The Religion Du Jour

The movie Ironclad (2011) stars James Purefoy as a Knight Templar who sets out with a small band of men to defend a castle against an invasion after the signing of the Magna Carta (1215). Now, the Knights Templar were a kind of hybrid between priest and soldier, technically called "the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon" (thus, Templar Knights), who took vows of poverty, chastity, piety, and obedience while fighting for Christ (at least in theory). So we have this Knight Templar who, at the castle he is defending, meets the wife of the lord of the castle, a pretty young thing married by convenience without love. And there is, behind the gruesome physical conflict, an equally gruesome spiritual one. Will he stay true to his vows, or will he succumb to the pretty young thing who wants him?

Of course, at the peak of the physical conflict the young wife decides to urge this soldier of Christ to sleep with her because, as all Hollywood knows, that's what young women do. They seduce men every chance they get. She doesn't argue, however, against his apathy toward her. No, he's not apathetic. She argues against his faith. She asks why he allows his vows to outweigh his desires.

And there, folks, you have it. This (fictional) character (a clear product of Hollywood in this day and age) has stated the primary religion in America (and beyond) today. I mean, sure, there are important things in life. Marriage, causes, God ... there are important things. But nothing--not spouse or family or country or God should come in the way of your desires. That's the religion of the day.

Kind of like what Peter said.

The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. (2 Peter 2:9-10)

That's our world, our religion du jour. Indulging the flesh in its corrupt desires and despising authority. If only it didn't also describe a large portion of people who call themselves Christians but indulge corrupt desires and despise the authority of the Word and the church.