1 Corinthians 4.20
I’m afraid that we live in a time when people are more concerned with instagramming their Starbucks bible studies than they are with actually reading the scriptures themselves. And that is really just symptomatic of a larger Christian Culture that nearly demands to be noticed. Many Christians seem to operate from the mindset that they must be noticed, they must stick out. This has allowed Christianity to develop into a sub cultural movement analogous to many ethnic, gender or socioeconomic sub cultural movements rather than the counter-cultural movement that I would argue it was intended to be. While counter-cultural movements strive to upset the standing social customs, a sub culture is an exclusive bubble within a larger society. They have their own rules and etiquette—typically unspoken–that are used to identify and differentiate between those who “truly belong” and those who are simply pretenders.
If a sheep (John 10) knows the shepherd, then he knows the shepherds voice and will. If that is the case then wouldn’t the sheep understand that boasting is to occur in suffering (Romans 5.3-5)(2 Corinthians 11.16-33), or in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1.31)(2 Corinth 10.17)(Jeremiah 9.24), rather than in the vastness of our religiosity?
When we fast, we should keep it to ourselves rather than use it as a talking point to promote our churchianity. (Matthew 6.3-8). When we give, let it be an act of obedience and submission to our Father, not a banner proclaiming our holiness (Matthew 6.1-4). Prayer, too, is an act of intimacy—a dialogue between the lover and the beloved (Song of Songs)—and should be about such intimacy, not about public spectacle (Matthew 6.3-8).
Not that our relationships with God are to be lived out in secret. By no means! We are called to be lights (Matthew 5.14-16)(Isaiah 60.1)(Acts 13.47). But the curious thing about lights is that they shine brightly without demanding recognition. On the contrary, it is virtually impossible to miss a shining light in the midst of darkness. Not because the light screams and shouts self-praise, but because it simply shines. And that is difficult to ignore. It is also worth noting that a light with no electricity is useless. When a light shines, it does not do so on its own, but by the power of the energy within in.
How irksome is a light that flashes, blinks, and buzzes constantly? Sometimes we will remove such lights from our lives. I know that I have unscrewed irritating light bulbs before, preferring the darkness to an obnoxious, annoying light. And if I am not mistaken, buzzing, blinking, and flashing are all frequently signs of an impending burn out.
So what if this generation—my generation—was the change? What if we were the solution, not of the problem? Instead of making Christianity a niche to be filled by people of a certain fashion sense, social (media) status, musical talent, or whatever other criteria we invent. Lets emphasize the importance of a relationship with God that speaks for itself. Lets know the shepherds voice. Lets be counter-cultural and not sub cultural. And for the sake of my sanity, let us please be a people more focused on knowing the scriptures rather than gramming them.
Note: There is nothing wrong with
instagram, or coffee, or clothes or musical ability.
But when it becomes a more important marker of our spirituality than our lives,
the enemy has tricked us into wrong priorities. beware.
Thank you all for your continued support. I am nearing my financial goal! Praise God for his provision and faithfulness. If you would like to continue making donations towards my mission, feel free to do so! All money given in my name will be noted and saved for any future trips I take with AIM. If you would like to discontinue your giving, please do so. It is important to note that your monthly donations will not automatically end upon my meeting the final goal. I appreciate all of your faithful prayers and gifts. You have no idea all of the amazing things that your support has allowed to happen.
In other news, I only have 3 months left of the race! I will be on US soil on November 26. Please be warring in prayer for me as I begin to consider reentry and all that that entails. Pray for clarity, provision, jobs, direction, financial blessings and rebuke any potential attacks of the enemy.
Thank you!
