Quick Thoughts on the Sad Religion of Popularity
The Sad Religion of Popularity
A few nights ago, I had been watching a TV show. (Strange, I know.)
This show was about a very large mall, and was mainly about the people that work there. (If you know what I am talking about, sorry for the horrific description.)
The employees of this mall were preparing for some "popular" singer (if that is who she was) to arrive. The mall was packed with teenagers, and they all were pushing to get to the front of the crowd to meet this person. I have no idea who this person was, seeing as I am (happily) unconnected to the world of singers and rockstars (if there is a difference).
Anyways, this person had finally arrived, and was being escorted to the large room in which the crowds were so eagerly piling into. Then the camera went off as the narrator was describing the sadness of the teens who would not get the chance to see their "hero", and the camera went off to the sight of a younger teenage girl, who was crying due to this seeming "misfortune". This shocked me, even though this is to be expected nowadays. But then one must always go back to the so-called "reality" that these people live in. This is it for them. They live for themselves, and/or other people, and if the one opportunity is missed to meet their hero, they break down into tears.
This is a good example, or rather proof, of today's dependence upon popularity. If one is not popular, or does not get to meet someone who is, life has no meaning. Without truth, all humanity is depended upon the attention of others. This is a fact that can be denied, yet if the denier has no one to deny, they themselves shatter. The reality for most people is that, if they miss the one shot at "happiness" in life, they lose it altogether. They have no hope.
And yet, the proof that popularity is something to never been pushed for is right in front of the world itself. Look at Hollywood! People that have everything, yet nothing. They strive, they succeed, and then they either shatter or commit suicide. The picture of earthly happiness.
The striving for popularity, or even the goal of meeting/knowing someone who is popular, is entirely self-based as well.
Me, myself and I
The religion of popularity is just like all of the other "religions" out there. It is based entirely upon mankind, and what he can make, believe and/or die for. Popularity, after all, is about people focusing on one person, or a very specific group of people. When one gains popularity, they think that they will be happy all of their lives from there on out, and then reality hits them. They aren't happy. They want more. And, as has been proven by all who have ever gained worldly popularity, they will never stop pursuing themselves. They always wish to please themselves, in any possible way. Drugs, movies, arrogance (as in, showing it), and even doing "good" things. As I mentioned in my note on Good and Evil, good apart from God isn't truly good. Thus, when they attempt the so-called "good deeds", such as giving money as charity, they are doing yet another selfish act. Why would someone give anything when they are apart from the real Truth? The answer is really quite simple. Muslims blow themselves up for who? Allah. Why? Because they want to make it to "heaven", and earn their own way. It really has nothing to do with pleasing Allah, so much as it does pleasing themselves by making their way to paradise. And popular people who give to charity are only doing so to make themselves feel better about themselves. Many will deny this, yet look at the people themselves. If they don't have God, as in the True I Am, who else would they be striving to please? It cannot really be for others, can it? When one eats food, they do so because they are hungry. It is based off of the feeling of hunger. This too, is based off of a feeling in and of one's self. They feel that what they are doing is good, and that feeling brings pride. "Look what I have done! I'm such a good person."
The Reality
Popularity is nothing to strive for. Ever. Look at what it brings. Fear, anger, depression, hunger for more and a non-stop feeling of arrogance.
But why then do we do good? The main difference between humanity (even all of the religion it brings) and the Truth is the direction the attention goes. Humans seek to please themselves, while we as Christians seek to please God, regardless of the results for ourselves. We should, in reality, be striving to please God, even if there was no Heaven for us. No crown. No healing. No saving. This will automatically drive away anyone who does not know the truth of God's Word.
But why would anyone serve God to that extent? Well, why do we serve God now? If He did not fill us with His Spirit, we would be just as the world. If there was no reward, and God so pleased that people would praise Him regardless of themselves and what they get, this would be so. After all, He commands the will of men (Prov. 21:1-3).
Yet, He did save us. He brought His own Son as a sacrifice for our sins. There is Heaven, and we will go there as Christians. We will serve Him forever before Him, and will love every minute of it, not because of our state, but because of Him.
Thus, popularity simply isn't worth it. If it happens to come along to a believer, then God has made this happen. But, as history has proven, the person will not be popular for the truth they speak. And even if they are, it will not last, lest God desires this.
"Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." - Colossians 3:22-25
A few nights ago, I had been watching a TV show. (Strange, I know.)
This show was about a very large mall, and was mainly about the people that work there. (If you know what I am talking about, sorry for the horrific description.)
The employees of this mall were preparing for some "popular" singer (if that is who she was) to arrive. The mall was packed with teenagers, and they all were pushing to get to the front of the crowd to meet this person. I have no idea who this person was, seeing as I am (happily) unconnected to the world of singers and rockstars (if there is a difference).
Anyways, this person had finally arrived, and was being escorted to the large room in which the crowds were so eagerly piling into. Then the camera went off as the narrator was describing the sadness of the teens who would not get the chance to see their "hero", and the camera went off to the sight of a younger teenage girl, who was crying due to this seeming "misfortune". This shocked me, even though this is to be expected nowadays. But then one must always go back to the so-called "reality" that these people live in. This is it for them. They live for themselves, and/or other people, and if the one opportunity is missed to meet their hero, they break down into tears.
This is a good example, or rather proof, of today's dependence upon popularity. If one is not popular, or does not get to meet someone who is, life has no meaning. Without truth, all humanity is depended upon the attention of others. This is a fact that can be denied, yet if the denier has no one to deny, they themselves shatter. The reality for most people is that, if they miss the one shot at "happiness" in life, they lose it altogether. They have no hope.
And yet, the proof that popularity is something to never been pushed for is right in front of the world itself. Look at Hollywood! People that have everything, yet nothing. They strive, they succeed, and then they either shatter or commit suicide. The picture of earthly happiness.
The striving for popularity, or even the goal of meeting/knowing someone who is popular, is entirely self-based as well.
Me, myself and I
The religion of popularity is just like all of the other "religions" out there. It is based entirely upon mankind, and what he can make, believe and/or die for. Popularity, after all, is about people focusing on one person, or a very specific group of people. When one gains popularity, they think that they will be happy all of their lives from there on out, and then reality hits them. They aren't happy. They want more. And, as has been proven by all who have ever gained worldly popularity, they will never stop pursuing themselves. They always wish to please themselves, in any possible way. Drugs, movies, arrogance (as in, showing it), and even doing "good" things. As I mentioned in my note on Good and Evil, good apart from God isn't truly good. Thus, when they attempt the so-called "good deeds", such as giving money as charity, they are doing yet another selfish act. Why would someone give anything when they are apart from the real Truth? The answer is really quite simple. Muslims blow themselves up for who? Allah. Why? Because they want to make it to "heaven", and earn their own way. It really has nothing to do with pleasing Allah, so much as it does pleasing themselves by making their way to paradise. And popular people who give to charity are only doing so to make themselves feel better about themselves. Many will deny this, yet look at the people themselves. If they don't have God, as in the True I Am, who else would they be striving to please? It cannot really be for others, can it? When one eats food, they do so because they are hungry. It is based off of the feeling of hunger. This too, is based off of a feeling in and of one's self. They feel that what they are doing is good, and that feeling brings pride. "Look what I have done! I'm such a good person."
The Reality
Popularity is nothing to strive for. Ever. Look at what it brings. Fear, anger, depression, hunger for more and a non-stop feeling of arrogance.
But why then do we do good? The main difference between humanity (even all of the religion it brings) and the Truth is the direction the attention goes. Humans seek to please themselves, while we as Christians seek to please God, regardless of the results for ourselves. We should, in reality, be striving to please God, even if there was no Heaven for us. No crown. No healing. No saving. This will automatically drive away anyone who does not know the truth of God's Word.
But why would anyone serve God to that extent? Well, why do we serve God now? If He did not fill us with His Spirit, we would be just as the world. If there was no reward, and God so pleased that people would praise Him regardless of themselves and what they get, this would be so. After all, He commands the will of men (Prov. 21:1-3).
Yet, He did save us. He brought His own Son as a sacrifice for our sins. There is Heaven, and we will go there as Christians. We will serve Him forever before Him, and will love every minute of it, not because of our state, but because of Him.
Thus, popularity simply isn't worth it. If it happens to come along to a believer, then God has made this happen. But, as history has proven, the person will not be popular for the truth they speak. And even if they are, it will not last, lest God desires this.
"Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." - Colossians 3:22-25
Comments
Post a Comment