Christ is being held for ransom by respectable appearing pirates.
The ransom? A simple matter of deception.
I have no doubt that sailing the seas of ideology and religious thought many “Jolly Rogers” fly. Certainly there are those who overtly oppose Christianity. Atheists are verbal in their desire to eliminate the very word “God” from our vocabulary. Some try to remove symbols of our faith; others work to corrupt our religious celebrations into secular festivals. My reference is not to these people. We know who they are, and it’s too easy to target them.
My concern is for a more subtle piracy. In fact there are two such pirates that alarm me, but perhaps neither of them is aware that they are brigands.
The one is making use of common Christian themes, altered in such a way to remain recognizable, but lacking in true meaning. A case in point: During the Christmas season we expect to hear Christmas carols. The advertising industry has jumped on that like a seagull on a scrap of fish. We hear snatches of tunes such as “The Hallelujah Chorus”, “Ring Christmas Bells”, or “Silent Night” to draw our attention to something that will be certain to make our lives better. But really, now… “Silent Night” to advertise disposable diapers?
With these familiar tunes people are lulled into feeling good. Sure. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about? Feeling good? Not exactly. These familiar themes are used in a way that we will associate the product with all that is right with the world. But diapers? For pity’s sake!
I keep waiting for someone with a little bit of holy clout to protest, but while the world is lulled into nothingness, Christians ignore it. I can’t ignore it anymore. It is time to pay attention to how these bandits are highjacking what is precious to us.
Worse than the world’s pirating Christian themes is that the Church is doing the same thing in reverse…the other Jolly Roger on the prowl.
Surf through your TV channels to some of the religious programming. Listen as some guy in tight jeans or a woman with smoky eyes and a smokier voice eat the microphone with sensuality fit for a night club. If you listen real, real closely to the words, providing you can hear them over the beat and wail of the accompaniment, you can catch the Christian phrases in there; but if you don’t pay too much attention…you got it: it’s no different from any sexy love song. And oh yes, these so-called worship leaders are in our churches too.
I don’t worry too much about the loud opposing voices. Rather I am concerned about those who with respectable subtlety try to lull people into feeling good…thinking they are good. I worry about Christians who yield the high privilege of excellence to tawdry entertainment and sensuality. These are the highjackers.
I said, “I can’t ignore it anymore.” So what can I do about it? I can pray; I can speak out. What about boycotting…now there’s a thought. I can write to advertisers and protest; I can write to Christian entertainers and express my views; I can share my opinions with pastors and church leaders.
Admittedly, I may hold a minority view, but it is important enough to me to at least refuse to pay the ransom demanded.
