The "Bread & Circuses" Coma

A few years ago the Lord spoke this promise to me, "Out of a land of great distraction, I will raise up a people of great devotion." I want to be a part of that promise but realize that it won't come to pass without some serious spiritual and cultural opposition.

The term "bread & circuses" originated during the times of the Roman Empire. Although the term is rarely used today, I believe the strategy is prevalent in our Western culture. I am susceptible to it and I think you are as well.

Back in the day emperors would provide food & entertainment to keep the common man entertained, appeased, and distracted from civil affairs. A definition of the term "bread & circus" means to provide mere satisfaction of the immediate, shallow requirements of a populace leading to an erosion or ignorance of civic duty amongst the concerns of the common man.

You don't have to step foot back in time or visit a Roman Coliseum to slip into a "bread & circuses" coma.

A video game obsession that gets all encompassing....a daily TV routine that becomes guarded or "sacred"....constant news and social media updates barraging your mind and pounding on the door of your heart, vying for your attention. It is not hard to become dulled and distracted by all the “bread & circuses” going on all around us.

Radical Christianity doesn't require that I live in the desert eating locusts and honey like John the Baptist. It doesn't mean that I can never look forward to a night of Netflix with my wife to temporarily escape the demands and pressures of the day.

But it does mean that I seriously take to heart Jesus' words in Matthew 6:33 to seek first the Kingdom of God.

"The divided heart tries what the undivided heart does." -Lance Wallnau

I am praying the prayer of David for myself and our church family, "Lord, give me an undivided heart that I may walk in your ways."

As Christ-followers we want our lives to count for all eternity. We want to bring our Father's Kingdom down from heaven to earth. To live that kind of intentional lifestyle requires making small, conscious decisions to not live an over-entertained and under challenged existence.

Which areas of your life are you fighting off a "bread & circuses" coma?

- This blog was written by Pastor Joshua Finley as part of the Radical Series at Elim Gospel Church. Pastor Josh is the Lead Pastor at EGC.

Excess or Absence

Just the word “Radical” brings up all kinds of imagery and ideas like “overboard”, “outrageous” or “off the deep end”. So what is this series really all about?

All too often, when people hear something like the word radical in reference to Christianity, they get nervous. Thoughts come pouring in like a flood with extremes like people with signs on the street yelling at others or requests to give away ALL your money or possessions or time if you really are a believer. It’s easy to just shake your head and dismiss such behavior as unattractive to others and unrealistic as a lifestyle.

While these excesses are certainly negative, how many of us disregard real and meaningful inklings from the Holy Spirit by making excuses that our culture has introduced into our thinking? Maybe God doesn’t necessarily want us to yell at others on the street, but he does want us to actually talk to our neighbors or co-workers about Him and not just “be friendly.” What if He isn’t really asking us to give away all our money, possessions or time, but He does want us to carefully consider what we do have as His and chose to live on a faith adventure with Him. Perhaps instead of having such fear of being too extreme and dismissing any “radical” ideas as ridiculous, we should stop and actually consider them. What if an absence of devotion should be more of concern than an excess?

Just saying… maybe we should think this through.

- This Guest Blog was written by Cindy Scott, the Care and Community Life Director. Cindy is also the founder of Bridges to What Could Be, a life-coaching ministry based in the Rochester area.

why bother?

7-10-11 - Storytellers - Why Bother? - Joshua Finley from EGC on Vimeo.

return to rest

7-3-11 - Return - Return to Rest - Joshua Finley from EGC on Vimeo.

seeing through heaven's eyes.

After hearing Leif Hetland speak, watching his life and walking with him in friendship, I have great anticipation as I read this book "Seeing Through Heaven's Eyes."   

Check out this one min video promo for this book's recent release.

While many are upgrading from the iphone 3 to iphone 4 software, it's time for us to receive an upgrade in our Kingdom thinking and world view. 

The power of the transformed mind will bring new lifestyles..new lifestyles will always create a new culture...a Kingdom culture will always bring needed transformation to the nations.  This is what we are called to.

We're really looking forward to having Leif with us as one of our speakers for our upcoming Kingdom Conference     Sep 22-25.  You can register at the above conference link!