The Danger of Social Media

Social media is a topic that many of us can find difficult, confusing, and even frustrating. However, the use of social media has only increased during the two years of the pandemic, partially fueled by the desire to stay connected with friends and family and even as a way to escape boredom. Yet, while the usage rates have increased dramatically, not many people have considered what that increase may result in for young people.

Based on a recent study by common sense media, the average 13-17 year-old spends 8.3 hours a day on the big five of social media - Youtube, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, and Instagram. Kids aged 8-13 spend on average 5.6 hours a day on social media. Most kids gain more information and view more content in a single day than most people would in a month only 50 years ago.

What effect does this have on our young people? While there are several studies regarding this topic, one thing to consider is the largest factor that social media utilizes: magnification. In our hyper-politicized world, it isn’t difficult to understand that social media has played a role in making situations seem more common than it truly is. Whereas in the past, you may have read a single opinion piece in a newspaper, today, when you read social media, you can get blasted by the same opinion repeatedly. This effect can lead to a common threat of indoctrination. A child can hear an incredible amount of arguments on any topic within 20 minutes of social media usage.

What does this magnification lead to happening? The main goal of social media is to create a sense of community and belonging. This sense of community is the foundation for building an identity. This effect is seen clearly with the rise of LGBTQ content on social media, particularly this month.

So what is the Christian response to this? Do we never use social media? Do we go on social media rants on controversial topics? No, we simply need to recognize what is our Biblical truth on these topics.

While social media is helpful for connecting with family and friends, we must recognize that God has given us an incredible source of community in His church. The felt needs that push people to seeking a community are fulfilled within the church.

However, the foundation for building a community rests in one’s identity. Facebook Groups are designed around this whole premise. Like fishing? Join this Bass Fishing group. Like knitting? Join this Grandma for knitting group. The church likewise rests on people finding a shared identity in Christ. While social media pushes a search for identity, Scripture clearly shows that our identity is complete in Christ. For those that have accepted Christ, we are given the identity that we all desire. Galatians 3:27-28 states, “…as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

In Christ, we are given an identity that has freed us from all prejudice and grants us access to the life-changing purpose for which all humanity is searching. The main reason social media easily changes a person’s lifestyle and ideology is that it offers a person an identity. This is the main draw of social media for people of all ages. As Christians, we must recognize the position of our identity in Christ that gives us purpose and frees us from the potential trap of social media.

Sincerely,

Pastor Derek Whitman

The Best Missionaries May Not Be Famous or "Vocational"...

One of the greatest encouragements in my walk with Christ is not only the "essentials" (reading/meditating on the Word, prayer, assembling with the saints as the church, giving, etc.) but looking back into history to read of God's faithfulness displayed through the lives of others Christians.

A book I enjoy reading excerpts from regularly is From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya by Ruth Tucker. Throughout the book, she highlights God's work through ordinary men and women being used extraordinarily for the Gospel.  

Let me clarify when I say extraordinary, I do not mean in the sense of some metric we might associate with that word in Western Culture- i.e. thousands of converts, hundreds of churches, and whole countries turned upside down by the Gospel. I use the word extraordinary in the sense of regular people taking the "logical" restrictor plates off their minds and life plans to do whatever was needed or presented for the Gospel.

While many Christians would know and be helped by some enshrined names in missionary history like Carey and Judson, I am also helped by other lesser-known individuals and families who were willing to have their lives upended in a way we would be tempted to call "radical". 

But is it radical? 

• I am tempted to think that a well to do businessman leaving his company during the height of success to go be an unknown face in Christian history by faithfully serving the Gospel in another country is radical; according to the book of Acts and the Pauline letters, it is normal for Christians to think and act that way.

• I am tempted to think a retired couple should enjoy being as close to the grandkids as possible and indulge in traveling as partly a reward for all their years of hard work rather than self-fund a missionary endeavor three times a year to go encourage veteran missionaries on the field.

• I am tempted to think that a young couple would be less than prudent to find lower-paying jobs in a city nearby to be a part of a church plant rather than stay at their established jobs and church but is that what the early church used as their decision making tape measure?

• I am tempted to think that groundbreaking translation work to get God's Word translated into one of the many languages that currently have no part of the Bible is done by men who have gone to a decade worth of schooling rather than challenge my daughter to consider doing that with her life.

