PARKS BROWN

What used to be known as an agenda or an ideology is now referred to as a narrative. Everywhere you turn people are talking about defining and maintaining a narrative. It sounds much better than ‘my truth’ and ‘your truth’ but it’s not very different. Give me a minute to make the case. It is critical to remember all narratives which are not Biblically based should be questioned and most likely rejected or redefined.

Defining the narrative has always been a cornerstone for power and control. ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’ Immediately, God set the narrative by clearly speaking everything into existence and defined that man could eat freely from any tree in the garden except for one. Mankind came under attack as the evil one tried to redefine God’s narrative by questioning what God had actually spoken to Adam and Eve. Satan has been trying to redefine God’s narrative ever since.

Today narratives are being redefined from the seemingly harmless to the damning. Pharma redefines the narrative for acceptable cholesterol, blood pressure and sugar levels to sell their drugs. DEI redefines diversity and inclusion with the purpose of excluding people they want to marginalize. What constitutes a man and a woman is redefined and bathrooms are no longer a safe place. A secure border is redefined as a daily acceptable number of illegals passing freely. This past weekend NORAD defined the most recent ‘spy’ balloon floating over military installations in the Midwest as ‘most likely a hobby balloon.’ No narrative is safe.

Everyone is defining their own narrative for control…and profit. If you think I’m wrong, try to remember the World Health Organization (WHO) defined when the pandemic began so they didn’t have to pay off $500mm in pandemic bonds. A guy named Fauci defined the origin of a virus to hide and benefit his financial connection with certain labs and research. Pharma redefined the narrative of what constitutes a vaccine so they could sell a shot to change your MRNA . There is profit behind defining most of the narratives today. The god of money is THE master and god of this world. The Bible reminds us, ‘No one can serve two masters…You cannot serve both God and Money.’ Matthew 6:24.

Some of us may consider this topic esoteric and boring. Some of us may simply not care or believe there is NO danger behind accepting any narrative they desire or propose. I beg to differ. Defining and pursuing a non-Biblical narrative makes one a friend of the world and puts you at enmity with God. ‘…don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.’ James 4:4.

We all know Wikipedia represents a continual free flowing work in progress. Words and narratives are defined depending on the input from various sources. In other words, the desired narrative can be sculpted to fit. Contrary to the Bible. The Bible represents a narrative defined by ONE divine being more than 2000 years ago and it never changes. Of course, these days pastors and Popes ARE trying to redefine some of this as well.

What one generation tolerates, the next generation accepts. Americans are now accepting many new narratives that have been redefined. Narratives like when the country was founded, the National Anthem and a general idea what the Founding Fathers physically looked like. The Super Bowl was evidence there are 2-3 anthems/narratives you can now choose from. And, don’t bother looking anything up on line to support or define your narrative. Last week Google revealed to the world they have chosen to redefine whatever narrative they desire by using their new AI (artificial intelligence) program, Gemini.

If you haven’t seen or heard, Google has gone full woke. The Vikings from Scandinavia now sport a narrative they were people of color. George Washington resembles the people enslaved from Africa and if you’re looking for video clips of riots and looting, it only involves fair skinned racists. ANYONE believing THEIR defined narrative should be accepted needs to wake up. All worldly narratives should now be questioned.

To keep it simple, narratives are either of this world or Biblically based. Period. Christians need to determine whether theirs or any narrative is supported by God’s Word before they define it and expect others to accept it. Biblically based narratives will always put people before profit and loving others as you love yourself. Since Christ followers have the Holy Spirit we can skip a legalistic list and just repeat what James put bluntly. ‘If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.’ James 4:17.

The world is trying to redefine Biblical narratives in every aspect of our daily lives. We can either tolerate the new narratives or reject them. I encourage each of us to inspect everything we are presented with a discipline that uses the Word of God as the only basis to define the narratives in your life.

Relationships are the foundation of human existence and the bedrock on which we we build our families and society. Relationships are a two way street where both parties not only ‘get’ each other but they ‘know’ each other. A recent Super Bowl advertisement led with the statement, He Gets Us. After watching this ad numerous times I’m pretty sure the next campaign should be, Do We Get Him?

