As I've probably talked about before, every time we walk into the grocery store, the movie theater, or the mall we are attacked with messages. (Obviously other places too - those are just examples.) People who create products have a message they want to get across to consumers. Even in seemingly innocent movies, directors can portray certain worldviews to movie watchers, and most of the time, we just soak in the messages without a second thought.
I've noticed a worldview that the mall portrays very clearly, right up front. DEFYE clothing - have you heard of it? When I walk in my local mall, it's right in my face. It stands for "Define Your Own Existence." I checked out the store's website and it says "apparel with meaning." Darn right, there's meaning in that clothing's title. But is it a good meaning?
Oh, chill out, Stephanie, you're probably thinking. No big deal. It's just a clothing line. They can name it whatever they want. And who cares?
But that's not true. I think it's about time we stop letting shadow into our lives and start living in the light and not the darkness. If we continually become desensitized by messages our culture sends us, they will be infiltrated into our hearts and lives.
When I saw Eric and Leslie Ludy speak, one of the things I noticed about them was how they were so in tune to the things of God because they spent so much time in His presence. When they saw/heard something with sin in it (for example, a movie preview) they were shocked by it. They felt a sting in their conscience and wanted to leave. They knew it wasn't right! All too often I just simply sit through it, ignoring the Holy Spirit's promptings to leave or change the situation.
The more we pick out and recognize incorrect worldviews, the more we will be bothered by them and throw them out of our thinking. This is good. We should want to continually want to correct our personal worldview to reflect the Truth of Jesus Christ and His Word.
So what do you think when you see "Define Your Own Existence"? Honestly, think about it for a second. If someone were to ask you, "What's wrong about that?" what would you say?
The Bible certainly has a lot to say on the subject. Let's take a look at why this worldview is incorrect and why we need watch out for it.
First of all, the whole idea of defining our own existence takes God out of the picture. Let's say Jimmy believes that he gets to define his purpose in life. Donna may try to witness to him and explain he needs Jesus to be saved, and that he needs to live for Him, but Jimmy'll just say "Donna, that's great that you think it's your purpose in life to serve God, but that's not my life purpose." Jimmy has it in his head that he gets to decide what he's living for.
I have seen several things that people live for - family, for one. I know so many adults who live for their children. Of course they wouldn't say that, but they live practically like that. Their children make them happy, fulfill them, and motivate them. They literally do not know what they would do without them.
A second thing I've obserbed people live for is just a good time. SO many people live just for a good life. They just want to enjoy their lives. Of course enjoying our lives is a nice thing, but Jesus said, "whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." (Luke 9:24) In other words, whoever lives for this life will not have eternal life. Pretty strong words. Also, what if you get horrible cancer? Suddenly your purpose in life is gone. You come face to face with death, and your life has zero meaning. It just doesn't add up. Socrates said "The unexamined life is not worth living." I wholeheartedly agree.
Another thing a lot of people live for is "just making the world a better place." (I was just listening to "We Are the World: Haiti" earlier which REEKS of this worldview. Keep in mind I was just listening to it to see the Jonas Brothers in it... yeah, I'll shut up now.) Our life is so short on this earth that if we live for making this life better, it's really pointless. People find some satisfaction in serving others, sure, but it's ultimately not the goal. Christian ministries serve people on this earth with their physical needs, all while providing an eternal focus. People's salvation is the most important thing.
The Bible clearly says that we are not to define our own existence, but GOD is to define our existence. Why? Because God created us. "Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no handles'?" (Isaiah 45:9) I like the New Living Translation which says "argue with their Creator." Who are we to say, "Hey God, I know you made me and everything, but tough tooties! I'm doing what I want, when I want, and there's nothing you can do about it."
Never! But yet that's what people do every day. (Of course most of them don't believe God created them, but that's another matter.)
2 Peter 3:3-4 describes this exact idea of "define your own existence." It says, "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." So basically, in modern language, "What are you talking about with all this religion thing? It's bogus and totally untrue. Jesus isn't coming back." And then they will scoff and follow their own evil desires. AKA "define their own existence."
Let's not attempt to define our own existence. Let's attempt to submit to God's will and accept His definition for our lives. I don't know about you, but I want GOD to define my life, not me. I'm so clueless! And He, my friend, knows all.
Labels:
Bible,
culture,
define your own existence,
error,
media,
messages,
shopping mall,
truth,
worldview
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