Sweet in the Mouth, Sick in the Belly

As religion recedes in the culture at large, much of the prevailing religion looks to entertain rather than demand from its practitioners. The world’s mantra to “live for yourself” finds implicit affirmation is therapeutic religion.

One thing the riots are showing us, is the utter insufficiency of that narrative.

We live in a world clamoring for something more to invest their lives in, something bigger than themselves.

We’ve lost religion so we make politics into our religion. She’s the cause that we fight for, who demands absolute devotion with no absolution.

Of the riots, so many are not started by black protesters looking to mourn and demand justice from the courts, but sheltered suburbanite white kids looking for something meaningful to do.

The religious overtones of much of this movement must shock the Christian: the recitation of a catechism, instruction from a priestly class, contingent absolution, hardcore proselytizing, etc. Even the posture before the priestess, shrieks of a religious movement.

The problem of the all demanding god of politics is that she sends no angel to withdraw our hand from Isaac. She is not Jehovah Jireh (the Lord who sees) but Molech who consumes our children in fire.

Christian Parents Take Note

Christian parents beware. Our inclination to sacrifice religion for self-involved betterments like sports, band, etc. gives our kids nothing of significance to have their lives revolve around.

The endless gathering of resume credentials to get into a better school to make a little more money gets exposed as empty. As does the self-satisfying pursuit of pleasure and comfort.

Our children are searching for something of significance. Perhaps you see your child and say, “No they don’t. All they want to do is play video games.”

My response is two-fold. First, video games’ appeal provides the illusion and satisfaction of accomplishing something of significance. You build a world, you save the universe, etc.

Second, what your child wants in the moment is not what sustains them long term. Your child may love cake, but what parent would make it their exclusive diet? They may prefer cake over any given meal but that is unsatisfying and unhealthy long term.

Those once involved in religion that cost them little, that was never burdensome or deprioritized other good pursuits, see God as unable to scratch their existential itch.

Show your children that the things of God are worth sacrificing everything for, for their sake. The God of Christianity is worth offering our sons and daughters to, for He has offered to us His Son.