A Better Society through Homogeneity!

Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

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We've taken care of everything
The words you hear, the songs you sing
The pictures that give pleasure to your eyes
It's one for all, all for one
We work together, common sons
Never need to wonder how or why

We are the priests
Of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers
Fill the hollowed halls
We are the priests
Of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life
Are held within our walls

"The Temples of Syrinx" Lyrics by Neil Peart, recorded by Rush from the "2112" album.

In 1976, the Canadian rock band Rush created the signature record of the first part of their career, 2112. It's the story of a dystopian (dystopian is the opposite of Utopian) society that is the product of a galaxy-wide war that resulted in the union of all planets under the rule of the "Red Star of the Solar Federation." By 2112, the world is ruled by the "Priests of the Temples of Syrinx" who control "the words you hear, the songs you sing, the pictures that give pleasure to your eyes," and so on.

So what's the fundemental difference between the Lord our God and the Computers of Syrinx? It's easy, Rush's dystopian society is based on an externally conceived and controlled society built to bring the masses into line for maximum benefit to the people in control. It's forced on the people, and when the one man, the Star Man, tries to do something different he's rebuked and eventually commits suicide.

Our relationship with God is different. We were created through God's overflowing love to share creation with the Lord. God's love is so great that we are asked to consider if the Lord will take care of the birds of the air in grand fashion, imagine what he will do for us. This has always been God's intention, that we share creation with God. Yes, sin gets in the way so we do not live as God intended, but that's not God's fault is it?

The Lord God has been with us since the beginning. Can't say the same for these priests.

The gifts of the Temples of Syrinx are "held within our walls." God's good gifts are for available to us here and now. It's up to us to seek them and accept them with God's love and blessing.

February 1, 2012 (that would be 2-1-12) was "Rush Day." A day when fans of the band celebrated their music. Today I invite us to contemplate a vision of what life can be when we live controlled "for the benefit of the people" instead of the life of freedom, peace, and love God has created us to live. It's the difference between control and love. It's a view where everybody is the same, homogeneous, a view that ends in death--at least for one Starman. Our God creates life in many colors, it is to our shame and harm when we try to make it all black and white.

Let's live the better vision.