Is It Spiritual?

 I just finished watching a video over on The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction's YouTube channel. The subject matter was interesting but I came away from the video with something that will stick with me forever.

At one point the channel's host commented on how we should see things. I immediately grabbed that as being really important and this is part of the hurried comment I left:

"...I will always be asking "Is it ~fill in the blank~ or is it spiritual?"  Is it politics or is it spiritual? Is it really necessary news or is it spiritual?  etc. I am guilty of forgetting to look at the world around me through a spiritual lens. Everything is part of this game - either for good or for bad."

As I commented, I have been guilty of not looking at things the way I should. And perspective alters everything.

A few years back, when the country got all up in arms (literally, at one point) over politics, I watched most of the news through my citizen's eye - and not just as a citizen but as a black citizen and a female citizen. That caused so much stress. 

Seeing things as a citizen causes me to react as a citizen. If I remember to stop and see things as a Christian, everything shifts to fit that perspective.

There is a man with a very interesting YouTube channel called Dazed but Not Confuzed. The videos are primarily about his escape from Scientology. The host seems to be so very sincere and kind that my heart aches for what he's been through and I find myself praying for him along with some other online personalities. 

This man has come out of such a tricky and insidious "religion" that I doubt he wants to hear anything about Christ. At least, not yet. I am sure that he sees everything through the eyes of someone who has been duped before.

I know another man - a longtime friend of my family's - who sees everything only as a black man. Racism is real, but this friend is so focused on the issue of racism that he can barely see anything else. If a white person cuts him off in traffic, it's "racial", if someone... Well, you get it. The wildest part is that he seems to only see white people as racist - as if they are the only race of people who don't like black people. And he is the epitome of a stereotype in one way. He has white friends, all of whom he believes are only the "exceptions" to a very hard and fast rule. It's a mirror of the whole "My best friend is black" copout. 

Now, this family friend uses racism as a reason to doubt the validity of a "white" Jesus. You cannot make him understand that Jesus is not the person depicted in those paintings people have in their homes! I remember once pointing out that Jesus was Jewish. The family friend came back with "They're white, ain't they?"

Lord, help the ignorant and stubborn.

The point I came here to make is about myself. I need to make sure that I see everything in this world with the eyes of a Christian. Every day of my life (and yours) on this earth is a spiritual battle. We should never forget that.

As a Christian, I know that a lot of what goes on in politics is spiritual. Same thing with all the manipulations of media. All this uproar over gender and sexuality is spiritual. All the distractions in the media over this celebrity suing or "beefing"" with that celebrity is a distraction. 

Half the time, we are walking around in a daze from being news-bombed. When we have a free minute to think, we are scrolling through our social media - just hunting for new distractions. 

When something is meant to turn us away from God, we should remember that Satan was bold enough to try tempting Jesus. 

Satan is a master of deception, distraction, disinformation, and confusion. We have to remember to be discerning - always.

I will close this post by suggesting you read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. It's a total reminder of our daily life being under attack.

Peace

--Free

Another Interesting & Useful Site

 I really ought to post a list of some of the best Bible and Christian-related sites I know of. Maybe I already have? I will have to check. At any rate, I want to add the Carm.org site.

CARM - Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry - is a great resource for Christians and non-Christians alike. I am sure that non-Christians would find the section "Bible Difficulties" of interest. It covers topics with supposed "contradictions". Very interesting! Because every thinking person will have questions.

Under the section "Christian Theology", one will find a subsection of "Answers for Seekers". Another great resource for seekers and Christian friends of seekers.

The 2 sections I find myself gravitating to most are "Questions" and "World Religions". These are really useful when studying what other people believe or are involved in. It always helps to understand the people we are praying for.

So do check out CARM. 

I'm going to have to see if I have put together a resource list!

Peace

--Free

Critical Thinking Skills?

 As someone who thinks that the term "conspiracy theorist" was created to demonize critical thinking about certain subjects, I love William Ramsey Investigates for the film analysis videos.

Ramsey has a decent web presence, with videos, podcasts, and books that you can check out. I usually check out his YouTube videos and the podcast I get via Podcast Addict. 

If you buy into the fact that "conspiracy theorists" are crazy, just stop here. You obviously have an opinion that won't be changed. Or, you can read on. Just remember this: it's only a theory if it's not true.

Ramsey's bio reads along the lines of "Attorney, Author, and Researcher William Ramsey is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in History. Mr. Ramsey also has a J.D. and is a member of the State Bar of California." Then it goes on to list some of the subjects he has written about. The book usually mentioned first will either make you roll your eyes or be a bit intrigued: Prophet of Evil: Aleister Crowley, 9/11 and the New World Order. I haven't read the book but I have heard Ramsey discuss Crowley via that podcast.

I'm not here to talk about Ramsey's various works; I just want to mention something I thought of when listening to one of his podcast guests.

Ramsey and his guest for a particular episode were discussing a film that I saw years ago - "Eyes Wide Shut". I didn't like the film - mainly because I didn't like the two lead actors - and only watched it with a friend who wanted to see it. I thought the film was stupid and pointless. Then my friend told me that I was missing the deeper messages embedded in the story.

Whatever.

Fast forward several years and I started listening to and having discussions about the many ways evil manifests in the real world. As a Christian, I've been long aware that the world is sin-corrupted, but I never thought much about the various methods of that corruption. Listening to Ramsey and others who discuss such things, I learned that I have been a "surface" observer of many things.

On the surface, Kubrick's film is a big yawn. Looking deeper, it is full of symbolism and messages that should be more obvious to someone who is halfway well-read and educated. You can take a look at the 2-part analysis Ramsey's guest presented.

What do you think of their breakdown? Did you want to go back and take another look at the film? I didn't have to. Whether the information is legit or not, I missed picking up on half of what was presented.

Anyway.

My point is that we (or maybe just I) have gotten overwhelmed by the constant surge of information and tech noise. News and entertainment and other distractions are always whizzing around so fast that it's difficult to slow down and look closely at any one thing. Things blur and I have to remember to take the time to stop and focus.  Does that make sense? 

I am trying to keep a promise to myself to start paying closer attention. To everything. I need to sharpen the critical thinking skills I once had. What about you?

Peace

--Free