Liturgy: “Walter White — God of Money and Power”

In this week’s liturgy, a deadly serious Paul warns Timothy of the dangers in the pursuit of Money. In a puzzling parable, Jesus utterly redefines the very meanings of Money and Power in view of himself—from Him comes power, He is the riches. Reflecting on these, my favorite selection from the liturgy brings us a perplexed Jeremiah being directed by the Almighty to invest his wealth on real estate in the middle of a war zone . . . with no immediate explanation.

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What is the King’s Liturgy? King’s Liturgy defines our experience together as a Christian community. It outlines the rhythms we celebrate with the Church at large: Scripture readings, Sabbath habits, and celebration of Holy Days and historical events.

This Week’s Lectionary Readings
Jeremiah 32:1-3, 6-15
Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16
Luke 16:19-31
1 Timothy 6:6-19

This week’s liturgy is contributed by Cameron Strittmatter, Media Lab Coordinator:

There was something deeply troubling scrawled on the media lab white board last week. I turned on the lights to discover that somebody had lovingly etched:

“GMP: GOD, MONEY, POWER.” An unholy trinity.

In order to discuss it, I’ve got to explain to you why Breaking Bad is one of the single greatest things that’s happened to American Television.

Long story short, Walter White, a much-abused public school chemistry teacher from a do-nothing town is diagnosed with cancer. At the end of his rope and searching for a way to posthumously support his wife and disabled son, he decides to use his talents and abilities to “cook” Meth (a very, very addictive drug) for profit. Turns out Walter is a virtuoso, and his initial, seemingly innocuous decision spirals powerfully out of control.

Several seasons later, Mr. White is the most feared crime lord in the American southwest, has murdered hundreds upon hundreds, and utterly alienated himself from the people he loves. It’s an incredible series and a brilliantly constructed, intentional exploration of the nature of sin, of evil, and its effect on a man, his family, and the world around them.

Now, I’m new to The King’s College, a truly impressive place where God, Money, and Power are studied. Full disclosure: I only became a Christian seven years ago, which is about two years after when most of you will graduate; spiritually I’d reckon a lot of y’all have got a leg up on me. That said, it’s not difficult to miss that here, at this place Dr. Thornbury has taken to calling “The Good Ship Lollipop,” I stand among the intelligent, the wealthy, and certainly the powerful, all in astounding variety. Chances are that each of you will only increase in those areas as you advance toward various strategic institutions.

To this end, I announce you have a choice before you—and to illustrate it, we return to TNT’s smash-hit dramatic series. At the very culmination of Breaking Bad, our hero (if we can call him that) is on the lam, a hunted man, a mass-murderer, an unscrupulous criminal. Just before the grand finale, he stops to see the wife he’s dramatically estranged one last time. He says goodbye, and begins to tell her that everything he did, he did for—
But she stops him, forbids him from attributing his horrifying choices to the sake of his family. He agrees, and admits that everything he did, that the Power, the Money, it felt good. He did it for himself.

He had become his own god.

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (1 Tim 6:9, ESV)

In this week’s liturgy, a deadly serious Paul warns Timothy of the dangers in the pursuit of Money. In a puzzling parable, Jesus utterly redefines the very meanings of Money and Power in view of himself—from Him comes power, He is the riches. Reflecting on these, my favorite selection from the liturgy brings us a perplexed Jeremiah being directed by the Almighty to invest his wealth on real estate in the middle of a war zone . . . with no immediate explanation.

Compared to many of you, I’m a newcomer to the faith, but I know this much: to know Christ is to be wealthy. From Him all power and money are distributed, and to Him they will return. Draw near to Him and enjoy true riches. Bask in his sheltering, ever-loving power.

There’s an elegant visual device employed by the storytellers of Breaking Bad, a series of markers throughout the different chapter breaks, where Walter looks at his reflection. The more doggedly he pursues power, money, the more distorted his reflection becomes. At the finale of the show, moments before his death, our hero looks at his reflection— and it’s unrecognizable. Though I’m sure the lot of you won’t become drug-dealing crime lords, I feel there’s a wonderful lesson to be savored here.

And if you don’t mind, please erase my whiteboard after using it.


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