zeitgeist
by Elizabeth DeBarros
The only thing more dangerous than the spirit of the age is being unaware that you’re caught up in it.
Like Times Square after New Year’s in the rain, America today is full of the aftereffects of a party gone bad, but many are too intoxicated to notice. To the level of distraction and amusement we’ve stooped, we have sunk to new lows and the mood is dark. Sobriety only comes at a price the morning after.
Thumbing through TIME magazine (Monday, Jan. 16, 2012) the other day, an article caught my eye — 10 Questions for Chris Kyle, a candid interview with former US Navy SEAL sniper turned author who earned three Silver Stars in Iraq for expert marksmanship with the deadliest record in American military history. The lines between his brow and the edge in his words: “You live in a dreamworld,” both pointed to something truer than my comfort zone was used to.
One question the interviewer asked was why he could kill a woman with a grenade in her hand but not a little boy in Nasiriyah with an RPG in his. “That day I could not kill a child,” was his reply. Something higher than the brass command to kill was informing Chris Kyle the day he let that boy go free. A reminder that rules not of this world play into the hands of a Sovereign God.
No dreamworld there.
The spirit of the age has swooped down like a giant bird to carry off in its bill this suffering generation, convincing us that we’re fighting for a just cause — namely, our rights.
Meanwhile, atop our lime-treated soil on this slightly tilting planet, our isms keep us busy clicking away online and picking from shelves of well-stocked stores, feeding off pig slop on TV and allowing our app-hungry devices to consume us while we treat our pets better than our neighbors. We’re split right down the middle — an angry couch of fiction readers, softer than marshmallows, living in the land of Diversion with two fists raised in the air. National pride faces its own dichotomy amid pleas for someone to rescue us from moral decay without having the collective conscience to uphold the standards necessary to recover them.
Zeitgeist.
The spirit of the age has swooped down like a giant bird to carry off in its bill this suffering generation, convincing us that we’re fighting for a just cause — namely, our rights. Look around. Every institution is under siege. Marriage is in the hopper, getting redefined. The term “family” can mean anything you need it to mean. Parents can choose their baby’s sex beforehand and children can decide their gender afterward. Our churches are in crisis, schools need policing, leaders from every sector are dropping like flies for doing unspeakable things. And the economy sustains a head wound that won’t heal while backpacks set up as portable living rooms in the public square. Ideological ire is everywhere. Around the globe, protest and unrest have become a way of life.
For the Christian, things are dicier than ever. While intolerance is a sitting duck, tolerance is a ticket to hell. The Word of God is Truth, but if discernment isn’t rooted in faith working by love, entitlement is a silent creeper and soon your judgments will subtly begin and end with you. The fog of spiritual battle can be thick, may even cause temporary blindness. Things are getting harder and harder to separate and figure out.
When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?
Remember what Jesus said to Pilate when asked if He was King of the Jews? He answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.”
Soothing words. Terra firma. Rules not of this world.
Still, the clanging of cymbals can be attention-getting loud. Knowledge abounds while Truth declines, Anti-Semitism rises as judgment falls, and walking circumspectly may mean keeping quiet when everything in you wants to scream. You may have knowledge, zeal, and confidence, but they will mean very little if you do not have Christ.
Tumult in the city, tumult in the Church — one thing is clear: The Zeitgeist is a very big killer bird.
The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
-Psalm 11:4 (ESV)
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For further meditation
Author’s Note: Reference in this blog post to TIME magazine does not constitute its endorsement or recommendation by the author nor is the article meant to be a political commentary on war or exploit the horrors of war. Use of said article is strictly anecdotal.
*Retired Navy SEAL Chris Kyle was called “Al-Shaitan Ramad” (The Devil of Rahmadi) among insurgents and is known as “the legend” among his SEAL brothers. He now lives in Mid-Texas with his wife and two children and considers himself to be a better husband and father than he ever was a killer.
Dearest E,
How easily can we found ourselves caught up in the spirit of this age!
Please, O LORD, don’t let me be blind to this, that in the middle of all the fog I might be able to see clearly; that in the middle of this confusing age I won’t lose my foundation: Christ!
Thank you, E. Thank you.
Once again, wisdom speaks. Loved this : “…walking circumspectly may mean keeping quiet when everything in you wants to scream.”
Thanks E. This was great.
“The fog of spiritual battle can be thick, may even cause temporary blindness…Knowledge abounds while Truth declines, Anti-Semitism rises as judgment falls, and walking circumspectly may mean keeping quiet when everything in you wants to scream.” I agree with Christina, wisdom is speaking here. And I agree with Becky – how I need to search my own heart as the heat increases. This verse has been much on my mind the last week or so: “sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” (Gen 4:7b). May we all search our hearts and may He root out of us anything that is not of Christ. Thank you, E.
“The Word of God is Truth, but if discernment isn’t rooted in faith working by love, entitlement is a silent creeper and soon your judgments will subtly begin and end with you.”
Excellent post, Elizabeth.
“The only thing more dangerous than the spirit of the age is being unaware that you’re caught up in it.”
Your words (above) give the warning. Deception leads the way and keeps many engulfed …Oh, let it be that all of us cry out Him…for only He knows the way in which we have come and the way in which we go.
Excellent post…thank you.
Thanks for your comments, Becky, Christina, Diana, Persis, and my dear sister, Re!
I always appreciate hearing from you and knowing what in particular it was that spoke to you.
From other feedback I received: The person made the observation that I did not offer a formula or a step-by-step as to how to “have Christ.” And that is a wonderful observation, because there is no formula or method to “having Christ,” as it’s by His Spirit and His abundant grace poured out upon us that we can even love Him at all–a love that compels us to obey Him and follow wherever He leads, and by so doing, we are abiding in Him, bearing fruit unto everlasting life.
“Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.”
-6:23-24
May He strengthen us each new day,
-E
Well written, dear sister. The truth does set us free…and how well you described our bereft society. Christ is our hope and what we really need in this life and the life to come. He is the answer to all of life’s issues. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful post. I am encouraged.
Thank you for your comment, Barbara. I’m so glad you were encouraged!
-E
Elizabeth – awesome post – as always.
Had to google this word Zeitgeist – the movement
seems like Woodstock gone techno.
“The fog of spiritual battle can be thick, may even cause temporary blindness. Things are getting harder and harder to separate and figure out.”
We must cling to Christ’s words that His kingdom is not of this world. I think a lot of well meaning believers aren’t getting that sometimes.
So glad to hear something from you again my sweet friend!
Hi Diane,
Thanks for the comment, friend! It’s true, there are many well-meaning folks out there (hey, I’m one of them!), but if we’re not careful, we can become like Peter who thought it a good idea to set up three tents: one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah! Oh, he was so well-meaning, and so well…wrong!
Love you, sister,
-E
This ” A reminder that rules not of this world play into the hands of a Sovereign God.” God is in control in and through it all – the whole mess, not missing a gnat out of place. Not only that, He had planned it! to work out His will, to show His glory, power and justice in the end and even now! The question is, can we lift our weary heads and see it in faith? Great post and eye-opener, as always!
Petra!
It’s always a good day when I hear from you! So true…not a gnat missing or out of place under His watchful eye. The times are difficult, but He is faithful to refresh His saints…Reminds me of that song…”Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’ ”
Love,
-E