If you’ve been a believer for any length of time, then you know that we Christians like to chow down. The apostles liked to eat, too. Heck, they hosted a dinner party for 5,000 where the actual head count came to over 10,000. I know, crazytown right? We have a few euphemisms for eating, words like fellowship, koinonia, doing life together. Some are even brazen enough to simply label it breaking bread together. Even our most sacred remembrance of the Savior {communion} involves the act of eating. To prove He was fully resurrected, Jesus Himself ate a piece of fish-apparently He knew Peter would relate.

One way the early church met the needs of one another was by making sure that no one went without food, shelter, or clothing. And, while most people in my life have these things in abundance, they remain real, physical needs to live out life here on earth.

A few years ago, I joined in freezer meal swap parties with some friends of mine. I loved the way this allowed us to serve one another while also serving our own families. The way it works is that we each make 8 meals. Then, we show up and trade 7 our meals and go home with 8 completely different meals. The work is done, and we get to revel in NOT cooking for at least 8 meals. Holla!!!

As a Supermomma to three rambunctious boys, cooking has become a luxury. I used to love trying new recipes and hosting dinner parties at least once a week. But, I haven’t quite figured out how to make that work in my current life season. However, these boys still need to eat. And, I still have to cook, or figure out a way to feed my family on something healthier than frozen pizza.

So, the pop parable? There’s like all kinds of directions I could go with this one. For me, I feel like this is sharing a workload with my sisters in Christ. Because we invest so much less time in cooking freezer meals as opposed to traditional meals, it leaves us more time to do other things-like serve our families, volunteer in the community, or simply take a night off. My friend Kellie mentioned in the news story that one of the benefits of the freezer meals is the ability to share a meal at the drop of a hat. I’ve been so abundantly blessed by friends who have provided meals when I was really sick, after the birth of a baby, or even simply because I had a rough day. It’s meeting the needs of another person while expecting nothing in return.

I think Philippians 2:4 is an excellent summary of this way of serving one another:

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

::

Wanna catch me and my girlies on the news? You can watch the whole thing go down right here:

If you’re interested in making freezer meals work for yourself, check out my friend Angela’s blog The Coupon Project where you can all the details.

I’ve facilitated a women’s book club known as Bibliotherapy for over 5 years now. That’s like 35 in dog years! I’m pleasantly surprised that we’ve been able to maintain our monthly commitment through births, divorces, transitions, moves, and most importantly, some horrible reads. I just finished up our pick for January, Kryistyn Kusek Lewis’ How Lucky You Are.

The Amazon summary reads:

an engaging and moving novel about three women struggling to keep their longstanding friendship alive. Waverly, who’s always been the group’s anchor, runs a cozy bakery but worries each month about her mounting debt. Kate is married to a man who’s on track to be the next governor of Virginia, but the larger questions brewing in their future are unsettling her. Stay-at-home mom Amy has a perfect life on paper, but as the horrific secret she’s keeping from her friends threatens to reveal itself, she panics. As life’s pressures build all around them, Waverly knows she has some big decisions to make. In doing so, she will discover that the lines between loyalty and betrayal can become blurred, happy endings aren’t always clear-cut, and sometimes you have to risk everything to gain the life you deserve.

I haven’t figured out if I liked it or did not like it. Part of my disappointment is that I was expecting chick lit, literary junk food on my night stand. But, what I got was Brussels sprouts. Alas, there is no emotional porn to be found amidst these pages. Nope, this here novella includes real life drama that hits home. If I wanted that, I would’ve just read one of those World War II memoirs.

None the less, Lewis’ work of fiction begs some important questions about our non-fiction lives. Why do we find it so easy to keep secrets from even our closest of confidants? Why do we shirk away from revealing our deepest pains? Why, when a friend reveals something heavy, do I wince and nod as if it’s unfathomable, despite the fact that I share the same sorrow? {Don’t tell me you’ve never done that.}

If I place the model of the early church on top of my 21st century American life in da burbs, I realize that it’s not about meeting the physical and financial needs of others. There is a time for that, but it doesn’t happen as often in my circle as it did back then, when they were being forced out of homes and families for confessing the name of Christ.

The needs of those around me are much more emotionally and spiritually based. These are the things that I gloss over by making small talk about kids’ activities or a home improvement project. I dismiss the fact that my friend doesn’t seem like her normal self for weeks now. I don’t ask why she keeps rescheduling our coffee dates. I don’t pursue her when she doesn’t show up to regular commitments for weeks on end. Then, I’m utterly astounded when she reveals that her husband has moved out.

