Commercials and my Soul

The going price for a thirty second Super Bowl commercial this year was $3,000,000.00.   I wonder how many of those commercials could be argued as edifying to Christians?  After last years sexual Go Daddy commercials, I decided to abstain from this years ads altogether.  This was done by changing the channel during each break.  Thankfully, Toy Story 2 was on ABC Family and better yet, ESPN was showing a 30-for-30 episode on the Red Sox 2004 ALCS victory over the Evil Empire (Yankees).  I must admit I was slightly more interested in the 30-for-30 than the Super Bowl.  I've noticed that most items being sold or pushed in commercials are wants, and not needs.  Below is a Chase commercial with Queen's "I want it All" in the background.  A very telling commercial about our culture.

Not watching the Super Bowl ads, got me thinking about commercials in general.  Are they beneficial for me to watch and put into my mind?  TV itself is a different story, my wife's blog communicates our thoughts on TV usage Using the "D" word: Turning off the Tube.  But, commercials, I would say are not great, good, or even profitable as a whole.   Our home should be a place of where I can find rest from the world.  Why would I willingly allow my mind to battle the wars that commercials can instigate?  It is with that resolve, when we do watch TV,  commercials will not be included, in the hopes of protecting our hearts and minds from their often negative influence.

As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.

This morning eating breakfast with Rafferty we were rocking out to many great classics; The Beach Boys, CCR, Stevie Wonder to name a few.  When Breakfast was wrapping up I played The Battle Hymn of the Republic (1959 Mormon Tabernacle version).  I would have to say, this is my favorite patriotic song.  It is song that is rich in Christian theology as well as historically weighty.   It was a song sung by Union soldiers during the Civil War.  It was an inspiration to the soldiers and helped remind them of what they were fighting for; to free an enslaved people.  To seek justice for injustice.  As the lyrics read "As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free."  Jesus died to to bring liberation to those enslaved to sin.  As Christ is the example, we too must die to make men free.  This does not necessarily mean a physical death, but dying to the self and the selfs desires.  Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."   This death could end up being a physical death, but could mean a multitude of other things.   As I listen to different youtube versions, it was difficult to find one that was lyrically the same as the original.  This clip, though not my favorite athestic or musically, captures the authors intent. Written below is the original lyrics, all 6 verses,

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:

His truth is marching on.

(Chorus)

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,

They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;

I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:

His day is marching on.

(Chorus)

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:

"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;

Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,

Since God is marching on."

(Chorus)

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:

Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!

Our God is marching on.

(Chorus)

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:

As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,

While God is marching on.

(Chorus)

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,

He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,

So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,

Our God is marching on.

(Chorus)

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Our God is marching on.