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Who is Afraid of The Paparazzi? Does anyone recall the biblical account of Adam and Woman? The two were in the garden and they both ate the forbidden fruit. God entered the garden and asked Adam if he has eaten the fruit which God had previously forbidden him to eat. Adam blamed his sin on the woman and also implicated God in stating, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." The woman blamed the serpent, but at least she did not implicate God in the matter, "The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat." Man may be technologically advanced, but spiritually and emotionally he continues to prove himself a spineless, weak, irresponsible, cringing coward. From the time of Adam in the garden, up to this present day, mankind continues to shift the blame for sin and failure to others. The most recent target for blame is the paparazzi. Notorious for their invasion of private lives, the paparazzi has now been blamed for the death of Princess Diana. Prior to this climactic charge, however, the paparazzi has come under fire from a number of sources for its photographic exploitation of various individuals." While I do not condone the exploitive motives of the paparazzi, I have to firmly state that the paparazzi is not the source of the problem so many people are buzzing about today. The real source of the problem is discovered in those who run to purchase the tabloids glutted with paparazzi photos. We cannot blame drunkenness, or deaths related to drunkenness, on brewers and distillers producing alcoholic beverages. The blame lies with those who drink until they are drunk and then act irresponsibly. We cannot blame the country's mounting drug crisis on companies manufacturing of drugs and pharmaceuticals. The problem lies with those who misuse and abuse those drugs and pharmaceuticals. We cannot blame the host of diseases and ills related to cigarette smoking on tobacco companies. The blame lies with those who use tobacco products. It seems quite odd that when appetites get out of control we always want to blame the guy who has been satiating those appetites. The simple fact is this: We do not sin because sin is available, we sin because we personally enjoy it and will neither bring nor keep our appetites under control. Looking back to the garden, Adam and Woman did not sin simply because the opportunity to sin was available in the garden. They sinned because they believed they would get something out of it; something they wanted more than their relationship and fellowship with God. We cannot blame their sin on the tree or on Satan. God placed the blame exactly where it went, on Adam and Woman. In all the denouncing of the paparazzi, the tobacco industry, the drug manufacturers, the abortion clinics, et cetera, et cetera; how many people do we ever see standing up and stating, "I give the paparazzi its power because I am weak and lowly enough to buy the trashy pictures about people"? When have you ever heard someone say, "I give the abortion clinics their power because I am sexually irresponsible, emotionally selfish, and spiritually idolatrous"? If appetites were under control, the paparazzi would be out of business, the abortion clinics would be closed, the tobacco industry would fold, the drug dealers would go out of business, Jenny Craig would close her doors, and tennis shoes would only cost $24.95 instead of $249.50. Jesus Christ has demonstrated the proper method of stopping the paparazzi and closing abortion clinics. This method does not require protests, picketing, marches, riots, threats, or force. All it requires is for those of us who are not in bondage to lend a portion of our grace and strength to those who are currently held captive by their own appetites. Pray for your friend who runs daily to the market to get the latest tabloid. The best way to remove the tabloids is not by protesting their existence, but by not buying them. Tell your friend or family member that sex outside of marriage is sin. The only time to stop the abortion is in the bedroom, not at the abortion clinic. It is not possible to control everyone's appetite, but it is possible for you to control your own. When no one is buying tabloids, there will either be no more paparazzi, or the paparazzi will seriously alter its current practices. When we individually make a stand for righteousness and holiness we set a standard of power and excellence for our neighbor to emulate. When we prove that we can control our own appetites, our friends and families can draw from our strength to control their own appetites as well. We stop the paparazzi one tabloid sale at a time. We close abortion clinics one pregnancy at a time. Perhaps you will help stop something today. That is our perspective, what is yours? |
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