Ancient Village vs. Global Village
When I read news I often imagine life in a remote 15th century European village.
Reading news through the internet, I’m exposed to reports about seven billion people, hundreds of different countries, and thousands of different cultures.
The reports are surrounded by ads featuring endless streams of incredibly gorgeous men and women.
And the internet enjoys presenting the exploits of the world’s wealthiest people, the greatest athletes, and the most brilliant minds.
So I think of my 15th century village.
The preacher had almost no one to compare his sermons to. The merchant wasn’t as assaulted by all the wealth he didn’t have. The village girl wasn’t forced to compare her breasts to women from around the globe. The student wasn’t as overwhelmed by endless trivia and countless other minds.
Any generation is tempted by pride, greed, vanity, and a lack of self-worth. We feed these vices by viciously comparing ourselves to others.
It feels like these temptations are amped up in an age when our comparisons span not just a 15th century village, but the global village.
So, we need to amp up some aspects of our faith in response.
With Genesis 1, each of us is created in the image of God. So we’re valued not by our production (of wealth, sexual attraction, or whatever), but by our living illustration of God’s care.
With Exodus 16, Mark 6, and Acts 2, the point of “stuff” is to have what we need to live, to enjoy the glory of living, and to help everyone have enough.
With 1 Corinthians 12, no matter who we are we are all connected in a positive way to each other.
Such a faith was essential in the ancient village. It’s needed just as badly on the modern net.
{295 words}
Reading news through the internet, I’m exposed to reports about seven billion people, hundreds of different countries, and thousands of different cultures.
The reports are surrounded by ads featuring endless streams of incredibly gorgeous men and women.
And the internet enjoys presenting the exploits of the world’s wealthiest people, the greatest athletes, and the most brilliant minds.
So I think of my 15th century village.
The preacher had almost no one to compare his sermons to. The merchant wasn’t as assaulted by all the wealth he didn’t have. The village girl wasn’t forced to compare her breasts to women from around the globe. The student wasn’t as overwhelmed by endless trivia and countless other minds.
Any generation is tempted by pride, greed, vanity, and a lack of self-worth. We feed these vices by viciously comparing ourselves to others.
It feels like these temptations are amped up in an age when our comparisons span not just a 15th century village, but the global village.
So, we need to amp up some aspects of our faith in response.
With Genesis 1, each of us is created in the image of God. So we’re valued not by our production (of wealth, sexual attraction, or whatever), but by our living illustration of God’s care.
With Exodus 16, Mark 6, and Acts 2, the point of “stuff” is to have what we need to live, to enjoy the glory of living, and to help everyone have enough.
With 1 Corinthians 12, no matter who we are we are all connected in a positive way to each other.
Such a faith was essential in the ancient village. It’s needed just as badly on the modern net.
{295 words}