Reading Time: 6:15
Easter has passed as quickly as it came. I know many of us made the most of it and it was amazing to see the creativity in the body of Christ from their posts online. However, as I have stated in the past, it just doesn’t cut it for me. There is nothing like when the church comes together to worship God and bask in the presence of his manifested Holy Spirit. Susan and I have created a podcast to keep in touch with our people, but I still would rather see them personally than only on Facebook.
We have all sorts of technology for communication these days. We have worldwide access to anyone we want to see. Texting, video conferencing, and the like make the world a much more accessible place. Yet, people feel more isolated than ever.
Today I want to postulate just a couple of the reasons I think have made their way into the midst of all this communication frenzy.
One, we are focused on self like never before. Everyone lives their lives on a stage where everyone else is pushed into the audience. We have a solo performance and are creating content, rather than sharing our lives with others. As a result, we are driven to make others laugh at us, or admire us, or hate us, or feel sorry for us. It is manipulation as an art form. We think of ourselves as celebrities.
Second to that is with all the social media and communication tools we have at our disposal, an increasing number of people are not able to build or maintain committed relationships. With all the changing definitions our society has become highly confused about what a relationship ought to look like. In many cases people have become so self-centered that those around them are there only to serve their self-image and add to their “likes” and “upvotes.”
These two things alone can be enough to pull people apart and isolate them in their own separate worlds. Also, these attitudes can make it painful for those who do care and want to reach out to others and build committed lasting relationships.
All in all we are heading in the wrong direction. In recent years I myself have even grown tired of articles that go on an on, and videos that last more than a few minutes. I see what Jesus meant when he said:
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.”
Matthew 24:12 NIV
How can we as Christians circumvent and reverse this isolating trend in our nation? First, we must embrace the divine pain of living a sacrificial life of service to others. In these days everyone is afraid of getting “took.” Well, that comes with the territory.
“39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you
on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone
wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.
41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away
from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor
and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may
be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun
to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain
on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 5:39-45 NIV
Most of us have a hard time with this teaching of Jesus. With all the Social Justice Warriors and Trolls cruising the internet, we too feel we must right every wrong. Especially when it comes to being wronged ourselves. However, Paul said:
“The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?.”
1st Corinthians 6:7 NIV
Isn’t it amazing how contrary to our thinking the Scripture actually is? The inability to suffer wrong and bear up under it means as Christians, we are already defeated by our enemies. We are just like the world. We think more like the world and its ways than we do God’s ways.
“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not
open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.”
Isaiah 53: 7 NIV
Secondly, maybe it’s time to quit voicing our opinion so much, but that’s just my opinion. Maybe our lives ought to reflect “more movement and less mouth,” as my dad used to say. Maybe we ought to bear up under the wrong done to us, rather than to do wrong in return. Maybe we ought to spend a little more time in developing lasting relationships that are mutually beneficial, rather than seeing how many friends we can “accept” over Facebook.
Maybe we ought to live by the example of Jesus and be servants to those within our care group. In reality, there are many, many people we care nothing about. We must face the facts. God is without limit. We are not. We must invest our lives and resources where we can make the most difference. Keep your circle of concern within your circle of influence (Stephen Covey). First in your own family, then in your immediate community. May God help us to remember it is not about our lives, it is about the lives of those who do not know him, or do not know him very well.
That being said, I feel we pass quickly from one event in life to the next because we no longer feel a heart-felt response from any of them. We have either become hardened by self-centeredness and we are not getting what we think we deserve out of it, or we have simply become numb because of the wickedness all around. Our love has grown cold in the midst of it all.
So, saint, stir up the gift that is within you and its power the change lives around you. Go forth into this world to serve others.
“…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:28 NIV
Pastor Brian Jenkins
Calvary Assemblies of God