Roger Dunsdon considers an ancient ploy of the ruling elite.
But now Messiah is risen from the dead… For as in Adam all die, even so in Messiah all shall be made alive… For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. (1 Cor. 15:20,22, 25,26)
INFANTALIZATION
“Bread and circuses” (from Latin: panem et circenses) is an ancient term referring to superficial appeasement of the hoi poloi. It is attributed to Roman poet Juvenal (Satires, Satire X), active in the late first and early second century AD, and is used commonly in cultural, particularly political, contexts. In the political realm, the phrase means to garner public approval, not by excellence in public service or public policy, but by diversion, distraction, and by satisfying the most immediate or base requirements of a populace, by offering a palliative: for example food (bread) or entertainment (circuses). In a real sense this is to treat people as infants – to infantalize them.
Juvenal originally used panem et circenses to decry the “selfishness” of common people and their neglect of wider concerns. His phrase implies a population’s erosion or ignorance of civic duty as a necessary priority. The general population is often characterized by a lack of intelligent interest in how they are governed, and a sense of ‘so long as I’m alright, then I don’t care’!
Juvenal was actually referring to the Roman practice of providing free wheat to Roman citizens (the Annona) as well as costly circus games and other forms of entertainment as a means of preserving political power. Today’s equivalents might classically be the Olympic Games, or the World Cup of UEFA.
FUNDAMENTALISTS
For the Christian the concept of bread and circuses reminds us that we witness in a world fundamentally opposed to its Creator God (who, indeed, are the ‘fundamentalists’ now ?). If people have enough to live in, and are broadly entertained, why should they think of God at all? In Britain the NHS has become a secular religion, in any case. Who needs a divine healer when you can rely on the ever-expanding NHS? ( See https://christiancomment.org/2024/06/25/vive-la-nhs/ )
As regards the present and future, Christians are commanded by Jesus to be aware of the times in which we live, and not be deceived, because many siren voices will arise (indeed already have arisen!) to keep people away from the truth. If the devil has a grand strategy to keep people in the dark, bread and circuses must be a very viable part of that.
THE CALL TO WATCH
Jesus repeatedly urged his followers to “watch” and be alert to the signs of the times, particularly regarding his return and the events preceding it. This “watching” isn’t passive observation, but an active, spiritually aware state of preparedness and discernment.
Jesus himself rebuked the religious leaders of his day for being able to interpret the weather but failing to understand the spiritual signs of his coming as the Messiah.
He also outlined a series of events and trends that will signal the nearness of his return and the end of the age, including false prophets, wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and increasing lawlessness. The apostle Paul echoed this, warning about the difficult times and attitudes that will characterize the “last days”, such as self-love, greed, arrogance, and a love of pleasure rather than God
WHY WATCH?
To avoid deception: being aware of the times helps believers discern between genuine faith and the false teachings and deception that will increase in the latter days.
To endure persecution: understanding that trials and persecution are predicted helps Christians endure them with hope and perseverance.
To be prepared for Messiah’s return: watching for these signs serves as a call to spiritual readiness and to live purposefully for God’s Kingdom.
To share the Gospel: the urgency of the times, including the spread of the Gospel to all nations, is a motivation for Christians to actively participate in fulfilling the Great Commission.
BIBLICAL BASIS
Jesus’s Rebuke (Matthew 16:1-3):
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for their inability to discern the “signs of the times” while being able to interpret the weather. He used this to highlight their spiritual blindness and failure to recognize Him as the Messiah.
The Parable of the Watchful Servants (Matthew 24:42-43):
Jesus told the parable of a householder to emphasize the importance of staying vigilant and ready, as the “Lord of the house” could return at any time.
Paul’s Exhortation (Romans 13:11-14 and Ephesians 5:15-17):
Paul urges believers to “know the time” and “redeem the time,” meaning to make the most of the present moment because it is closer to their salvation than when they first believed. He also encourages them to “walk circumspectly” and wisely because the “days are evil”.
Discerning Evil Days (2 Timothy 3:1-5):
Paul describes the difficult and critical conditions of the “last days” and “evil days,” characterized by people’s selfishness and opposition to goodness, which requires believers to be particularly alert.
WHY BOTHER?
Against these clear warnings and exhortations, people generally do prefer to remain in the dark (John 3:19). Bread and circuses keeps people pliant and distracts from life’s bigger worries and from contemplating a future in many ways too awful to focus upon. As Christians witness we must gently remind people that there ARE priorities in life, and that ‘the powers that be’ will rather have people ignorant and pliant. As such they will pose less challenge to the governing authorities.
As Christians we must continually remind ourselves that we are ambassadors of a foreign country (2 Corinthians 5: 20), and that the call of Jesus is to His Kingdom, not to some superficial patching-up of this fallen world. Ultimately it is Jesus who will rule ……
But now Messiah is risen from the dead… For as in Adam all die, even so in Messiah all shall be made alive… For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. (1 Cor. 15:20,22, 25,26)
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