Waverly is completely taken aback by the secrets of her friends. She is caught off guard, not even suspecting them in the least. The struggles of my friends should not come as a surprise to me. These things should be shared well before the big crisis strikes. Lewis’ characters are missing out on the blessing of true community. I’m writing all about what that looks like in the context of marriage over at Bohemian Bowmans today. Here’s a snippet of my post:

We need others to point out patterns, to affirm what we’re doing well, and to ask us the hard, awkward questions that reveal the true state of a union-especially when we’re not willing to admit it ourselves...read more here.

When I saw a preview for the chick flick The Vow, I immediately dismissed it.  The premise seems so contrived and unbelievable.  Besides, Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler already acted this out in 50 First Dates  {with a fab sountrack might I add}.  Would you spend upwards of $10 to see this movie?

I don’t normally fancy chick flicks, unless I’m pregnant.  I’m most certainly NOT pregnant at this point in time.  But, I did change my mind about this chick flick after reading an article in USA Today, about the book upon which the movie is based.  The last sentence reads: Unlike the film, the book emphasizes the couple’s deep Christian faith. 

Oooooh, pop parable!

I knew I had to read it.  More importantly, I knew my book club, Bibliotherapy, had to read this as we rounded out our year of reading  “Books turned Movies”.  We also had to read it because Channing Tatum is on the cover.  And, also because of this awesome meme I found on Pinterest:

#1 Reason to read The Vow

Hmmm…what was I saying?  Oh, the book.  Yes, here’s a brief synopsis:

Life as Kim and Krickitt Carpenter knew it was shattered beyond recognition on November 24, 1993. Two months after their marriage, a devastating car wreck left Krickitt with a massive head injury and in a coma for weeks.  When she finally awoke, she had no idea who Kim was. With no recollection of their relationship and while Krickitt experienced personality changes common to those who suffer head injuries, Kim realized the woman he had married essentially died in the accident.  And yet, against all odds, but through the common faith in Christ that sustained them, Kim and Krickitt fell in love all over again. Even though Kim stood by Krickitt through the darkest times a husband can ever imagine, he insists, “I’m no hero. I made a vow.”

I downloaded the book around 11:30 PM on Thursday and only stopped reading it after 1 am because my Little Bubba kept waking up.  {Kids these days!}

While The Vow isn’t a literary masterpiece, the story is compelling.  It’s invited me to consider how I’ve lived up to my own marital vows and examine how I would react in such an extreme situation.  I’ve asked myself, “Have I been this loyal to my vows even in the everday situations?”  Kim and Krickett show what it means to live out a covenant, no matter how many reasons you have to walk away.

I highly recommend the book, and I’ll def Redbox the film in a couple of months.  BTW, if you’re looking for a good read, check out our Bibliotherapy Pinterest board for some ideas.

::

Are you in a book club?

What are you reading right now?

Hubs and I had a super fun night with friends on Friday going to see The Hunger Games.  It wasn’t just for leisure either.  We were a part of history, and added our $20 to the $155 million historical opening.

Having read the books TWICE, you could say I was as excited as a little boy at his first t-ball game.

When I woke up on Friday, I realized that all of my excitement had come to screeching halt and turned to sadness. It was the same kind of sadness that overtakes me on Christmas morning, knowing that the moments are fleeting and soon all the magic will end. I love the anticipation, the questioning, the hoping, the wonderment and the surprise of Christmas. Once all the presents have been opened and the meal devoured, there is grey melancholy that settles in my heart.

I knew this same melancholy would arrive once the credits rolled. So, before the movie started, I decided I wasn’t going to search for any pop parables. I was going to enjoy every minute of the show. I had a few pop parables up my sleeve already, and given the mass popularity of The Hunger Games, I knew that all that could be said would be said by other people who are smarter, funnier, or deeper thinkers than myself.

What I offer you today, my friends, is something I doubt you’ll find on any other blog or write up about The Hunger Games.

Rather than adding to the noise, I’m creating a totally different conversation.

The last Young Adult Fiction phenomenon brought you Who Wore It Best: Edward v. Moses. We studied the sparkly luminescence of the face that was the result of Edward’s vampire roots and Moses’ reflection of God. {Moses won by 1 vote!}

In this edition of Who Wore it Best, we see Katniss and the Early Believers duke it out.

Who Wore it Best: Tongues of Fire

Photo Courtesy of Jo Naylor

Before casting your vote in my live poll, please consider each contestant’s origination of tongues of fire. Since I can’t provide actual images of either manifestation, you’ll have to use your own imagination based upon the narration below.

Cinna {played by Lenny Kravitz}, Katniss’ stylist, dresses her in a gown that breathes fire when she twirls on stage in front of the people of the Capitol. Katniss has no idea how she can be “The Girl on Fire” who isn’t actually on fire or burnt to a crisp like the bacon I forgot about while folding laundry. The fire of her dress is a representation of her life, which becomes a symbol of rebellion, a spark that breeds a fire.