The brunt of every advertisement is to sell a product or point of view. In this case, I’m not sure what the ad was selling but I know it was misleading and confusing. ‘He Gets Us’ is presented with the assumption the advertisement represents Jesus and His teachings on accepting people. If this is true, I think they could/should have chosen the more predominate theme of Jesus accepting people…their repentance.

If WE want to ‘get’ Jesus, of which this entire campaign and theme neglects, there is one place to get Him, the Bible. If we go with the belief Jesus was the Son of God and reflects both the Old and New Testaments, there are even more places to ‘get’ Him. There is NO doubt about the confusion and conflict in our world today and there is no doubt Jesus and the Bible have the answers. It is imperative WE get Him.

When the world becomes destabilized and your life presents questions you can’t answer, turn to the Bible. The Old Testament book of Job tells the story of a man seeking answers to the conflict and confusion in his life. Job questions why his life is the way it is. Many of the people and scenes depicted in the ‘He Gets Us’ ad campaign reflect folks who don’t understand the reasons behind their suffering. The ad does not point these people to the Bible but they share a commonality with the story of Job. Behind the calamities for Job and the scenes in the ad campaign, there lies a spiritual battle raging between God and the devil, good and evil, truth and lies. To understand and gain clarity of events in the world, we need to ‘get Him’.

Job’s friends presented a campaign to help him understand the chaos in his life and ‘get’ God. Their campaign led with the fact that knowing and getting God is THE key to understanding your life. Take the time to read Job 36:5-12 for yourself. Let me summarize, God is mighty, He despises no one; He understands all people and things, but…He tells us to first repent from iniquity, arrogance, sin and pride. This primary message was left out of the advertisement.

Repentance is to feel or express sincere regret or remorse about your wrongdoings and sin. Many of the scenes in the campaign ‘He Gets Us’ show people making choices and living lives antithetical to God’s teachings in the Bible…abortion, sexual perversions, stealing, ect… Another example that He gets us but we don’t really get Him.

In an earlier chapter, Job’s friends asked him about the importance of repenting. ‘Suppose a man says to God, “I am guilty but will offend no more. Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong I will not do so again.” Should God then reward you on your terms when you refuse to repent?’ Job 34:31-33.

Job’s answer sums up what is lacking in this ad and often times in the church. “‘My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.'” Job 46:5-6. He gets us but do we really get Him?

Some may say this represents the God of the Old Testament and Jesus is the New Testament. In fact, this ad stresses that ‘Jesus didn’t teach hate.’ To ‘get’ Jesus, let’s focus on what He DID teach.

When Jesus began His ministry, His first words in Matthew were ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ In the book of Mark, ‘The time has come, the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.’ In Luke, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance….But unless you repent, you too will all perish.’

This recent advertising focuses on people forgiving others as Christ forgave us. Jesus told His followers the same but with a caveat left out of the campaign. ‘If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, “I repent,” forgive him.’ Luke 17:3. Calling sin out doesn’t make a Super Bowl ad campaign. Repentance isn’t a popular feel good message either but it is a key teaching in order to ‘get Him’.

This advertising campaign is a reminder much of our culture has invaded the church and is confusing the full gospel, the full teachings of Jesus. Therefore, many want to focus on the warm, fuzzy, flowing haired Jesus so often presented with the tagline, He Gets Us. More important is the question, Do We Get Him? The culture advertises the fallacy there are numerous ways to get to heaven and any message is better than none. Jesus did not teach this.

Like the Super Bowl, Peter reminds us the clock is ticking and time does run out…and repentance is THE key to eternity. ‘Do not forget this one thing. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day…He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.’ 2 peter 3:8-9. We all have a limited time to play the game of life…and repent.

The last book in the Bible drills home the message Jesus delivered His entire life. Revelation 2:5,16,21,22….Keep reading, He repeats it ad nauseam….REPENT.

The latest He Gets Us campaign is a reminder it is more important that We Get Him. ‘What He Really Gets About Us’ is in the Book not in a TV advertisement. Read it and make up your own mind.

Misconceptions abound everywhere. By definition a misconception is a mistaken thought, a misunderstanding, a false opinion. I would say if you believe a misconception you are believing a lie. We are swimming in a sea of misconceptions in 2024.

