Lucifer's latest outing into the world is a TV program, based on a comic book series. It is a standard cop drama with a twist.
One of the quotes that captured my attention recently was when Lucifer says "there are no gates on hell. People are free to leave anytime, but they want punishment."
In other words, people are free to enter and leave hell as they wish. But many people prefer to live in a hell of their own making. People are determined to view themselves a bad and needing punishment. They will choose fear over life.
When you think of yourself as fundamentally bad or flawed, then you become susceptible to miracle cures. Others try suck you into their consumer, political or religious vortex.
You look for escapes to the constructed hell of your flaws, but instant gratification demands that they work now. Short term fixes will not sustain life. The new shampoo makes my hair better, but only for a short time. The new car strokes my ego, but I soon look for a new one. Politicians will give me more money (that they do not have). Jesus will save me from my sins (and after that?).
Instead, we need to see that Jesus had a vision of a society, based in seeing reality as it really is. His vision was radically inclusive.
His vision, initiated in his life through story and sayings, resulted in his death. The reality is that people find inclusvieness deeply offensive and will do anything to get rid of him.
However the vision of life over death took off like a wildfire through the Roman Empire; until 300 years later, the Roman emperor had to bow to the idea.
As we explore the idea of the goodness of people and radical inclusiveness, our natural reaction is often to try to make it go away. Just like people did 2,000 years ago.
Avoiding hard work and going back to hell is often preferable.
