Summer 1992. The video game scene was enjoying a renaissance, and a driver was the SNES home gaming console, released in August of the previous year. What’s the SNES, you ask? Any gamer knows this acronym to be the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, a 16-bit sequel to its 8-bit predecessor, the Nintendo Entertainment System or NES.
A Season of Playing a Mind Game
I’ve owned every video game system since the Atari 2600 Video Computer System (VCS) in the late 70s, and I wasn’t about to pass up on the latest and advanced entry. I admit my passion for the genre has waned in recent years; nevertheless, I play now and then. I enjoyed mainly fighting games and still do. Ah, the pure joy of furiously mashing controller buttons! However, there was one SNES game that inspired me to occasionally lay down my need to display virtual brawn and use my intelligence. Ironically enough, it was called Lemmings.
The best-selling puzzle-strategy game required the player to lead the group of unsuspecting creatures to another destination. You have to determine specific skills to give to the appropriate lemmings to change the landscape or the behavior of fellow lemmings to get them to the next place unharmed.
The concept of Lemmings comes from the small, furry-tailed mouselike rodents. They move in mass frequently to find new feeding grounds. Sometimes, they have to cross rivers and drown for not taking into account the peril to get to the other side.
Unaware of the Sweet Punch’s Snare
There’s a human equivalent of a lemming. He or she is a “person who follows the will of others, especially in a mass movement, and heads straight into a situation or circumstance that is dangerous, or destructive.” Americans have a unique term for such reckless devotion: “drinking the Kool-Aid.”
The catchy concoction slogan dates back to November 18, 1978, when over 900 Americans in Jonestown, Guyana — at the behest of their cult leader, Reverend Jim Jones — committed mass suicide by drinking cyanide-laced punch.
Blindly following whatever satisfies our thirst and thus venturing into treacherous waters was foretold centuries ago. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (Amplified Bible) says, “For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold, and will turn their ears away from the truth and will wander off into myths and man-made fictions [and will accept the unacceptable].“ Doesn’t this sound familiar when it comes to Christians and politics?
Illuminating the Fruit of Spiritual Pursuit
A 2022 Christianity Today magazine study shows that 50 percent of believers choose a local church primarily because it aligns with their partisan leanings. They view scripture through political lenses instead of the reverse. It signifies that just as Israel looked for a political messiah to deliver them from Roman government oppression, they, too, believe their hope is in politicians and patriotism.
The late and former President Ronald Reagan in his heartfelt January 11, 1989 farewell address spoke of America as a “shining city upon a hill,” parroting the late John Winthrop in his perception of the USA. The foundation of their belief was the words of Jesus from Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.“
As benevolent as Reagan and Winthrop were, Jesus referred to the church — a worldwide community with a sector living in America — and He’s the Commander-in-Chief.
When we place ourselves under His influence and allow ourselves to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) — we can pour out a life-giving drink that can refresh the weariest of souls.
A Pledge of Allegiance to Jesus
For those striving to live an increasingly Christ-centered life and above the partisan fray, I strongly encourage you to read Tim Alberta’s fascinating and timely book, “The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism.”
In his conversation with John Dickinson — an Australian-born professor at Wheaton College, a premier Christian university in Wheaton, Illinois (USA) — Dickinson observes that “much of what drives evangelicals here (in America, my insertion) is fear that we’re losing our country, fear that we’re losing our power. And it’s so unhealthy. We should think of ourselves as eager guests at someone else’s banquet. We are happy to be there, happy to share our perspective. But we are always respectful, always humble because this isn’t our home.”
A Love Inside Stronger than National Pride
Through us, the Spirit of God can open blind eyes to see the beauty of that world to come. I love the United States, and I’m proud to be an American. I cherish the freedoms I have. However, Jesus’s mandate is to spread the good news of His saving grace and of His kingdom, which isn’t of the earth (John 18:36).
My fellow brothers and sisters in America, another hot and chaotic political season is near. This is no game. This is real life, and the world is watching us. Our conduct in-person and online over the past few years has left a sour taste in people’s mouths. To be blunt, we’ve been a “lemon” or of little value. We have an opportunity to get it right, make “lemonade,” and motivate people to thirst for Jesus.
Therefore, let’s determine now to keep away from anything that might take God’s place in our hearts (1 John 5:21). Vote to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, intellect, and strength.
Jesus is the Answer for the world today. Above Him, there’s no other. Jesus is the Way.
Thank you for taking the time to read.
Sources:
Article: “Jonestown: 13 Things You Should Know About Cult Massacre” by David Chiu, published May 29, 2020 — Rolling Stone Magazine
Article: “More Americans Want Their Church to Share Their Politics” by Aaron Earls, published November 1, 2022 — Christianity Today
Speech: “Farewell Address to the Nation” by former United States President Ronald Reagan, January 11, 1989
Scripture reference links in the text are from the New Living Translation except where noted. They go to bible.com, courtesy of YouVersion, makers of the Bible App available for iOS and Android devices.
