Why I'm Unfriending Facebook (even for a time)

I'm unfriending Facebook. This may be for a time, and it may be for good.  That decision will come later.  For the time being, however, I'm leaving Facebook.  Why I'm leaving will take some explanation.

I don't know when it happened, but there was a decided shift in our culture. Somewhere along the line we confused disagreement with dislike, and we substituted debate for hatred.  In the wider culture, if someone disagreed, it was a sign the person didn't like the other person.  To engage in debate is now considered hatred, and, depending upon the topic, it's labeled as "hate speech" and can be a crime.

Facebook was different.  It was originally set up by college students for college students.  In the very early days (before I joined), it was a place for upcoming graduates to connect with employers.  It was a tool that was later replaced by LinkedIn (and others) as a method of networking.

It evolved from there to chronicle the lives of students (and maybe even record what the students couldn't remember).  This may not have been the healthiest of uses, and it was quickly replaced by likes of SnapChat and other, seedier, social media outlets.

Its further evolution took it into, what I term, a "Wild West college" phase; this was a time when Facebook was a place with few rules and lots of debate. Unlike the university system, honest debate happened. Sometimes it got ugly, but it was more open and honest.

As time went on, some of the culture's views on debate crept in.  I saw it from the faith community first. Disagreement on some theological issues was viewed as "unloving" or "divisive".  Disagreements were to be discounted; outright heresy was was to be ignored.  The only acceptable answers to anything theological was to praise the comment, regardless of its theological value.  Even a non-like on a re-post must be an indication of divisiveness.

Next, I saw this creep into social topics. It seemed the only topics and views allowed were those championed by the editorial board of the New York Times.  To disagree meant you must be one of a host of "-ophobe's".

My comments, and my responses to others' comments, have damaged relationships.  It's not that it was my goal, but it's the way of our society; to disagree with a comment apparently means I hate the person. My real-life relationships are more important to me than my online presence.

I'm unfriending Facebook, at least for a time.

True Greatness

It seems that, everywhere I turn, I hear people say they "want to be great," or they "want to be big." This is just as prevalent within the church as it is outside of the church. Within the church there is a striving to have a big following, to reach the big crowds, to feed the masses.

I'd like to blame American Idol. In fact I'd love to call it the American Idol Effect. Why do people go on shows like this? To be famous. To be known. To be great.

The more I contemplate my life, I'm finding that I truly want the simple things. First, I want that simple faith that leads me to do what I know I should do. Second, I want to be a good husband. Third, I want to be a good father. And I want to serve others faithfully.

To be honest, I've been caught up in the American Idol Effect, trying to pursue a big ministry, to be the biggest at whatever I try. But I'm beginning to think that I'm called to be faithful. Provide for and love my family. Serve my church faithfully. Devote time to cultivating into others. If that leads to speaking tours, book deals, television appearances, great, but that's not the end game.

I would like to live more simply. Pursue those things which made my forefathers great. Doing the hard things in life: work hard, love selflessly, hug frequently, serve tirelessly. These things may not be glamourous, but they are what remain.

This song, by Sanctus Real, could summarize the prayer on my heart. I may, or may not agree with all of it, and it doesn't all apply, but it still hits close to home and makes parts of the hidden parts in me cry "AMEN!"



What about you? What are your thoughts? Please share your comments with me. And may we lead that simple faith of simple obedience.

Work as Worship

So often we Christians try to segregate our spiritual life from our home life, extra-curricular life and work life. I assert that separating faith from the rest of life is not possible, and work is a form of worship in itself.

Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men" (NKJV). This verse is in the context of how a Christian home should operate. The specific context is in the context of a bondservant, and I believe it applies to those serving in the marketplace. Work is associated with worship in this passage.

As believers we must be cautious of segregating our faith from our other endeavors. Everything we do is an act of worship. Who we worship will be revealed by our behaviors.

Another aspect of this principle is that our faith should drive the quality of whatever we set our hands to do. If we are working "as to the Lord," the quality of that product should be of excellence as He is worthy of excellence. This applies to sermon-writing, surgery, landscaping, accounting, refuse collection - you get the idea. Christians should be the best employees and contractors, as our labor is to the Lord.

These principles are also applicable to leisure and extra-curricular pursuits. If we apply Jesus' standards to sporting activities, volunteer pursuits, and even board games, we don't discount a strong competition, but we also adhere to the governing standards and rules. By our conduct on the field, across the game board, or serving someone else, we either exalt Christ or demean His name.

