For food in a world where many walk in hunger; for faith in a world where many walk in fear; for my family in a world where many walk alone--we give thanks, O Lord.My wife and I have finished watching a television series set in a dystopian future where freedoms were lost and a caste system was imposed. Sadly, the architects of the totalitarian government in this series based their constitution on a twisted interpretation of Scripture, setting up a Theocracy built upon shaky theology.
In the final episode, a group of children is gathered by a clandestine band of underground organizers, to be placed on a cargo plane and flown to a different country. One of the children, a young girl of 10, asks the protagonist what freedom is like. The heroine describes a time in which one could wear what she chose, and go where she chose, and read what she chose, and love who she chose. The girl is then offered some food, and she recites the non-sectarian prayer written in italics above.
After so much despair, so much repression, so much bloodshed in the name of a false god, hearing a child repeat a simple prayer was uplifting. In the context of the soft horror series we had been watching, it gave us hope. It actually brought a tear to our eyes.
In the real world, however, we should guard against non-sectarianism. Yes, many do walk in hunger, and we are grateful for food, but that is not enough. Better to go hungry than to eat poison. Yes, faith is an antidote to fear, and we are thankful for a perfect faith that casts out fear; but it is not enough. Misplaced faith can lead to hell. Yes, we are grateful for family, and loneliness can cause heartache, but what if your family is abusive? Better to be alone than to be stuck with an abuser.
In the real world today, there is a health crisis that is fomenting an economic crisis. Democratically elected governments are turning dictatorial, mandating that non-essential gatherings such as sporting events and concerts be cancelled. Apparently education and religion are viewed as non-essential as well, because schools and churches are being closed. Restaurants have been asked to close their dining rooms, and only offer food service via drive-through or delivery. Supermarkets that are still open are experiencing shortages of essential items such as bread and bathroom tissue.
It sounds pretty dystopian to me.
In a world where choices are limited, people will settle for less. I have a favorite brand and variety of bread that I like, and when there is abundance, I can easily purchase it. However, when the bread aisle is bare, any shipment of off-brand plain white day-old bread is seen as a godsend.
It is the same with religion. In America, we have built a non-sectarian society, implying that it doesn't matter who or what you have faith in. As long as there is freedom, then a wide variety of religions and denominations can complete for your attention and devotion. However, when freedoms are restricted, people will cast about for anything they can find to give them hope. They will eat poison rather than go hungry. They will place their faith in a false gospel. They will, like sheep, follow false doctrine to their detriment, not realizing that it is abusive and destructive, leading to separation from God for eternity.
We need to make sure that when the church goes underground its message remains pure and undefiled. Interestingly, those religious leaders who claim a healing gift from God are being silent now. Ironically, many gatherings for prayer and healing have been cancelled because of the pandemic. We cannot continue to preach health, wealth and prosperity when people in our churches and our communities are losing their jobs or getting sick. We cannot continue to preach unity, as if community can save us, because unity is idolatry. Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household." (Matthew 10:34-36).
We need to ground ourselves in truth. It is only by the grace of God we are not consumed (see Lamentations 3:22, AMP, KJV, NKJV). It is only through faith that we can reach out to God--not faith plus works, or faith plus words, or faith plus good luck. (See Ephesians 2:8-9). It is only Christ that can save us, not your pastor or Pope, not Mohammad or Buddha or Krishna, not Karma or Wicca or Mother Earth. "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) It is only in Scripture that we find truth--not Scripture plus church tradition, or Scripture plus personal revelation. "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book." (Revelation 22:18). Finally, the Gospel is not about us--it is only for the glory of God. (See 1 Corinthians 10:31).
