Cult-ure

“Entertainment is the devil's substitute for joy.” Ravenhill

Pastor Ken Smith (twitter @projectpeter) explains what this means.

"Especially in the western societies, we have drowned ourselves in entertainment. This quote was in "Why Revival Tarries" written in the late 1950's or Early 60's.... think of today. Cell phones with text and mini-computer systems, computer systems, video games, movies, television, baseball, basketball, football, Auto racing, Tennis, Music, Concerts, etc. etc. etc. Even today many churches put on quite the show. At the end of the day we mention how we just don't have time to pray. We don't have time to study God's Word. Our joy comes in our entertainment now... we have no real desire for the things of God beyond wanting the blessings of God without sacrifice."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Behind the facade of glamor and hype, pop culture breeds despair. It is ever in flux; its bewildering plethora of "pop idols" has a high rate of turnover, its goalposts shift constantly, whether in pursuit of the latest electronic contraption or status symbol. Such rootless nomadism of purpose serves only to dizzy the seeker.

The hedonistic philosophy behind 21st century culture is a yawning chasm filled with the mirage of substance. Whosoever seeks to establish themselves within it will fail - the foundation can not hold. The worldview is functionless: pretends to derive meaning from passing fads designed to distract. Appetite for vanity only grows as it is fed. Greed for recognition and status can not be satisfied.

This is the anatomy of perversion. Darwin theorized evolution and Neitsche concluded that God is dead, adding their voices to a long list of history's atheists, and denying divine purpose to the human equation. The same mindset permeates our politics and entertainment. Its logical conclusions are that all things are acceptable, and morality is a hindrance to progress. Very shortly, such "science falsely so called" was widely disseminated by agents of darkness. Today, pop culture grooves to the refrain "Do as thou wilt" - do what you want (because allegedly there is no moral obligation.) What have the results of such frame of mind been?

Because there is no restraint, the culture is at once addictive and oppressive.
People strive to stamp other people under their boot, eager to impose their superiority, simply to attain status. Even many who preach unity go to great lengths to set themselves apart from "the common man." Who wants to be hoi polloi? Don't answer that.

Humility is rejected while the objective is to steamroll rivals into the dust and utterly humiliate them. Consequently, lots of resentful people itch for the chance to get even, craving the means with which they will avenge the indignities imposed upon them by their lack of means. Those who concede an inch do it only to give way to the bigger dog, biding their time impatiently.

Life is mistaken to be the sum of who you know and what you own. These become weapons of conquest, treasures to ceaselessly pursue and hoard away. The fittest survive, the weak take their frustrations out on each other. Oppression prevails. The law of the jungle is transplanted into human society.

Despair buds and grows in the latent emptiness of outward abundance. Little wonder the tale of modern society is broken homes, loneliness and suicide.

In contrast, blessed is the people whose God is the LORD! All this foolishness does not ruin their lives, for they do not subscribe to such flawed "logic". JESUS is the way.

ROMANS 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.