God v. The Machine

The concept of God vs. “The Machine”” has been weighing on my heart recently, and if you’re reading this, it might resonate with you too.

So, what is “The Machine”? It represents the inner workings of today’s corporate and industry structures, characterized by a dehumanizing system driven by greed and a singular focus on monetary gains. “The Machine” often includes, but is not limited to, large conglomerates such as banks, retail chains, the credit card industry, and insurance companies. It operates with extensive reach and deep pockets, reducing individuals to mere numbers and means to its profit-driven ends.

To make it more tangible, here are some real-life scenarios where “The Machine” is at play:

1. Attempting to resolve a credit or financial dispute but being stuck in endless hold times and transfers.
2. Trying to resolve a legal dispute with legal counsel costs exceeding your annual income.
3. Dealing with an insurance claim dispute entangled in complex submission codes.

The average person often wastes valuable time on issues that should be resolved more efficiently. How many find themselves in frustrating loops due to intentional or unintentional inefficiency? Spending hours on the phone with customer service representatives, only to have issues unresolved and needing to start the resolution process anew, is the hallmark of The Machine’s modus operandi. Furthering the iniquity, “The Machine” doesn’t shy away from threats, scare tactics, or bullying, backed by its vast resources, lobbyists, and, at times, the law.

Regrettably, the personification of ““The Machine”” may give the impression that it is a sci-fi entity existing independently. However, the reality is less fantastical. Many individuals within ““The Machine”” are ordinary people, much like you and me, who have embraced the ideology of the system. For instance, when an insurance agent denies a life-saving procedure based solely on protocol, that individual becomes an integral part of the inner workings of “The Machine” and, consequently, contributes to the problem at hand.

So, where does God fit into this picture? Is “The Machine” greater than God? Is God influenced by “The Machine”, or is He merely a passive observer? The answers lie in Scripture.

Deuteronomy 10:17 says, “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes” (NLT). Similarly, Isaiah 9:6-7 describes Jesus as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace, highlighting that His authority is unwavering and beyond the temporal concerns that might affect human institutions.

The Word of God encourages those who are rich to use their wealth for good, to be generous to those in need, and to share with others. This sentiment is emphasized in 1 Timothy 6:17–21:

¹⁷Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. ¹⁸Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. ¹⁹By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. ²⁰Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. ²¹Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness. May God’s grace be with you all (NLT).

My prayer for you is that if you find yourself oppressed by “The Machine”, you will petition God, the ultimate authority over all. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12, God’s power works best in weakness. Embracing our weaknesses allows God to be our greatest advocate during our most vulnerable moments.