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"There is none born wise." ~Ptahhotpe, Maxims (24th century B.C.).
Our Spring/Summer 2005 theme is: “American Idols in an Unreal World” (Christian Servanthood versus Secular Superficiality). Enjoy the related quotes below:
American Idolatry:
“There are four classes of Idols which beset men’s minds. To these for distinction’s sake I have assigned names--calling the first class, Idols of the Tribe; the second, Idols of the Cave; the third, Idols of the Market-Place; the fourth, Idols of the Theater.” Sir Francis Bacon, Novum Organum (1620).
“You can enjoy popular culture without compromising biblical principles as long as you are not dominated by the sensibility of popular culture, as long as you are not captivated by its idols.” Kenneth A. Myers, All God’s Children and Blue Suede Shoes (1989).
“Whatever religions may value, the culture values money.” Stephen L. Carter, God’s Name in Vain (2000)
“Tis mad idolatry, to make the service greater than the god.” William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida (1602).
“A Christianity presented as a ‘natural high,’ as a ‘rewarding lifestyle option,’ or as ‘the key to health and wealth’ is not the faith once delivered to the saints.” Kenneth A. Myers, All God’s Children and Blue Suede Shoes (1989).
“They fabricate a political Jesus because in their view politics is the most important reality” Jacques Ellul, The Subversion of Christianity (1986), discussing interpretations of the gospels by “class conflict” ideologues.
“The movie director, actor, and rock star are far more readily listened to than the preacher or theologian . . . The modern temptation is to make art with the intention that it be idolized.” Steve Turner, Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts.
“It may have been easier for the Corinthians to eat meat offered to idols than it is for us to enjoy popular culture innocently.” Kenneth A. Myers, All God’s Children and Blue Suede Shoes (1989).
“In a secular society, art itself can be the subject of a religious type of devotion. It’s common to hear artists talk of their work as being their religion—their personal salvation and also their hope for the world.” Steve Turner, Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts.
"Those who cling to worthless idols, forfeit the grace that could be theirs." Bible, Jonah 2:8.
“TV not only induces addiction to itself: it induces addiction to the sensibility of popular culture--the quest for novel, distracting, and easy entertainment.” Kenneth A. Myers, All God’s Children and Blue Suede Shoes (1989).
“Superstition, idolatry, and hypocrisy have ample wages, but truth goes a begging.” Martin Luther, Table Talk (1569).
“Commercials are the most disturbing aspect of children’s television, not so much because they induce covetousness or greed, but because they are so visually and aurally complex . . . They are the visual and aural equivalent of stuffing kids’ mouths full of potato chips and soda, and then rewarding the one who eats it all the fastest.” Kenneth A. Myers, All God’s Children and Blue Suede Shoes (1989).
“Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” The Apostle John 1 John 5:21.
Real and Unreal:
"Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God." Bible, Ecclesiastes 5:7.
"Truth is so obscured nowadays and lies so well established that unless we love the truth we shall never recognize it." Blaise Pascal (1623–62), French scientist, philosopher. Pensées, (1670).
"'But he has nothing at all on!' at last cried out all the people. The Emperor was vexed, for he knew that the people were right; but he thought the procession must go on now! And the lords of the bed chamber took greater pains than ever to appear holding up a train, although, in reality, there was no train to hold." Hans Christian Anderson (1805-1875), The Emperor's New Clothes. (Fairy Tale illustrating social pretense).
"Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act of faith to assert that our thoughts have any relation to reality at all." G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy (1908).
“It is not because the truth is too difficult to see that we make mistakes. It may even lie on the surface; but we make mistakes because the easiest and most comfortable course for us is to seek insight where it accords with our emotions— especially selfish ones.” Alexander Solzhenitsyn (b. 1918), Russian novelist. “Peace and Violence,” sct. 2, in Index, no. 4 (London, 1973).
“He who loves his dream of a community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intentions my be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, 1938.
“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” Philip K. Dick, US science fiction author (1928 - 1982), Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
“Reality is a crutch for people who can't cope with drugs.” Lily Tomlin, US actress & comedienne (1939 - P).
"The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense." Tom Clancy, American author, born 1947.
“Ask anyone who is suffering the agonies of some terrible disease whether he believes that there is such a thing as reality, or whether he thinks it is all just a matter of "perceptions." The pompous but silly notion that it is all a matter of how you choose to look at things is an indulgence for those who are insulated from suffering, from accountability, and from reality.” Thomas Sowell, Author.
“Much emphasis these days is placed on who has the quickest tongue, and who looks best on television. There seems to be an obsession with how one looks to others; hence, a proliferation of public relations professionals and spin doctors. As I was counseled some years ago, perceptions are more important than reality. But this is madness. No car has ever crashed into a mirage. No imaginary army has ever invaded a country. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, from a lecture for the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research at Washington, D.C. on February 13, 2001.
Christian Servanthood:
“The greatest among you will be your servant.” Jesus, Matthew 23:11.
"You can only learn what obedience is by obeying. It is no use asking questions; for it is only through obedience that you can come to learn the truth." Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The Cost of Discipleship (1937).
“[Whoever] wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus, Mark 10:43-45.
“They serve God well, who serve his creatures.” Caroline Norton, The Lady of La Garaye.
“The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.” Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881), British Prime Minister.
“What we have done for ourselves dies with us. What we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” Albert Pine.
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Jesus, Matthew 6:24.
“As an arrow which falls short of its mark, as a fig tree which yields no figs, as a candle which smokes but yields no light, as a cloud without rain and a well without water, is a man who has not served the Lord.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 - 1892). Sermons, Volume 22 (1876).
“Realization is not our goal, participation is.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, 1938.
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