Confession time, I was one of the millions who watched the final of The Traitors. I find it fascinating that there were so many people who watched the programme and that it was also part of the news, especially given all the craziness going on in the world right at this moment.
With some of the stuff we are hearing from world leaders, and
one in particular, it does feel like we are being played and invited into
watching some Reality TV Show. What cliff hanger can I leave you all on this
week? Will it be Greenland or Cuba or maybe Iran!
I cannot speak for others, but I have been trying to analyse
why I have found The Traitors so compelling.
A key aspect of the programme is about being deceitful and telling lies,
and as a Christian we are told in no uncertain terms who is the father of lies.
‘You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the
desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand
in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he
speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.’ John8.44
Don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting lying is a good thing
but we do need to keep in mind that The Traitors is a game. It’s a piece of
live reactionary theatre. No one gets hurt, and in the Traitors Uncloaked, they
all come together and congratulate each other and the winners. They talk about
the challenges and the fun along the way. The physical challenges in the final pushed
some of the participants to places they thought they could never go but they
found they could with the encouragement of others.
I also like the two bookends as well. To increase the prize pot,
they must complete ‘missions’ and work together. And yet when it comes to the
Round Table they may be bluffing or even lying and hiding their identity. And I found it interesting that on the
occasion when Claudia put on a nice dinner for those who form the final cohort,
each told their story and what they would do if they won. And to person you
could not fault their motives. Some of their stories were very moving.
So yes, for some it will have gone over their heads, passed
them by, and for some Christians, I can understand if they feel uncomfortable
about some aspects of the programme.
One important lesson we can learn is to ask the question
about the truth of what we are being told. And currently the verse I quoted above
is writ large across the world. And this has become escalated with AI especially
in social media posts. It is so easy to
press that ‘share’ button, or pass comment without having asked that first question;
is this true, or is this AI generated? I am very pleased to see that the BBC
have BBC Verify which is a team of specialists who seek to fact find.
Like those gathered at a castle in Scotland we have a common
mission and it isn’t to gain a pot of money.
‘All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it
to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.’ 1 Cor.9.25.
Unlike those in the castle we are not to ‘play act’ which is exactly what a hypocrite is, someone playing a part, an actor.
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you
Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in
people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter
either. Matthew 23.13
As we step out into the week ahead, that given the current
climate, unless we have locked ourselves away in a remote castle, we will be
faced with all sorts of nonsense, where people are being told lies and people
are getting hurt and killed, may we heed Jesus’ words as we seek to navigate
our way through life…
‘Jesus then said to his disciples, ‘Listen well. I am sending
you to people who will want to kill you.* You will be like sheep among wild
animals. You must watch carefully, like snakes do. But you must also be good
and kind like doves.’ Matthew 10.16
Be at peace. Do not look
forward in fear to the changes of life; rather look to them with full hope as
they arise. God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them. He
has kept you hitherto, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when
you cannot stand it, God will bury you in his arms. Do not fear what may happen
tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of
you then and every day. He will either shield you from suffering or give you
unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts
and imagination. – Saint Francis de Sales
Brothers and sisters let us praise God in the storm...
https://youtu.be/MgpaULjZOl8?si=2kVGWsfHnC0dNGQg
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