Hello ,

A new type of character has emerged in popular television-the hardened, cynical investigator who sees through everything and everyone and then speaks his version of the truth with raw honesty. He's called Gregory House in the television series House, M.D., or Sherlock Holmes, or the detective Rustin (Rust for short) Cohle in HBO's True Detective.

Here's a brief summary of Rust's worldview: He calls the world "a giant gutter in outer space." We are merely things that labor under the illusion of having a self. We're "programmed" to believe we're special somebodies when, according to Rust, "everybody's nobody." Hence, Rust argues, "The honorable thing for our species to do is to deny our programming. Stop reproducing. Walk hand-in-hand into extinction [and] ... opting out of a raw deal." When Rust's colleague asks how he manages to get out of bed in the morning, Rust says, "I tell myself I bear witness. But the real answer is that it's obviously my programming, and I lack the constitution for suicide."

As is often the case with this kind of character, Rust's worldview leads to misery. Like Dr. House, Rust is an addict who abuses drugs in order to keep up his workaholism. His marriage crumbled beneath the weight of a tragedy that took his daughter's life. His worldview doesn't provide any hope after death. Despite his brilliance, few people are inspired by his conclusion that "everybody's nobody," and fewer still feel compelled to "deny our programming" and waltz headlong into extinction.*

We can choose to see the world in this same fashion, OR we can choose to ask God to help us to view it through His lens.  Is the world messy?  Yes!  Do people have problems?  Yes!  Are we often our own worst enemies?  Yes!  Does God still love us, and does He still want to save us for eternity?  Yes! Yes! Yes! 

I'm thankful that the God Who created us isn't a cynic, aren't you?

Have a great day and God bless!

Pastor Mike / The Open Word 

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