In the previous blog, we discovered how Adam and Eve messed up in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). The relationship from that point with God was damaged. Didn’t mean that God didn’t continue to love both Adam and Eve, but the relationship status had definitely changed to “It’s Complicated”. Now think about this. God TRUSTED Adam and Eve to follow His command and NOT eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We can deduce that God TRUSTED them because in the first part of Genesis 3:8 (MSG) it says that God was “strolling in the garden in the evening breeze”. To me, this indicates that at some point God was coming BACK to check on Adam and Eve ultimately TRUSTING them to do what He said.
When God’s TRUST in Adam and Eve was broken, the relationship became damaged. So is it any wonder why in our modern day and age that we commit so many resources to finding, mending, or breaking up relationships?
Enter in reality television; the visually broadcasted microcosm of modern day relationships. For those of you who watch reality television shows, think about how many of these events you’ve seen:
Arguments?
Backbiting?
Bickering?
Deception?
Desire for another person’s stuff?
Desire for another person’s spouse or significant other?
Envy?
Fakeness?
Fights?
Immorality?
Lies?
Phony-ness?
Sex?
Shade? (apparently a new term on the block)
…so on and so forth…
It’s not to say that’s the case in every reality TV show everytime, but let’s keep it real. Drama keeps the ratings up and all of the events listed above pretty much equal DRAMA! And for those who may think that reality TV is scripted, I’d be inclined to agree with you… but only to a certain point. I agree that the situations may be staged, but the human interaction is more than likely real because it’s in our “human” nature to give a “human” response even in a staged situation.
But the bigger question is how many of those events are a result of underdeveloped relationships where TRUST is just a word and not a real factor?
Don’t believe the whole “underdeveloped relationships” theory? Allow me to cite precedence. Do you remember this famous reality TV show intro?
“This is the true story… of seven strangers… picked to live in a house… work together and have their lives taped… to find out what happens… when people stop being polite… and start getting real… The Real World.”
Why would seven strangers ever have a reason to TRUST one another? Sounds to me like this starts off with no relationship moving towards an underdeveloped relationship and possibly ending with either (1) a tolerable relationship, (2) an awesome relationship, (3) or no relationship at all (topped off with hatred sprinkles and grudge sauce).
But look at where the relationship starts. Being that the intro credits DON’T say “This is the true story… of seven God fearing, Bible believing, commandment following strangers…” that definitely starts the relationship behind the 8-ball. So I invite you to watch/listen to the intro credits on your favorite reality TV show and see if you can determine whether or not God is/will be in any of it. That will indicate what kind of “relationships” you’re about to observe for about an hour.
Stay tuned. More to come…
(And I’m not picking on “The Real World”. Just using it as an established example.)