Of course, we labor as to the Lord and not men. At times these standards may conflict, and when they do, we must appeal to the standards of Scripture and assume the consequences in the present. This may, or may not happen, as it should not hinder the quality of the work, but standards must be upheld.

Do not discount "non-spiritual " pursuits. These are a form of worship.

My Thoughts on Faith and Life

I plan to start posting here more often. I'm not going to guarantee it will be very often, but I'll certainly try to post more than the every-nine-month plan I'm currently on.

When posting on faith, let me preface this by saying I'm not a pastor, other than to my family, and then I guess that makes me a work-in-progress, learning pastor. I have no theology degree, other than having been a Christian for 25 years, of which 10 of those years were during my formative years. These are just my thoughts and current ideas, and they may, or may not, agree with some theological thoughts (actually, could probably find a school of thought in theology to agree and disagree with every assertion I will make).

That is my preface to the direction I am taking this blog. Please comment, or at least let me know you stopped by.

Merry Christmas

After the presents have been opened, the dinners eaten, the family's laughter, the games have been played, and the celebrations, um, celebrated, I'm left with memories. Memories of enjoyment, memories of merriment, memories of impacting my family. Memories of giving of ourselves to one another.

Christmas is about the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Christmas is a reminder of the greatest gift ever given - the Savior's own life in exchange for my sin. This, above all, is the greatest gift ever given.

I'll enjoy the festivities with friends and family. I'll enjoy the food, the discussions, the gifts. And through it all, I'll remember the gift of a newborn who would grow to give His life for the forgiveness of a debt no one could ever repay.

Thank you, my Lord, Savior, and God, Jesus Christ. Thank You for taking on human form,living a sinless life, and offering the greatest gift: the gift of Yourself for the forgiveness of the debt of my sin.

Merry Christmas.

The Reason for the Season

I've been seeing, again, the debates over what to wish people this time of year. Shoppers are admonished not to visit stores that use "Happy Holidays." We're urged to call merchants to ensure they use the phrase "Merry Christmas."

For me, the issue is deeper than a phrase. I want to ensure that, through the gift-giving, festivities, singing and well-wishing, the reason for the celebrations isn't lost.

I don't think getting angry over the wrong phrase being used is a good example of what Christ came to earth to accomplish. Nor is demanding that unbelieving people act like Christians. It's our job, as believers, to lead others to Christ in ways that He did: through His kindness, through His generosity.

If we're going to reach a lost and dying world, let's do it through overt love and kindness. (By the way, I'm not saying we excuse sin, but people's sin tend to be exposed in light of purity.)

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas

Simplicity of Faith

I am beginning to appreciate mass transit. I still find it somewhat inconvenient, but letting someone else do the driving allows me time to do other things. Sometimes, it's getting my day organized. Other times, it's catching up on my reading. And other times, it's spending time reflecting.

Today was a reflection day. I spent a few minutes reading Acts 2. I was especially struck by verse 46, and especially the statement, "and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart..." Two comments struck my by this verse. First is "simplicity of heart," and second is "breaking bread."

I will address the second comment first. The new church met daily, and it revolved around a meal. They ate a meal, in common, EVERY DAY. This served two functions. First, the young believers came together to learn from each other in a casual, friendly setting. Second, they learned to serve one another, going from home to home, sharing a meal. Instead of meeting once a week, maybe twice, they met every day. Instead of meeting for an hour, they reclined at each other's tables for prayer, praise, teaching and encouragement. This is a much different model from today.

My second observation was around the comment, "simplicity of heart." The young Christians had one main love, and that was a love and respect for their God. It played out in their simple faith. My struggle is keeping my faith pure and simple. It's so easy to complicate it with logic and reason, or with blind mysticism. The young believers knew what they believed, mostly based on what they witnessed, and that was enough. I am not discounting, science, logic and reason, as they are necessary for many aspects of life, but I can't let it cloud my simple faith. Instead, science and reason should enhance and magnify my simplicity of heart.

To live in such a place is an amazing place. To have a simple faith; that at the same time allows for amazing discovery through science, logic and reason; is an amazing place. Also, to have strong fellowship with others, to the point that meals are shared on a regular basis, is an incredible way to live.