friendship. But the point remains the same. While these things may be nice or make us feel good, none of them are even remotely close to the value of holiness. Anything that moves us away from God is to be avoided.

Mankind was created to be in communion with God and to love others. If we allow anything to replace that lifestyle of holiness, we have failed. There is nothing in this world that we should be willing to exchange for our pursuit of our love for God, our love of others, and our holiness. 

Like the man feasting on fast food and donuts who is not thinking long term. The best part of God’s love for us is the opportunity to always start again, no matter where we are. As long as we are breathing, repentance is a path one can start on.