“Anyone knows that ants can’t feel. You’re so tiny you don’t look real. I’m so big and you’re so small, I don’t think it’ll hurt at all.” Quote from Hey, Little Ant. If you don’t have children, that book is probably not on your bed stand. But it fits the basic idea of Under the Dome. “Ants are people too so you shouldn’t punish or kill them.” While not a direct quote, that summary gets the main idea across. Sound familiar?

King compares the characters that we know and love to ants. Ants that have no real life. Ants that can be played with and you never have to worry about consequences. Ants that are expendable.

Is King on a campaign to get us to watch where we walk? Did an ant capture his heart? Are we suddenly to think about how small we are? Maybe there is a different connection.

“God is a mean kid sitting on an anthill with a magnifying glass, and I’m the ant. He could fix my life in 5 minutes if He wanted to, but He’d rather burn off my feelers and watch me squirm!” Bruce from Bruce Almighty. It could have been any one of our characters.

“God’s a kid with an ant farm, lady. He’s not planning anything.” John Constantine in the movie Constantine. Get the feeling that this is a common thought?

Piper Libby, the faithless reverend, could have made these statements. I can’t find the reference now, but didn’t she connect her “god” to these alien kids playing? If you find the reference, put it in a comment.

Did King intend to mock the God of the Universe? Is “god” like those children who play with us and have no compassion, acting distant and unfeeling, cruel, unattached? (Pg 1062) It is hard to come to any other conclusion from this book. At best, God is ignored. At worst, He is just like the alien children.

So I guess we are to ignore everything God reveals about Himself. I wouldn’t suggest it. This view of God is unhealthy because it completely misses His love for mankind clearly presented in life and in Scripture.

We humans look at our lives, consider the pain and suffering that happens, and think God must not care, if He exists at all. We are very selfish and suffer from tunnel vision. We can’t see anything except what is happening to us. We refuse to see the tapestry that God has put together to actually care for humans. We can’t see His amazing love, because we don’t want to.

“The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” Psalm 19:1

Maybe they just couldn’t see it because of the filth on the dome. Can we see it?

I hope that God opens our eyes before it is too late. We need to see from His perspective to understand. God’s gospel is the means for this sight. I hope we can see it.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Wow!

Seeing as how I watch shows on dvr or Hulu instead of live, I am not able to respond to them immediately. But did you see the season finale of Lost? Those of us who still follow the show can’t help but be intrigued. Now we just have to wait until the LAST season!

Here is a recap and 10 questions. Interesting for the Biblical references.

Thanks to Gene Veith for the link.

What did you think? Are you excited not for teh final season? Love to hear your thoughts.

“Gods” in Spandex

Superheroes matter right now because they are the new “gods” that our culture turns to. Why do we need such things? Great question! How many of us feel like the world is out of control? Of course, as Christians we know that the world is not out of control, but it sure feels like it sometimes. If you did not turn to Jesus in those moments, where would you turn? That is why so many turn to superheroes. Lets face it, so much in the world is out of our control. What do we do when we feel helpless? We find someone who is not helpless and can actually solve the problem for us.

Watchmen helps us see the fact that even the superheroes don’t have the answers. They struggle just like we do. If you do not have a “god” that is big enough to help, you are in trouble. Even Dr. Manhattan can’t really help except through manipulation. He is no god. He would agree. He says it in the movie and the novel.

Humans are Corrupt from the Inside

Good thing we have the Watchmen to tell us this because Scripture is just not enough to know it is true for most people. Sad for them. We need saving from ourselves. I agree and cry out for people to take this seriously, more seriously than we are used to taking graphic novels. Let’s hope the message doesn’t get lost in all that CGI violence and all too real sex.

“for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23
Pretty simple and straightforward. Too bad most don’t accept it.

To Recommend or Not To Recommend

I can’t really recommend the movie to you, despite the fact I would like to. Just too much sex and violence that would cause many to sin by lusting or celebrating, even in their mind. If you are one of those people who can see things like this and not be affected (i.e. you are not prone then to sin) then by all means, go see it. For the rest of you, the novel will suffice and fortunately the graphic issues are more understated in the novel. Pick it up and enjoy the story along with us as we discuss it chapter by chapter (or issue if you like.)
Incredible story and helpful, even from a Christian viewpoint. That said, be careful with the movie. There are dangerous roads provided in this movie to entice the human sin nature. Ironic actually, given the fact that this novel points at the corrupt nature of humans as bad and the movie provides opportunity. That is what happens when many people try to tell the same story; it doesn’t always have the same punch.