In the book, Collins describe the scene in the words of Katniss:

The creature standing before me in the full-length mirror has come from another world. Where skin shimmers and eyes flash and apparently they make their clothes from jewels. Because, my dress, oh, my dress is entirely covered in reflective precious gems, red and yellow and white with bits of blue that accent the tips of the flame design. The slightest movement gives the impression that I am engulfed in tongues of fire. I am not pretty. I am not beautiful. I am as radiant as the sun.

 In Acts 2, we are told that the early believers gathered together in a house on the Day of Pentecost. It was at this time, that they all became filled with the Holy Spirit. The text reads that they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

::

In both situations, the witnesses were dumbfounded by the tongues of fire. The people of the Capitol ooh and ahh over Katniss’ magical dress. The Jews were bewildered, and accused the early believers of drunkenness. Peter quickly rebukes that lie, saying, People, people. Can’t you read the sun dial?! I know it’s 5 o clock somewhere, but it’s only 9 am here. The only explanation for this is that God is da hoooouse! {emphasis and interpretation mine.}  The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is also a spark that breeds fire, the beginning of the church as we know it.

Now that you’re edumacated, be a part of history! Cast your vote now!

::

Have you read The Hunger Games or seen the movie?

What pop parables have you seen in this story?

H/T to Angela from The Coupon Project for helping me out with this one.  Read her Hunger Games inspired post here.

I really appreciate the diverse and well thought out responses you all gave to In Your Words: KONY 2012, Jessica Simpson, iPad 2, and Kim Kardashian.

Now, it’s my turn.

Slacktivism

Proponents of the #KONY2012 cause have been labeled slacktivists, meaning they’ve latched on to a cause that requires minimal {if any} change, action or discomfort on their part. What it simply provides is a warm and fuzzy feeling that I’ve joined the fight against injustice, even though I’ve done nothing more than click a button.

I support the cause of raising awareness over the plight of innocent children in Uganda.

But, my greatest concern is that this entire #KONY2012 phenomenon ends at awareness.

As Loren shared, it just allows you to think that you’re helping the cause when you’re not. You feel nice that you put a bumper sticker on your car, but nothing changes. I think that’s the biggest danger that I can see.

Is the act of posting of a link to Facebook or Twitter truly a response to the commandment to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? {Micah 6:8}

Behavior Modifiction

I asked Jesus into my life at the age of 4. I couldn’t tell you what I was wearing, but I could take you to the exact place at which I said the “Sinner’s Prayer”.

For many years, I bought into the lie that the conversion experience had done the deed. Like sharing the #KONY2012 video, I thought I had done my part and that was the end of that.

I didn’t recognize that following Christ and dying to self is a daily decision. It’s an hourly decision. It’s a moment by moment decision when you get right down to it.

I’ve been walking with Jesus for 28 years now.

How often do I sit in church, hear a message, be reminded of my depravity, get enthused to go out and change the world, only to come back a week later having made no changes what.so.ever?

Some will say that I’m reducing my faith to behavior modification and that is not what I’m suggesting.

What I am suggesting is a faith that embraces deeds as an outgrowth of the imparting change continually brought upon my heart by the Holy Spirit.

So often my flesh wins the battle over my spirit.  I resist opening myself up to this sort of change.

In fact, since starting Pop Parables I’ve become grossly aware of the ways in which I talk the talk of Christianity and don’t walk the walk.

Sure, I’ve got the biggies down. I don’t murder, steal or even speed.  I go to church every weekend.  I love the people who love me.  I read my Bible. I blog about faith.  I’m a “good” person, who is kind to others, supports charities, and chats with little old ladies in the checkout line.  I constantly seek out God’s truth.

But, what do I actually DO with all of that Truth?

When I’m in a difficult relationship, do I hold tight to the things of God? Or do I just follow my feelings and talk crap about that person when they’re not around?

When I see someone being mistreated or disrespected in my presence, do I speak up or do I steer clear of ruffling feathers?

When I’ve offended someone, do I reconcile the relationship before going to the altar?

More often than not, I answer no to these questions {and more}.

More often that not, my response is to avoid, deflect or disengage when things get rough. I push it under the rug and pretend it didn’t happen.

It’s a definitively slacktivist faith.

How did I get to this point of cynicism, laziness and pride?

Celebration of Discipline

This past weekend I took the train to visit my BFF in Portland. It was a glorious weekend! We spent Saturday afternoon trolling around Powell’s bookstore, which is so ginormous you need a map to navigate your way around it.

I picked up this book that I’ve been wanting and needing to read since I heard a talk on it a couple of years ago at the Christian Musician Summit.

I got it used! YAY!

Some reviews argue that the spiritual disciplines hinge on working my way to righteousness.

I appreciate how Foster refutes that judgement:

We do not need to be hung on the horns of the dilemma of either human works or idleness. God has given us the Disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of receiving His grace. The Disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that He can transform us.

