If you need a refresher on the dialogue that I'm referencing from "Lost" feel free to go back and read.
Interpreting art is difficult but not impossible. After watching every episode of "Lost" I've grown more to understand much of the post modern mindset and I sense this final dialogue was valuable in explaining what mass Western culture believes about life and the afterlife. I've proposed three false beliefs that are illustrated in the closing scene of Lost. They are the belief that.......
1. what happens in your afterlife will be constructed by your belief system. If your understanding what I am writing you might not believe this to be what many people on the street believe but let me illustrate. Have you ever heard someone say, "I'm not concerned with hell, I don't believe in it." "I'm not concerned about a final judgment, I don't believe in God." What are they saying with statements like these? Ultimately, they are saying that the reality of the afterlife is not dictated by whether or not there is something beyond the grave but rather whether or not I believe in something beyond the grave. Whether or not I believe in the existence of Asia does not negate it's reality. Asia goes on whether I believe in it or not. Heaven and hell, although not able to be seen with human eyes, exist whether we believe in them or not. Jack's dad says that his afterlife experience is "the place that you all made together". Their afterlife was a product of their imagination and their hope for something good and better. God's Word says something very different.
2. the purpose of the afterlife is to renew good relationships from earth and heal. Jack's dad said that they had made this place together "so you could find one another. That's why all of you are here . ... To remember... and let go." Interestingly I find that many evangelical Christians think of heaven this very way. Many are fixated on the reunion that will take place in heaven with those who have gone before them. Many comfort themselves at funerals with thoughts of their recently deceased father having a grand reunion with their mother who had died decades before. We love this sentimental image even though Jesus emphatically says that marriage does not exist in heaven. Jesus said that those who focus on what earthly relationship will be like in heaven, "know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God" (Mark 12). Heaven will be a Christ focused expression of worship in which the believer spends all eternity attempting to understand how the God of the universe would sacrifice His sinless Son in order to redeem people who are spiritually bankrupt. This is a far cry from saying hi to my grandfather. Even those who call themselves Christians are uncomfortable with heaven being about God. In the words of Paul Washer, “Everyone wants to go to Heaven. They just don't want God to be there, when they get there.”
3. life is all about relationships. Because our culture has considered the search for Truth invalid we are left with very little to hold on to. Without Truth we are left to find all of our meaning in things like relationships, feelings and experiences. Jack's dad said that "The most important part of your life was the time that you spent with these people." As a Christian, relationships are very important but they are not ultimate. Do we realize that one could actually make relationships an idol? Our Western culture is doing it constantly and it is not helping us. In fact, with our increased emphasis on relationships we're actually struggling, more and more, to maintain relationships. Technology is a great advantage to our lives but many times it is the enemy of relationships. Also, a mis-managed focus on relationships can be devastating to our spiritual condition. If I find security in a large group of friends or I'm miserable because I have a pathetically small group of friends, I'm sinning. If my friends and family are taking me away from worship opportunities or drawing me away from obedience to Christ then those relationships are sinful. My belief that marriage will make me happy is idolatry. My feeling that my insecurities will melt away when I have children is sinful. God never condemns any of these relational connections in fact he calls them all good, if they are viewed properly.
Take some time as you are observing art, whether incredibly profound or as basic as the TV show "Lost", to think about and critique the message it is sending.
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ReplyDeleteMark,
ReplyDeleteThanks again for continuing to sharpen us and make us aware of the subtle misconceptions of God that our culture offers us. It's so easy to buy into ideas such as the ones you've described. Especially the idea that life is about relationships. This one in particular naturally seems so benign to adopt. Who doesn't believe that relationships are important? However, as you've pointed out, when those relationships supersede the real truth of heaven and border on idolatry, they become sinful.
I love what you said in point number 2 - "Heaven will be a Christ focused expression of worship in which the believer spends all eternity attempting to understand how the God of the universe would sacrifice His sinless Son in order to redeem people who are spiritually bankrupt." - This is the hope of the afterlife! I'm reminded of Eph 2:7 which has become one of the greatest revelations of Scripture to me - "that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Washer has consistently stressed the point that heaven HAS to be about God and Him alone. And if we're uncomfortable with that we need to continue to renew our minds in the Word to focus our hearts on Christ's atoning work on the Cross, or exam our hearts to see if we're truly of Christ. Washer's also said that on the day we meet Christ face to face we will no longer wonder about eschatology and how its events will unfold, etc, etc. We'll know that in a moment. Instead, we will spend eternity learning of His love and grace. ETERNITY! That blows my mind. That's what Eph 2:7 says. We will never get bored of Him and what He has done on the cross for us.
Marcellus-
ReplyDeletePoint #2 was a good one. I still sometimes think that way, mostly because that's what was sorta taught in my family and SS classes. Horrible, isn't it?
Thanks for watching and posting your thoughts.
I'm still looking forward to you responding to my/people's thoughts/comments.
Andrew,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments. I to have been very influenced by Paul Washer in my understanding of heaven. I loved your reminder of Ephesians 2:7.
Mark