My point? The best missionaries may never be fully vocational and likely will never stand ablaze on the pages of Christian history. 

If we consider Jesus' ministry, He consistently utilized and highlighted such people. That likely means that I need (and perhaps you need) a mental reset back to what is biblical and normal for followers of Jesus.

Let's have a few closing thoughts about being "radical" missionaries TODAY and embracing such a mindset for the future.

• Spend time loving Jesus through reading the Word, praying, and being a faithful member actively engaged in your local church.

• Speak with those around you about Jesus whenever you can, however you can whether it is a simple sentence in passing or a scheduled talk.

• Look at your work as your mission field with intentional interactions to foster relationships to create Gospel opportunities.

• Reset your goals and calendar for the Gospel...not soccer, more hours for more "me" money, hobbies, being the best saxophone player.

• Intentionally set aside calendar time in the year to go beyond "normal" with a mission trip, camp, extended missionary stay (30 days or more), or weekends at a church plant.

• Have an openness to being a trailblazer when the need arises by joining a church plant team or leaving your "life" here by becoming a vocational missionary.

• Speak with those in your life about pursuing a new frontier for the Gospel like going to a mission field, doing translation work, starting an orphanage, or becoming a medical missionary.

The most "famous" Christians in eternity will likely not be the ones who had a dramatic moment or massive following but those who imperfectly sought after Jesus and let His Gospel rule their life choices. 

The great news? It can be you!

Pastor Paul

Thou God Seest Me

I don’t know about you, but sometimes when it comes to the reading of Scripture — I can be guilty of reading a text “flat.” What does that mean Pastor Jordan? I mean sometimes we gloss over certain people, situations, and opportunities as we read the Scriptures looking at the greater picture. This is certainly the case with the narrative of Hagar. The overshadowing of God’s promise to Abraham and the humanly impossible birth of Issac can push us to NOT consider the entire narrative. If you stop and think about it, Hagar was a vulnerable single mom.

You know the story…Hagar was an Egyptian servant girl, given to Abram and Sarai after their tumultuous journey in Egypt. Disappointed with the timing of God’s promised child, Sarai offered the human solution of having Abram have relations with Hagar (talk about a mess). Hagar ended up conceiving and Ishmael was born causing Abram to separate himself from the situation. As you walk through Genesis 16 you quickly see the frustrations of Sarai being taken out on Hagar as she is unable to conceive, continuing in her journey of infertility ("her mistress was despised in her eyes…Sarai dealt hardly with her.").

Hagar had a son, but no husband. Think about this for a moment. Hagar was in a foreign land with a strange culture that was not her own. Feelings of insecurity and insignificance must have plagued her mind. The words, “alone, broken, and abandoned” would be circulating through her mind while walking through the mess of the situation called “her life.” Add the abuse of Sarai to that and you have a recipe for depression, discouragement, and despondence.

Hager certainly was not valued. Those who had enslaved her viewed her as a reward for their conquest. Abram and Sarai saw her as the physical means to fulfill God’s plan of giving them a promised Child. Yet, amid this situation, God saw her. I think one of the most encouraging verses in this narrative is seen in Genesis 16:13. Hagar calls upon the name of the Lord and says: “Thou God seest me.” Hagar says: “God, in the midst of injustice and difficulty, you see me.” God saw her, knew her, and even understood her. Even during a sinful situation, God promises a hopeful future for her and her son Ishmael (Genesis 21). Somewhat like the Women at the Well in John 4, Hagar had hope from a God who loved and cared for her. Both the Samaritan Women of John 4 and Hagar of Genesis 16 found themselves in situations of sin, perhaps by their hand, or by the hands of others— yet experienced the love, truth, and redemption of a God who cares.

For all the single moms out there, God knows you, loves you, and cares for you. Whether injustice has been perpetrated against you, you have lost your husband, or you have made mistakes in the past, God’s grace is sufficient for your daily life. While you may not have planned for your life to look the way it does. God knows and cares. As Hagar said in her difficulty, may you be encouraged that “thou God seest me.”

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms everywhere. No matter your background or story, God sees you and cares for you.

Pastor Jordan