THE CULTURE OF EXCESS
We continue to be shocked – almost daily – with new revelations and allegations of atrocities that surround the sexual scandals involving athletic coaches at Penn State and Syracuse universities. We wonder who knew, what they knew, and how long they knew it. We scratch our heads as we try to imagine why proper authorities were not notified. We wonder if college athletics have to be cut back or eliminated. And deep at our core we are asking – even if not verbally – how could an adult do such acts to children.
Even in our pluralistic, non-absolute world, we know deep within that such acts are wrong. There is no one – even in the most liberal of media outlets – that is defending the acts. There are no cries of “Well I see this as wrong, but who am I to judge?” Indeed there are absolutes that form such standards of behavior. But of all the words that are used to describe such acts, the word “sin” is not used.
As J.R. Slosar shows in his urgent,yet sometimes startling book, the nation's fast-and-loose approach to money and excess is in fact a symptom of a more widespread pattern of excessive behavior. In The Culture of Excess: How America Lost Self-Control and Why We Need to Redefine Success, Slosar portrays an America where the drive to succeed and the fear of missing out manifested itself not only in self-entitled corporate fraud, but in everything from sharp rises in obesity and cosmetic medical procedures to equally troubling increases in eating disorders, panic attacks, and outbreaks of uncontrollable rage.
The Culture of Excess is the first book that I am aware of to assess the impact of economic and social factors on the nation's psychological well-being. Narcissism, productive narcissism, psychopathy, rigidity and self-destruction, perfectionism, the illusion of success, and identity achievement all come into play as Sloser diagnoses the psychological drivers behind this indulgent age, offering his prescription for helping “Generation Me" become “Generation We.”
Interestingly enough there are passages in the New Testament that give us the idea that there were a lot of excesses around in the first century as well. We began in October looking at the fifth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. We heard Paul’s call to stand firm on the truth because we all are in need of God’s grace. Let’s continue reading to find Paul’s list of sinful excesses that are a part of the natural man’s world.
Galatians 5
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
There are lots of things that we can learn from lists. We see progression, themes, similarities, differences. We are able to focus on the development of concepts. But many times our tendency is to simply lump all things together in a list. We read a list like this from Paul and we lump them all together in a generic way that takes away the potency of specific application. “Don’t be bad –yeah yeah I got that.”
Let’s take a little closer look at these words in the list from Paul. Notice a couple of observations as we begin. None of the words carry an intrinsically bad meaning. The words also seem to be grouped into four categories – “kinds” of excesses if you will. Within these groups of words, there is a distinct progression of entrapment, stepping further away from the ideal. It drives the person from submission to God to an elevation of the created to an obsession with the enemy.
This month, let’s take a look at the first two “kinds” of excesses that Paul mentions.
I. CURB AN EXCESS-DRIVEN PURSUIT OF SEXUAL PLEASURE
A. Let’s look at the ideal:what did God intend in His design? The first group of words that Paul presents has to do with an excess-driven pursuit of sexual pleasure. God’s ideal for the sexual relationship is between a man and a woman. The faithful commitment between the couple reflects the relationship and commitment between Christ and the church.
B. Let’s look at the first three words in the list, at the end of verse 19: what picture of dangerous excess is Paul painting?
1. PORNEIA – literally means “traffic with harlots.” The word emphasizes the one-on-one sexual encounter with someone who can help you experience things you haven’t experienced. Notice that it is the root from which we get our word “pornography.”
2. AXATHARSIA – literally means “impurity with a corrupting influence.” It takes the personal nature of sexual activity to a larger scale and group. It includes the misuse of sex, along with the implication of drawing others to participate. It involves the tendency of vice to spread its corrupting influence to others.
3. ASELGEIA – literally means “paraded with no restraint; flaunted decadence.” This word carries the flavor of being un-awed by shame or fear, without regard for self-respect or the rights and feelings of others.
C. Let’s look at the progression: Do you see how easily we become addicted – indeed enslaved to sin? These words literally paint the picture of any addiction, but specifically the addiction to sex. One on one you are exposed to and led to engage in sexual activities that are new and exciting. But soon those encounters do not provide the same rush, so you look to more things with more people. Finally, all restraints are thrown to the wind as you pursue pleasure at all costs
II. CURBAN EXCESS-DRIVEN DESIRE TO WORSHIP
A. Let’s look at the ideal: what did God intend in His design? The second group of two words speaks to an excessive desire to worship. Jesus told us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. He indicated that one who truly worshipped God would do so in spirit and in truth. Paul tells the Romans that presenting our entire self to God is in fact our spiritual worship.
B. Let’s look at the words: what picture of dangerous excess is Paul painting?
1. EIDULOLATRIA – literally means “the worship of idols.” Here we see a worship of creation, of others,of things rather than the creator God. It attributes God’s place to something else; sacrificing to something else what should only belong to God
2. PHARMAXEIA – literally means “to use drugs to poison.” The word became associated with a drug induced worship of Satan, often involving sorcery and witchcraft.
C. Let’s look at the progression: how can we become enslaved? Is it really wrong to want to worship – even if to the excess? The progression here is not so much that we worship more intensely, but that we worship more indiscriminately. The first word means the worship of idols and looks at the things in creation. It is attributing God’s place to the things of creation. The second word takes the worship into the Satanic realm. It is the practice or sorcery and witchcraft. It is most often associated with a drug-induced frenzy.
With no standards of moral absolutes, the culture of excess – whether in first century Asia Minor or twenty-first century America – encourages us to experience “more.” The addictive nature of sin takes the excess from a “this isn’t involving anyone but me” act to acts that want to draw others in as well. The final addictive stage is uncontrollable – “I will do whatever I want; no one has the right to stop me.” It is there that Satan has an almost unbreakable grip on his victim.
Later this month we will finish our study of the excesses listed in Galatians chapter five.
Tom May
Discipleship Minister at Eastside Christian Church (Jeffersonville, Ind.)
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