As a young adult, one of the earliest misconceptions I had was believing the world was run by a group of the best and the brightest. I know, kinda makes you shake your head to even read about my naivete back then, but I think it’s a popular misconception shared by millions of folks when they’re young. The good news is, it doesn’t take long to learn the people in positions of authority, the elite, the leaders in our society, businesses and government are anything but an example of the cream rising to the top. Or, maybe they are.

When you hear ‘the cream rises to the top’, it pays to remember cream rises to the top because it has the highest fat content that makes it separate. The fat that rises to the top may be suited to a cafe’ latte but it doesn’t make an elite class worthy to run business and government. Our current elites seem to better resemble this fat than the best and brightest. If you still have faith in the elite class running America, I’m afraid you’re buying into one of the oldest misconceptions around.

The first misconception on record stems from the king of lies in the book of Genesis. Satan planted the mistaken thought about what the Creator had spoken and the torrent of misconceptions began. The fact Adam and Eve didn’t question a talking snake shows how easy it is to buy into a misconception. The elites in that day led the people to build a great tower, later known as the Tower of Babel. We read what happened there. In 2024, the American cultural and governing elite are building a similar fiasco.

In January, the US Treasury revealed our nation’s elite have flooded the national balance sheet with total debt of more than $34 TRILLION. For context, this debt increased $1 trillion in the past 3 months, $2 trillion in the past 6 months and $4 trillion in the past year. The current interest expense alone is $1.1 trillion. That’s $250 BILLION more than the Defense Budget, $250 BILLION more than spending on Medicare and will surpass the $1.35 TRILLION spending on Social Security THIS year, becoming the single biggest outlay. It’s a misconception this tower won’t fall as well.

In America, our elite resemble doddering politicians and narcissistic old men and women. This past week the governing and corporate elite from around the world gathered in Davos. The agenda for these elites included population control, the next pandemic with Disease X and their scheme to roll out a new digital currency. Is it a misconception the world will fall in line and follow the plans of these elite?

A few months ago the elite leading the FBI identified Catholics at the top of the list of troublemakers. Last week the journalistic elite tried to spread the misconception that white evangelical Christians were the next group of dangerous and subversive people to watch. Academic elites have been targeting Jews since Hamas started murdering women and children inside Israel more than 3 months ago. One thing is certain, the root of the original misconception was centered on people’s faith and belief in the Creator of the world. In America, the elites are still advocating the same misconception.

The actions of so many in elite positions of power and leadership make it apparent our world is not being led by the best and the brightest. It is a misconception our corporations are being run for shareholders when DEI and sexual re-education trumps profit. It is a misconception the border is secure when millions of illegals walk across, pick up a prepaid Visa card and catch a bus or flight into the heartland. It is a misconception things will go back to the way they were. It is a fallacy to think this won’t end badly.

By definition, ‘elite’ defines the choice part and best of a class. The word has become adopted by men and women to be synonymous with a group of people considered to be superior to others because of their intelligence, wealth and social standing. Today, many consider themselves part of the elite. 2000 years ago, Jesus KNEW He was elite but that’s about where the similarities end. Christ didn’t consider His elite status, His ‘equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant…he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-…’ Phil. 2:6-8.

God set the example for us of what a true elite SHOULD be. When He created mankind He gave of Himself and created us in His own image. When God sent his Son, Jesus lived out the true elitist mentality of what’s mine is yours. Jesus spent Himself for others, gave everything He had in life and death. The Holy Spirit continues to share what belongs to God with anyone who follows and is loyal. The model for elites is to be Christ-like and live out the God given mantra of sharing, what’s mine is yours.

Christ came to correct the misconceptions purported by the elite of that age. “‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.'” Matthew 10:34. To postulate or encourage a misconception is evil, wrong and sinful. ‘The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.’ 1 John 3:8. Before He returns, some elite need to look in the mirror.

We WILL see God step back into time again. God gave mankind the elite job and privilege of ruling His creation, but His idea of leadership doesn’t appear to be in vogue right now. GOD’S elite focus on sharing what’s been given to them, not taking for themselves. ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.’ This makes a leader truly elite and worth following. This elitism rewards us all.

