Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
I popped in Raiders of the Lost Ark the other night. Man, I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen these Indiana Jones movies. I remember little parts, but ultimately, the world of Indy is all new to me. Steven Spielberg? George Lucas? This movie must have had a lot of hype leading up to its release.
Anyway, I watched. And as the movie is coming to its climax we see Dr. Jones and his damsel in distress tied to a wooden post. The Nazi’s, seeking more power than they could imagine, open up the Ark of the Covenant and get… more power than they could imagine! Spirits fly out of the Ark and start melting everybody’s faces off; flesh is melting til only bones are left; people are blowing up. My first thought was, “Wow, great special effects, considering the time this was made.” Then Indy yells out to his damsel, “Keep your eyes SHUT!” And they do just that, they keep their eyes closed, and the spirits spare them, instead retreating back into the Ark.
And I thought, “So it is better to keep our eyes closed? Is it better to turn away and act like we didn’t see this or that?” Indiana Jones and his lady kept their eyes shut to the devastation that was going on around them and they were spared from a gruesome death.
So what do we do?
My mom has always said, “The more you know, the more you’re responsible for”. Which is very very true, and I agree. If we learn of a situation by seeing it or by hearing it, we are responsible for it. And being responsible means that if we are strong and able, we need to lend a hand and not just turn away because it’s more convenient. (Romans 15)
This topic makes me feel the need to bring up gossip real quick, because there are two sides or two approaches to this when the "Ark" (situation) is opened: There is the responder, and there is the gossiper. Gossip is just gossip and it helps no one. “The more you know, the more you’re responsible for”. Are you being responsible with what you know? We can conclude then, that gossipers are irresponsible. And they in turn, make their audience irresponsible. If they were responsible with their knowledge, they’d shut their mouths for two minutes and instead, call those that they’re talking about, and ask if they can help relieve their situation in any way.
So then, our way to responsible responding is:
OPEN YOUR EYES - SHUT YOUR MOUTH.
Open your eyes but shut your mouth. Open your eyes to what’s going on because a situation might need your responsibility or leadership, but shut your mouth unless you’re helping the situation. Indiana Jones kept his eyes closed to devastation; we must keep our mouths closed so that we won't cause devastation.
Untie your hands from behind your back. Untie yourself from the post and lend a hand. We need to respond to what we see, hear and feel. This is our responsibility.
So I guess if you take nothing away from this article, at least take this: It is your responsibility to respond to what you hear and see and know. If you don’t plan on responding, then you better just close your eyes and your ears.
Romans 15:1-6 (from The Message Bible)
1-2 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?"
3-6That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we'll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!
-Eli
