Person of Interest: The "Irrelevant" List

          CBS's new crime drama, Person of Interest, is an action packed bundle of fun!  Complex cases, big reveals, exciting fights, plenty of gunplay and an intriguing premise keep my attention (unless I'm blogging at the same time!). 
          Mr. Finch (Michael Emerson) is a computer genius.  He is responsible for building "the machine", a government controlled supercomputer that takes in and analyzes surveillance footage, phone calls, emails and more in order to anticipate potential terrorist threats.  But the machine recognizes more than just large scale threats.  It predicts any violent crimes.
          Without the resources to address every alert that the machine gives out, Mr. Finch created the "Irrelevant List"; a program which separates the small crimes from the public safety threats.  When the machine gives alerts for potential murders and other individualized crimes, they get sent to The Irrelevant List and are deleted every day at midnight.
          The guilt of ignoring so many tragedies that may have been prevented weighs on Mr. Finch's conscience.  Even though he is no longer involved in the government project which utilizes his technology, he decides to take action.  Mr. Finch hacks into his own machine to access The Irrelevant List.  When the supercomputer deduces that a crime is likely, Mr. Finch receives only one hint.  A social security number.  The person may be a victim or a perpetrator but either way a dangerous situation will probably develop.  Together with former soldier, spy and general action hero, Mr. Reese (Jim Caviezel); Finch fights to save those he had once dubbed "irrelevant".
          This totally fun, fast-paced, action drama makes me think about the things that Christians sometimes view as "irrelevant".  2 Timothy 4:1-2 says "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching."  God commands Christians to share the good news of Jesus with everyone we can! 
          John 14:6 reads "Jesus said to him,  'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."  Jesus is the only way to Heaven.  Which means that people who don't know Jesus as their Savior are headed for Hell.  Christians can sometimes forget the urgency of our job.  Yes, our job.  "Preach the word!"  God may not want us all to be pastors but it is our job to serve the Lord and share Jesus.
          Christians are often, let's just say it: Cowards!  Myself, one of the biggest cowards, I have to admit.  We tend to think:  "I love Jesus.  God is great.  I'm going to Heaven.  I'm safe.  That's all that matters."  When we let ourselves get so complacent, we're putting everyone else on The Irrelevant List!  
          We can do this with other issues too.  "God's not going to send me to Hell for it, so I can enjoy a little gossip."  You can let your marriage slide, get lazy about talking to God, form a judgmental little Christian clique... 
          Jesus has taken care of the big, terrifying threat in our lives- we're not going to Hell!  Praise the Lord!  But when we stop there, we're denying ourselves the honor of being God's soldiers, spies and general action heroes!  We could be fighting for the desperate, lonely souls who need Jesus and representing the all-powerful name of our holy, infinite God. 
          God doesn't need our help with anything, He's God.  And good works will not get you to Heaven.  But don't you want in on the action?