So, WHY should the elite leaders in our world follow God’s Word and not what THEY believe is best? If for no other reason, fear. The Bible constantly reminds us that our Creator is a jealous God capable of wrath and punishment when He deems necessary. He eternally rewards those who lead with His love for others. In the next age, the paradigm seems to shift away from the current slate of elite leaders we now see. “‘But many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first.'” Matthew 19:30.

I’ll close with a convicting reminder to the elite and the common. Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities. Just as those elite in positions of wealth and power are inclined to see their gifts as God’s acquiescence to whatever they deem best for others, that could be a misconception as well. One of the wisest elites to ever live reminded us ‘the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to all.’ Ecclesiastes 9:11.

This is a stark reminder to each of us. We all know men and women are created equally but we have been gifted differently. The talents and gifts we have are not equal to each other. Our rewards and punishment will not be equal as well. Lead and live accordingly.

‘From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.’ Luke 12:48.

The forces of wind, rain, heat and cold have shaped the face of our planet since the beginning of time. Migration has been the primary force shaping civilization on the planet. People move from one place to another and inhabit the land as strangers, foreigners and aliens. Today, these people are front and center news across the globe and in your local community.

Strangers are people you are not familiar with. Foreigners are from another land and aliens, well, they’re from another world. These names and monikers evoke pictures in our minds that are sometimes accurate and other times not. IF, you’ve bothered to tune in lately and see the migration happening in Ireland, Germany, France, Great Britain, Texas, Arizona, Michigan, New York…OK, if you’re paying attention at all you have seen voluminous crowds of strangers and foreigners migrating. This migration is resulting in chaos, destruction and unrest across the globe, but nothing like what’s to come.

The Bible tells the record of migration throughout history. The first migration was led by God and documented in the book of Genesis. God told the Jewish nation “‘I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to posses…Know for certain your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own…'” Genesis 15:7-15. God is no foreigner to migrants and He tells us HOW to live as such.

Jesus reminded His followers they would ALWAYS be strangers and foreigners and aliens. ‘Friends, this world is not your home so don’t make yourselves cozy in it…Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices.’ 1 Peter 2:11 (MSG).

Christ himself was a foreigner and stranger in this world so He told us how to live as foreigners in a new land. ‘..live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.’ 1 Peter 1:17. If the mass of strangers you see in America and across the world are not peacefully integrating into foreign lands, they are not being led by God.

We ALL have been a stranger or foreigner when traveling to another country or relocating domestically for a job. A few years ago I moved 60 miles from my urban home of 35 years to begin a new life in a rural county. I felt like a stranger but was treated like a foreigner. It took me a minute to adjust but as a Christ follower I now welcome the reminder…I have ALWAYS been a foreigner even as I lived in the same place for more than half my life!

The book of Hebrews has a chapter chronicling the heroes of the faith I profess. These stalwarts, the legends of Christianity, our role models as Christ followers ‘…confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.’ If you are a Christ follower as well, look in the mirror and be reminded of your re-birth, heritage and new citizenship. This verse is a reminder our lives are temporary and death is our final migration as a spiritual being to another world…which brings us to the topic of aliens.

The headlines of the past few years have revealed strangers and foreigners migrating across nations and continents. The same headlines have also revealed a lot of talk about aliens and UFO’s which are now referred to as UAP’s (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena). Credible individual and national sources confirm Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena…so does the Bible.

The Bible teaches us that God resembles what most of us would call an alien. The God of Creation is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. Despite revealing Himself to the world through his Son in a human form, God is a spiritual being. He doesn’t age, need sleep or rest. God never changes or grows weary and tired. He is not physically like us but more of what we would call a REAL alien. The book of Revelation describes Jesus and his return like a hard core Sci-Fi movie.

People from every secular walk of life, Christians, Jews and atheists are all engaging in conversation about the end of time…and aliens. Revelation describes Christ’s return with Him coming in the clouds. His arrival is accompanied with the new city of Jerusalem. This Jerusalem looks like a giant cube or pyramid descending like a space ship adorned with lights and color. And, it’s HUGE. Approximately 1,400 miles SQUARED or about half the distance from New York to Los Angeles.

