When Choice Becomes God

Deu 30:19

A. God is the author of choice. He created Satan to give us a choice & so make us like God. And in choosing rightly, we become more & more like Him. Too often, we choose wrongly. Throughout our lives "we are faced with agonizing decisions -- moral choices. But we define ourselves by the choices we make. We are, in fact, the sum total of our choices." (prof. Levy, Crimes & Misdemeanors)

B. But you & I are engaged in a great civil war because our society has made choice its god.

C. A history summarizes 1914 ff: ...new gods arose to claim the loyalties of secular people. NAZISM exalted the state; COMMUNISM worshipped the party; AMERICAN DEMOCRACY revered the individual's rights.

D. Introduce book: When Choice Becomes God by F. LaGard Smith.

E. A scenario of choice: (Gene Perret, Arizona Highways)

· "Smoking or non?" (Non)

· "Indoors or outdoors this evening?" (in)

· "Main dining room, enclosed patio or solarium?" (solarium)

· "View overlooking the golf course, the sunset on the lake or the majestic mountains? (Whatever)

· Waiter (Paul) comes. "I'm just a meat & potatoes guy, so I'll have the filet mignon and a baked potato."

· "Soup or salad?" (Salad)

· "Mixed green salad, hearts of palm or a very fine endive salad with baby shrimp?" (mixed green)

· "Dressing? We have creamy Italian, blue cheese, vinaigrette, Thousand Island, honey Dijon, Ranch..." (surprise me)

· "And your baked potato..." I knew what was coming. "I just want the baked potato dry, you under-stand? I don't want anything on it."

· "No butter? No sour cream?" (No.)

· "No chives?" (No!) "Don't you understand Eng-lish?" I shouted. "I don't want any-thing on it. Just bring me a baked potato and a steak."

· "Would you prefer the six-, eight- -or 12-ounce steak, sir?" (Whatever)

· "Would you like that rare, medium rare, medium, medium well or well done? Or, if you prefer, we can butterfly it for you."

• "Pauly Boy," I said, "you are really starting to get me steamed."

· "Which brings up the vegetables, sir. Would you like steamed broccoli, creamed corn, sauteed zucchini, diced carrots "

· That did it. I threw my napkin to the floor, stood up, put my face right in his arrogant kisser & said, How'd you like to settle this outside?"

· "Fine with me, sir. Would you prefer the park-ing lot, the side alley or the street in front?" "I prefer right here," I said, & sucker-punched him.

He ducked, then countered with a left hook. It was the first time all night he hadn't offered me a selection. When I regained my senses, I saw the very concerned maitre d' right in front of my nose. He apologized and

· offered to buy my dinner, call the paramedics