Invention of Lying

Several weeks ago, Sarah and I watched "The Invention of Lying." We tend to think that Ricky Gervais is quite funny, and he did not disappoint. But of course, you could care less about our comedy taste, and that is not why I am writing this article. My purpose is to share some reflections on the movie, because it provides excellent insight into our culture.

First, the movie portrays the world as if no one had ever lied which results in a culture steeped in pragmatic naturalism. People speak their minds and make their decisions based on what is best for their genetic line. People of lesser genetics resign themselves to lower places in society and allow others to walk over them. The movie depicts a culture where naturalism is the only worldview, which is portrayed in a negative light. Naturalism is pictured as cruel, heartless and depressing. What I find so fascinating is that this movie so accurately portrays where our society could be if naturalism is taken to its logical conclusion.

Of course, Christians have been seeing the despair and pain caused by naturalism and how it is destroying our culture. We also know that naturalism falls short. Living, thinking, acting and being as Jesus did gives us hope and purpose. We don't have to worry about who has the best genes or greater purpose, because God has given us all gifts and purposes to use for the building up of the Church. We have hope, joy, faith, and love despite the hopelessness that abounds in our secular world.

The second reflection I have on the movie, is that is portrays religion as something created to deal with the harshness of a naturalistic worldview, or to cope with the harshness of reality. Even so, religion, though a lie, is better than naturalism taken to its logical conclusion. In other words, "The Invention of Lying" says that it is better to believe in the lie of religion than to live in the despair of naturalism. This vies of religion stems from a naturalistic view of how religion has developed, but it demonstrates that a naturalistic worldview in itself is insufficient for everyday life. It is insufficient in answering the though questions about the meaning and purpose of life.

There are certainly religions that did come about from people trying to cope with harsh circumstances. There are others that have come about from people desiring power and control. Yet others came as a result of twisting and distorting the truth of God, humanity, and the nature of the universe. Yet our knowledge of God is rooted in his creation of the universe. As soon as he created man, man was in communion with him and knew him. As the effects of the fall began to ravage our knowledge of God, some facts began to be distorted and we lost track of who God really is. But over and over again, God has revealed himself to us in very personal and real means. He has let us know who he is and what he expects from us.

The greatest of God's self-revelation comes through Jesus, as he lived the incarnate life and who continues to dwell among his believers. We don't need to make up religion, or try to make up for what we think are shortcomings. We have what God has given to us and we need nothing more. Moreover, our relationship with God is not merely a coping mechanism, but is a genuine relationship which brings real hope, peace, endurance and perspective. As we follow Christ in all aspects of our lives, we "cope" with this world in ways that the world cannot even begin to imagine because we have the God of the universe empowering us to overcome.