The Word of God is replete with the history of strangers, foreigners and aliens. It instructs us how to live as strangers, foreigners and aliens. In addition, it tells what strangers, foreigners and aliens are yet to come. The Bible also tells about the climate change coming, you should read up.

The world is echoing what The Creator is doing. Unless you read the Bible, current events will only serve to confuse and confound because evil in the world is trying to mimic and counterfeit God. Before the headlines get any crazier, read and study the bestseller of all time, the Bible.

I’ve worn glasses since the second grade so I’m keenly aware of factors effecting sight. As time passes no one’s vision is improving. It’s obvious certain factors add to and take away from our ability to see clearly. Light is critical to sight. Dim lighting hampers our vision and brighter light brings clarity. If you’ve ever pulled out your phone to see a menu in a restaurant, you know what I’m talking about. Light is critical in seeing what is going on in our daily lives.

Current events also expose the need to turn up the light. Light reveals while darkness hides. Last year a person in Nashville went on a killing spree in a Christian school murdering children and adults. This person wrote out their plans and reasoning to explain their actions so others would clearly see and understand. The powers that be in Nashville have kept this manifesto hidden from the light of day until portions leaked out a few weeks ago. A friend of mine is a television journalist and he questioned what good it served to shine the light into such a painful event for the family of the murderer. I remember a time when journalists believed in exposing truth. Light exposes truth and truth is what life is all about.

I worked on Wall Street for 30 years and I can tell you it’s a dark place. The Bible teaches that ‘everything exposed by the light becomes visible – and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.’ I can still remember the day I learned insider trading was legal for Congressmen and Senators but you and I would go to jail for the same behavior. This knowledge quickly illuminated why politicians would never pass term limits and they left office wealthy even when they were paid a meager salary.

More light into Wall Street reveals what started as a way to finance capitalism and grow wealth has become a systemic racket. When you buy a stock you spend money. When you sell a stock you receive money. On Wall Street, there are dark pools of money that can sell all day long without ever owning what they sell. This is widely known on the Street as naked short selling. Therefore, if you’re part of the machine that hides in this dimly lit activity money pours like water from a faucet. Journalists and regulators keep this practice dimly lit as well. Wonder why?

When we talk about shining the light of truth into an area where people live, work and profit, we might question what stops the light from exposing the truth? The answer is as plain as the restaurant menu when you shine your phone on it…evil people. “‘…men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear his deeds will be exposed.'” John 3:19-20.

Why are the deeds of some people in politics, Wall Street and even Main Street evil? The answer is simple but not popular. The LOVE of money causes some to hide their activities or stay in office until they’re unable or unfit to serve. I am NOT slamming money as evil but the ‘love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.’ 1 Timothy 6:10. This verse is a reminder that EVERYONE including Christians are susceptible to wandering from the light into the darkness.

Jesus emphatically claimed “‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” Therefore, Christians have the light but are we shining our light? Part of the answer is found in the book of Ephesians. ‘Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.’ Christ reminds HIS people, we are called to shine the light of truth into darkness.

Do YOU speak up when you see evil? Is a Christian doctor called to expose the fallacy of masks in preventing C-19…should Bible believing journalists push for the release of the Nashville killer’s manifesto…are there believers on Wall Street to shine truth on and regulate illegal trading activities?

Do Christ-followers live out their faith each day or is our light being hidden? Jesus emphatically said “‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl….In the same way, let your light shine before others…and glorify your Father in heaven.'” Matthew 5:14-16. I’m not saying Christians are called to hold everyone accountable but we ARE called to speak truth into every situation.

As 2023 draws to a close it appears as though the light is fading and the world is becoming more dimly lit. More time won’t expose truth, only the light inside Christ followers can do this. Has our light exposed what happened in Ukraine this past year? Have we exposed the truth behind the conflict in the Middle East? Has there been any light into the trail of money and weapons GIVEN to Iran, the caliphate in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and numerous other countries?

Too many Christians are obsessed with current events foretelling the return of Christ instead of living out what Christ commanded. He said to simply tell and train others in His way. The writer of Romans added ‘And do this , understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber because our salvation is nearer now…The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.’

Whoever you are and wherever you work and live the message is as plain as a well lit menu. ‘Put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.’ In other words. WAKE UP AND TURN UP THE LIGHT!!