What, then, is required of people today? Essentially four things. Their first and chief duty is to work well, painstakingly, and punctually. The second is not to be bothered about collective matters, not to become involved, not to meddle, to leave things to those who are qualified to see them...The third thing is to be a good consumer, to have good wages and to spend them, consumption being an absolute duty, the only imperative duty, for if people do not consume the pace will slow down, money will not circulate, and there will not be enough work. The final thing is to follow the opinions propagated by the media, to adopt the information and themes for reflection that are proposed, and not to seek further afield...
“On that day,” declares the LORD, “a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, wailing from the New Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills. Wail, you who live in the market district; all your merchants will be wiped out, all who trade with silver will be ruined. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’ Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished. They will build houses but not live in them; they will plant vineyards but not drink the wine.
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3 Comments
Jacques Ellul quote
I understand the verses fine, but not the Jacques Ellul quote. Is this a joke, or an opposite-day adventure? Are you recommending that people in the Christian community embrace the four things, or just the opposite? I’m confused by this posting.
Confusion
Thanks for asking about this, Adrian. You are quite right. Ellul is saying this in a sarcastic manner. He is pointing out that the modern world has these four basic requirements of people, and that people are all too willing to submit to these. The truth, the right thing to do…as you imply is to do the opposite.
Ellul’s Thread of thought
I think the quote was witten in the context of, …what modern, ..or is it post modern culture seems to suggest about what the role of an individual in society is, …Work without reflection ( Why do we work and for whom do we work?),… the dearth of compassion ( we no longer care about, leave alone LOVE our neighbour!)….Unbridled consumerism which ignores Biblical stewardship which unfortunately is reflected for example in the mounting Credit and credit Card problems in the US, UK. Korea…and finally a mindless subservience to the current fads, opinions and thoughts whereas a serious Christian should look at everything from a christian worldview!
Simply put, … the four things are essentially Anti -Christian!