Thursday, December 6, 2012

The Me Generation

Our generation is pampered unto spoilt , both relatively (comparing our parents' time) and absolutely, especially the urbanites among us. I am pointing fingers at myself as well; this confession is derived from a critical analysis of my own life as I turn 24. Having watched such unfortunate shows as "Wife Swap" and "Soulmate Tryout," I know that our third-world spoilt brats have nothing on first-world spoilt brats.

The apparent ease and comfort extends beyond childhood, especially now that we have a well-worn beaten path that defines most people's lifetimes. Default framework: go to school, graduate, get a job, start a family, get insurance, retire. Artificial systems - entire industries from healthcare to housing - have grown up around these stages of life to prop up the "commensurate" material standard of living. Their shared backbone is the system of financial usury. (Today you need a loan in some places to get a child into nursery school.) All the pains we endure to achieve this expected standard of living almost neutralize the enjoyment of any gains attained. This system, being wasteful and exploitative, is designed to take more than it gives.

It's nice to have luxuries, rights and privileges. However, there is danger when the culture inculcates a sense of entitlement in its members. The community becomes a production line of self-absorbed, antisocial workaholics, easily given to despair when a crack in the narrative shows.  Yes, there is a place for self-esteem, but the great paradox is that the higher one prides themselves in their own conceits, the less genuine esteem they earn from themselves or others. That said, a lot of popular logic is up-side down. Many of society's so-called "role-models" derive their motivational aspect from their fame and riches rather than the values they stand for. They create fans in their own moral likeness. I'm certain there was a time showing off ("flossing, balling") would have earned the extravagant braggart a concerned word of advice. Those days are gone.

Love for "things" poses a fatal spiritual danger. Anyone who is desperate for the good life is much more willing to sacrifice principle for profit - to sell their souls - which is being made fashionable in a twisted kind of way (Illuminati, anyone?). But this is not the example taught to us by Jesus Christ, the prophet Elijah and John the Baptist, amongst many other who became wanderers, fugitives and martyrs courageous for the sake of the kingdom of GOD.

These considerations are not merely academic/historical. The hour is late. As these last days darken, each individual within this pampered generation of ours will be forced to choose between our beloved comforts and the express commandments of GOD. The good life (easy credit, fiat money, conspicuous consumption) will be leveraged on the mark of the beast. GOD's people will leave all that behind in faith and obedience, counting even their very lives a small price to pay. That's Bible prophecy.
Revelation 13:15-17
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

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