MESSAGE, OR OPINION?

MESSAGE, OR OPINION?

Now again, my Master's Message, God, God-of-the-Angel-Armies:

"Go out into the streets and lament loudly!
Fill the malls and shops with cries of doom!

Weep loudly, 'Not me! Not us, Not now!'
Empty offices, stores, factories, workplaces.

Enlist everyone in the general lament.
I want to hear it loud and clear when I make my visit."
God's Decree.

(Amos 5,16-17 / The Message Bible)

Amos, do not bother to apply! You will never be an anchor on the nightly news. Our “streets”, the airwaves, the papers and the internet, are avenues where we freely express our opinions. We don’t like “messengers”. Messages from a God, who is in charge of Heavenly Armies, are of no interest to us. Tell us how you feel, and if we like what we hear, we will turn you on again. Then, but only then, we might even support you and your causes.

As long as the malls are packed with products, we need no crying babies, especially not from God. It was always our opinion; long time investors eventually win. Look! The stock market agrees with us. Compared to anyone, our workers are more industrious. What do you know about the city? I never heard of your birthplace. Tekoa, it has to be somewhere in the desert. How far that God of yours found you from America? Marvel at the skyscrapers, walk on the plush carpets in the office buildings, be mesmerized by the lights and the sounds; and learn to love our way of live!

Even though he was forewarned, the prophet set out for the city. The skyline was magnificent. Sprawling buildings, sparkling lights, sensuous images awaited him everywhere. Then, there was the factory. Entering, he found it empty. From there he went to the mall. Packed with stuff to the ceiling, the stores were empty of people. He could not visit the top floors of the office buildings. Inaccessible form the street, as he was told in all kinds of languages, the prophet wanted nothing else to see. In his room, disappointed and exhausted, he turned on the news to hear the “opinions” about his shocking discoveries.

The same politicians, CEOs, actors and public personalities popped up on millions of screens around him. There were the stars of disappointed and exhausted city-dwellers. In their opinion, the state of the city can be described by two simple words: “peace and prosperity”.

He needed nothing more to hear. He remembered the Word. And then, the prophet started to cry…

Friends, when a prophet cries, he sees something in the future… It is time to pray for our country!