Our obsession with death

Intrigue. Plotting. Guns. Explosions. Executions. Blood. Murder. Carnage. Terror. Running. Fear. Screams. Panic. Revenge. Retaliation, etc., etc. ... will it ever end?

No, I am not referring to last week's terrorist attack in Paris -- but I will in a minute or two. I am talking about America's infatuation with and obsession with death. And much of the world is obsessed with it, too. But there are two groups of people.

The first group consists of Americans, Mexicans, Canadians, Europeans, and others who like to watch it happen. They watch it, talk about it, meditate on it, are thrilled by it, and pay billions of dollars to support it.

Here are the names of several rock bands: Death, Black Sabbath, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax, Avenged Sevenfold, Guns N' Roses, As I Lay Dying, Fear Factory, Demon Hunter, Grave Digger, Grim Reaper, Grateful Dead, and many more!

Do you know what group was playing when the terrorists began murdering in the Paris Le Bataclan Theater? Eagles of Death Metal.

Other ways we manifest our obsession with death is by what we watch in theaters. Several movies are: "Spectre," "The Last Witch Hunter," "Sinister," "The Exorcist," "The Babadook," "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre," "Night of the Living Dead," "Dawn of the Dead," and "The Evil Dead."

The theater in Aurora, Colo., (where our daughter lives) was showing the film "The Dark Knight Rises." Mass-murderer James Holmes entered the theater dressed like one of the evil characters and began killing. He even cunningly rigged his apartment with explosives to kill any policeman or detective who might enter. (The detectives out-witted Holmes there.)

There are hundreds of murderous and sex-crazed television series and dramas. "Quantico," "Zombie," "Once Upon a Time," "Walking Dead," "Boardwalk Vampire," "Six Feet Under," "Breaking Bad," "House of Cards," "Death Note," "Castle," "Scandal," "You're the Worst," "Penny Dreadful," and "American Horror Story" are but a few.

Do you see what I mean when I say we have an obsession with death? And don't ever again believe that watching videos or movies or playing deadly video games do not affect people! One person who was arrested for murder was asked why he butchered the 17-year-old girl. His response: "I've seen it so many times in theaters and killed so many times in video games, I wanted to see what it felt like to actually do it."

Have you ever wondered why sex crimes are at an all-time high? People -- both genders -- see nudity on television, in theaters, and in advertisements hour after hour, day after day. When actors remove their clothing, people think, "They are actors and it is okay to watch it." We have become a sex-crazed people. That's because society lost its sensitivity to inhibitions that God placed in us at creation. Therefore, as people feel free to murder, people also feel free to commit sexual crimes. And it all falls under the banner of "rebellion against God."

The second group who are obsessed with death are those we call "radical jihadists" and who are attempting to create a world-wide Caliphate. These people scorn anyone who doesn't believe the same way they do -- even those of their own religion. But they view their murderous activities in a different light than we do: they do it in honor of their god, and they do not intend to quit! They are convinced that fomenting a world-wide war will hasten the return of their long-awaited spiritual leader.

But even Christians in the so-called "civilized countries" have a problem. We pay untold millions of dollars to involve ourselves mentally and spiritually in murder, witchcraft, and adultery by watching it -- which is sin -- but we don't want to see it happen in real life. This is a world-class double-standard! Stop and think: Are you guilty of this double-standard?

If you truly detest what happened in Paris, in the Aurora theater, and in many schools, if you believe that people should not commit sex crimes, then you need to stop watching that stuff! You may not realize it, but watching it contaminates your mind and spirit. Our crime, immorality, and pornography rate prove it.

Why does it happen? When we stop living for and worshiping Almighty God, something must take His place. And that "something" is some form of evil.

In order for society to change for the better, we individually and corporately must change. We must turn away from evil and learn to truly honor Almighty God.

-- Gene Linzey is a speaker, author, and former pastor. Send comments and questions to [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.