08/27/2024
So much of what goes onto social media is performative, even if it has a ring of sincerity to it. (This very post isn't even immune to it, in fact.)
Not a few have been upset about the mundane nature of their own life after seeing the highlight reel-level posting of others.
But it's often just not real. Most people are just not that interesting and that is okay. (I include myself here, obviously)
And while it's quite fine to not be too interesting, it's not okay to pretend, I don't think, unless you disclose that ahead of time. The apostle Paul was in Antioch for 14 years after his conversion, just living and being and ministering locally. No miracle stories or fine epistles written.
It's been said that actors are the only honest hypocrites, because it is their life's mission to not be themselves.
Well, I'm no actor, though I tend to admire the skill involved.
But I will say that you can never quite see the bottom of social media by looking directly at it. The end of social media is best seen by looking squarely into real life.
The past few weeks have not been kind or joyful, but filled with sorrow and grief and loss. Very little of the crisis matters have been within my own life, but involve others.
None of it would go viral on any of the social media platforms. It would stoke zero engagement. It would get no likes and it would garner zero comments.
But that is life.
It's rough and hard and no one cares until it is themselves.
As a pastor, I am asking you to remember to be the present helper in someone's time of need. Christians know we ought to do this, and we do, but it seems — at least in my corner of this big ol' world — that the heat and the pressure continues to climb higher, spiritually speaking. Let us be found cooler and lighter than what we must endure and help others to endure, by God's grace.
There are many voices, but are there many visitors?
There are fine doctrines of great godly merit, but are there epistles written on human hearts?
There are many right beliefs, but they must also have their commensurate right practice.
I'm not the expert in this. I know some who do it better than I do.
But I also do not deal in matters of faith with the currency of shame, but of grace. And this is the lesson we ought to convey to those who would benefit from our ministry of presence and peace-making.
This is life. It's made for living — living for the Lord.
So if there is someone hurting or teetering on the very edge of their life, be to them the healing, in Jesus' name. Be to them a lifeline back to center, in Jesus' name.
