“Vicarious,” we may not know the meaning of the word but we are living vicariously much of our time. We get vicarious pleasure out of books, movies, adventures, romances and athletic events. Our pleasure is not the pleasure of participation in the event. It is the pleasure of identifying in a substitutionary way with the hero. This vicarious pleasure gets more real with “virtual” action.
However, there is a vicarious event that is real, very real. It is real and effective. It is the death of the Lord Jesus Christ for the sins of the world.
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20
However, there is a vicarious event that is real, very real. It is real and effective. It is the death of the Lord Jesus Christ for the sins of the world.
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20
Comments
The 'entertainments' mentioned in "Vicarious" are indeed misleading us away from God. We have one "Real Vicarious Event" that answers all our present (past and future, too) needs. Everything else but Jesus Christ and Him crucified ... provides a false sense of escape from life.
All the real experiences in our life are meant to be lived, yet we evaluate certain experiences as 'good for me' (and personally sought or envied in others) or 'bad for me' (and personally avoided or pitied in others).
Charlie Baker, here.
God has worked consistently throughout my Life to wean me of the human-made (religious?) vicariosities -- TV, movies, fiction, etc -- which are addictive in their escapism from living through and appreciating Life with God in our own real experiences with Him.
"I have come in order to give you Life, Life in all its fullness."!! John 10:10