On February 25, 2007 an advertisement aired on ABC introducing Apple’s first iPhone. In June 2007 the iPhone was released and the indoctrination was launched.
At that time, 10 years ago, I was not using apple technology, although I had been around it since my early days in computer retail selling Apple II’s. This Apple product sold for $1298 with only 4K of ram in 1983.
The Apple iPhone 8 base unit with 64GB (34 years later) was introduced at $999. Predictions of iPhone 8 unit volume for the first 12 months is 241.5 million. This is what I call an introduction and indoctrination plan that worked. I realize there are people reading this right now who do not purchase Apple products, and never intend to do so. That’s ok, I’m not endorsing them, each to his own I say. I’m sure Samsung, Motorola, Nokia all make a good product, but can we all just agree that Apple (at least according to the latest Gartner data) is leading the industry in market share (as of Q4 2016).
Introducing a new idea is one thing. Indoctrination of this new idea in such a way that it impacts the entire world, is a whole other thing altogether.
The Old idea in the first century had been around for a about 1400 years, first given to Moses while he lead God’s people out of bondage in Egypt to the Promised Land. We call it by different names: The Law, The Torah, etc. Made up of the first five books of the Old Testament, the Old idea was God’s role as Creator, God establishing a Nation, and God’s Laws for that Nation. The initial instruction set was only 10 Commandments, encompassing everything a person would need to relate to God and to his fellow human.
- No other gods before Me
- No idols
- No using my name in vain
- Keep the Sabbath day
- Honor mom and dad
- Do not murder
- Do not commit adultery
- Do not steal
- Do not lie about your neighbor
- Do not covet your neighbor’s stuff
It just seems to me that even now, after 3500 years since this stuff was written down [Exodus 20:1-17] we still don’t do any of these things very well. I realize that these original DOCTRINES were given to a specific group of people (the Hebrews), but God’s intention was that the Hebrews be a light to the world about God’s blessings. By now we should be so convinced of God’s blessings that the world would look different than it does.
Here’s the thing, after 1400 years of indoctrination the Hebrew people were not only NOT a light to the world, they had been so cut off from God that the last prophet to arrive, announced the coming of God’s Kingdom and the arrival of Messiah, the NEW IDEA. So steeped in the Old idea were the leaders of Israel, that they had no clue God was doing something New. The arrival of Jesus is Good NEWS! The introduction of Messiah should have been the pinnacle of Jewish existence. Instead it became infamous for the actions of the Sanhedrin, orchestrating the death of the Son of God.
Here we are, 2000+ years removed from this event. And while there is much indoctrination among the many different beliefs about who Jesus was, or is, or will be, when I look around our world I’m a little sad that we don’t seem to have made the same impact today as the first apostles did when it all started. Peter preached on two separate occasions and 3,000 and 5,000 men respectively, came to be first time Christ-followers. Where is that kind of preaching today?
When the church gathered for prayer, because two of their own were chained to the wall in a prison cell, God heard their prayers and the chains fell off, while an angel of God lead them out of that jail. Where is that kind of praying today?
Have our hearts grow so cold? Have our wills become so weak? If we can’t get folks to just stand up and hold their hand over their hearts for the singing of a national anthem, how could we ever expect them to stand and do battle against the spiritual forces of evil at work in this world today?
We’ve lost sight of what Jesus said about His church. Do you remember?
Matthew 16:18
I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Jesus wasn’t talking about Peter building a church. Jesus was talking about the faith statement Peter has just uttered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
If this is the faith statement, and the Church is living this out in truth and power, then why does it seem Satan and Hell are winning so many battles today? … in the media, in politics, in our school systems, in almost every entertainment venue, including the NFL?
We’ve fallen prey to his deceptive ways. Tolerance was introduced as the Prime Directive. Now it seems the indoctrination of “tolerance” has led us to the point of no return.
God save us from ourselves, and from those who would destroy us with agendas of hate and condescension. God, show us the way back to you. God, launch us back in Your direction…
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As I was saying... 