Leaving the Circus
A follow-up to the Bread and Circuses post
Once your eyes are opened to the circus (addressed in the last post), what do you do? Here are some thoughts.
You don’t have to accept it
The culture may be trying to feed you a narrative. Everyone around you may be believing it. That doesn’t mean you have to. Wherever you see false narratives and ideologies, you can refuse to go along with it. You can refuse to expose yourself to it. Yes, that means there are things you may have to miss out on. It means you will take some losses. But the only way the leaders of the circus will give up the schtick is by the people refusing to come.
Be vocal
When people ask you why you are not watching that movie or participating in that activity, tell them. Tell them boldly.
Vote out the ringleaders
We still have a mechanism in this nation for controlling who is in power. Use it. Get yourself to that voting booth and vote for the person who is most likely to end the charade. Do not apologize to anyone for it.
Learn to disregard angry reactions and emotional manipulation
People can get mad over all sorts of things, but if you really want them to go postal, mess with their entertainment. The bread and circuses are considered sacred, but so were the idols in Judah. That didn’t stop Josiah. It shouldn’t stop us.
I highly recommend Joe Rigney’s new book for dealing with this concept:
Leadership and Emotional Sabotage (This is an affiliate link, meaning I get a small commission if you make a purchase through it).
Reject the current wicked ecosystem and create a righteous one
Begin living according to a different norm; the norm of Scripture. If you begin walking carefully as the Scripture instructs you to, you will make waves. There will certainly be a visceral reaction. When you are walking against the crowds, there will be no end to the collisions.
Some, however, will wonder where you are going and what you see in the circus that has turned you off. Those people may not be far behind you. Every soul that follows your example is another empty seat in the tent. Every empty seat diminishes the power the circus has over the people.
Bury yourself into God’s Word
You’re going to need it. It is a double-edged sword. But it’s only useful to you if you’ve studied it and know how to use it. When Satan tempted Christ in the wilderness, he offered Him his own version of bread and circuses. With each instance, Christ beat him back with these three words: “It is written.” You must seek to master what the Lord has written in His Word so you are prepared to beat back the enticements in the same way.
Know that you are not alone
It may seem that way, but you are one of many for whom the bread has lost its flavor and the circus is no longer entertaining (1 Kings 19).