SOCIAL JESUS
If you believe all you see on social media or cable news, you may be under the impression that the world is on the verge of implosion. That we have finally tipped the balance where climate change, politics, and the Illuminati will finally destroy society once and for all as we spiral into anarchy and oblivion of our own making. But once you put down your phone, take a deep breath, and let your brain rest a moment, you will likely realize that the times we live in are not really unprecedented. In fact....this is all pretty normal.
From ancient times the world has generally been in a state of chaos: empires rise and fall, universal justice has never been established, and road rage has been going on since our distant relative got on horsebacks. This is not the first US government drama, and it is surely not going to be the last.
There truly is nothing new under the sun. Only new forms of media to inundate us with all the negative images and scripts. So why are so many living in a mad frenzy of mental goo?
Every time I log in to social media I feel like I am living through a repeating two-minutes of hate. There is a constant war of words, a line of combatants taking sides in a battle that only exists because Twitter and Facebook, and traditional media tell us it exists. Issues that only rile us up because social cyber platforms tell us we should be riled up. Headlines are manipulated, hashtags are manipulated, facts are manipulated. We lash out angrily at the people on 'the other side', who in many cases we know only as an avatar picture.
We make decisions and base our conversations on trending hashtags, without ever considering that someone behind a computer is telling us what is trending, deciding what today's debate should be about. We are all being told what matters, what to argue about, and what to hate each other about.
Yet, unlike the famed novel 1984, no one is force-feeding us information and we all have access to facts whenever we want them. We are generally just too lazy to look beyond whatever is trending. Then we find ourselves caught up in some ridiculous argument that doesn't even matter - be it in our conversations or in our social media interactions. We eventually start to live in fear, and then escalate to living with hate.
But all the screaming in the world will not solve any problems. All the hate will not solve problems. What will solve problems is the love, power, and sound mind we find in Christ. When we base our interactions on a firm foundation of Truth, compassion, empathy, and a willingness to be ridiculed without engaging, we will find peace and joy equipping us to survive this crazy world we live in. It's not easy work.
Yes, some of the topics on social media and TV news can involve us directly: health (both physical and mental) jobs, and lives are affected by these trending issues of the day. We can't control what is trending, and we can't control all the world throws at us, but we can be reminded of what Garvin often reminds me of, "This too, shall pass."
All-day, every day, and at any time, we can control how we address and respond to others: Here are the choices - In love and truth, or in some other emotionally confused state.
It's your choice.
Let us pray,
Almighty Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -
As we face these uncertain times in our world, we ask you, Lord, to dwell among us. We are comforted by the knowledge that You alone are our Savior and Lord, and the ultimate Master of life on Earth. We trust our national representatives to Your loving care. Send Your Spirit to touch the hearts of all leaders. Give them the wisdom to know what is right, and the courage to act on it for Your Glory. Give us Your light and Your truth to guide us in our ways so that we may always seek Your will in our lives to impact the world around us for Your Kingdom.
Amen to the Word!
From ancient times the world has generally been in a state of chaos: empires rise and fall, universal justice has never been established, and road rage has been going on since our distant relative got on horsebacks. This is not the first US government drama, and it is surely not going to be the last.
There truly is nothing new under the sun. Only new forms of media to inundate us with all the negative images and scripts. So why are so many living in a mad frenzy of mental goo?
Every time I log in to social media I feel like I am living through a repeating two-minutes of hate. There is a constant war of words, a line of combatants taking sides in a battle that only exists because Twitter and Facebook, and traditional media tell us it exists. Issues that only rile us up because social cyber platforms tell us we should be riled up. Headlines are manipulated, hashtags are manipulated, facts are manipulated. We lash out angrily at the people on 'the other side', who in many cases we know only as an avatar picture.
We make decisions and base our conversations on trending hashtags, without ever considering that someone behind a computer is telling us what is trending, deciding what today's debate should be about. We are all being told what matters, what to argue about, and what to hate each other about.
Yet, unlike the famed novel 1984, no one is force-feeding us information and we all have access to facts whenever we want them. We are generally just too lazy to look beyond whatever is trending. Then we find ourselves caught up in some ridiculous argument that doesn't even matter - be it in our conversations or in our social media interactions. We eventually start to live in fear, and then escalate to living with hate.
But all the screaming in the world will not solve any problems. All the hate will not solve problems. What will solve problems is the love, power, and sound mind we find in Christ. When we base our interactions on a firm foundation of Truth, compassion, empathy, and a willingness to be ridiculed without engaging, we will find peace and joy equipping us to survive this crazy world we live in. It's not easy work.
Yes, some of the topics on social media and TV news can involve us directly: health (both physical and mental) jobs, and lives are affected by these trending issues of the day. We can't control what is trending, and we can't control all the world throws at us, but we can be reminded of what Garvin often reminds me of, "This too, shall pass."
All-day, every day, and at any time, we can control how we address and respond to others: Here are the choices - In love and truth, or in some other emotionally confused state.
It's your choice.
Let us pray,
Almighty Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -
As we face these uncertain times in our world, we ask you, Lord, to dwell among us. We are comforted by the knowledge that You alone are our Savior and Lord, and the ultimate Master of life on Earth. We trust our national representatives to Your loving care. Send Your Spirit to touch the hearts of all leaders. Give them the wisdom to know what is right, and the courage to act on it for Your Glory. Give us Your light and Your truth to guide us in our ways so that we may always seek Your will in our lives to impact the world around us for Your Kingdom.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Scripture
Romans 13:1
"Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God."
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Scripture
Romans 13:1
"Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God."
Amen to the Word!
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