I know that reading this book won’t be the magic pill that shoots me to a mature faith.

The spiritual disciplines include meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance, and celebration.

I am hopeful that reading about the disciplines will help me to gain an understanding in the basics of the Christian faith that I haven’t put much thought or effort into thus far.  And, more than understanding, I’m hopeful that it will push me toward an activist faith that I so desire, to become a doer of the Word.

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. {James 1:25}

::

What about you?  What areas of your faith tend toward slacktivism?

Do you agree or disagree with my assessment that #KONY2012 hints at slacktivism?

There are so many pop parables floating around the interwebz right now.  I could simply navigate anywhere in my Facebook news feed with my eyes closed and stumble across something postworthy.  But, most likely that I’d stumble across a link to KONY 2012.

But, before we get to that, let me just alert you to the other post ideas I’ve taken note of recently.

Miley Cyrus ”Forget Jesus” Tweet Causes Backlash

Miley tweeted an image of theoretical physicit Lawrence Krauss who says, You are all stardust. You couldn’t be here if stars hadn’t exploded, because the elements (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, all the things that matter for evolution) weren’t created at the beginning of time. They were created in stars. So forget Jesus. Stars died so you can live. Parents of tweens everywhere are really not too happy about this one.

Pregnant Jessica Simpson Gets Nude for Elle

In an homage to Demi Moore, Jessica Simpson poses with her baby girl bump on the cover of Elle magazine.

iPad 3 releasing in 8 days!!!

People more likely to take money advice from Donald Trump or Kim Kardashian than from the Bible {fo realz}

And, the biggest one?  KONY 2012.

If you haven’t been absolutely blasted with links to this video, you might be a hermit.

Here are a few celebrity tweets about it:

From P Diddy {or whatever he’s calling himself these days}:

Oprah reminds us this isn’t a new cause:

And, Bieber tell us to wipe the grin off our faces:

In case you’ve missed the 30 minute video, watch it here:

There has been some recent criticism over the outcry to the cause, with some raising doubts  as to whether social media is an appropriate forum for advocacy and fund-raising.

I wanted to invite you, the readers of Pop Parables, to share your response to this video that will soon see its picture next to the term viral video in the Urban Dictionary.

As with past editions of “In Your Words”, I’ll respond with “In My Words” later.

::

Have you watched the video?

What is your initial response?

How do you perceive the response of the general public over KONY 2012?

Got any thoughts on any of the other possible pop parables I listed?

I get so excited when others find the pop parables because it means I’m not crazy.  Yay!  I hope you enjoy this heart felt post from my {real life} friend, Angela.

::

Cinderella. Aurora. Snow White. Jasmine. Ariel. Rapunzel.

The other day while driving along with my daughter, listening to the Tangled soundtrack, it hit me like a ton of bricks.  All of the Disney princesses share a common struggle: captivity. I was stunned that I had never made this realization before.

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons: Bala

For all their beauty and admiration, the princesses all experience a period of captivity.  Consider:

• Cinderella is a prisoner in her own home. She must follow her evil stepmother’s orders or face the consequences. At the movie’s climax, the stepmother locks her in the attic in an attempt to hide her true identity.
• The three fairies in Sleeping Beauty hide Princess Aurora in a cottage deep in the forest to keep the evil Malificent from discovering her whereabouts. She spends the first 16 years of her life unaware of who she truly is, and who she is destined to be.
• In spite of her attempts to hide from the wicked queen, Snow White eventually succumbs to the temptation of a beautiful apple. She is poisoned, held captive under a spell until her rescuer comes.
• Even though Jasmine lives the life of royalty, she is far from truly free as she is held to royal law that she must marry a prince.
• Ariel longs for a life she cannot have, and gambles away her freedom on a bet she makes with Ursula, the sea witch.
• Abducted as an infant, Rapunzel spends her days trapped in a tower, longing for a life of freedom.

But, what does it mean to be held captive?  What does it mean to finally be free?

Held Captive

We’re told in II Kings that the Israelites were held captive.  The Bible also makes it very clear why they were taken into captivity.

All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God.  {II Kings 17:7}

There was a litany of offenses that the Israelites had committed against the Lord including idolatry, witchcraft, and human sacrifice. Bottom line? Sin. Check out what’s happening in verse 9, too:

The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right.

There’s something so dangerous about the sin we do in secret, isn’t there? It’s easy to kid ourselves and think no one’s watching when we gossip, shortchange our employer at work a bit, cheat in some way or other, or allow bitterness to grow in our heart. We fool ourselves into thinking we’re controlling the behavior.

When in fact, we are held captive by it.

Sold as a Slave

Paul describes the condition of the human heart in terms of slavery:

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do, for what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate to do. {Romans 7:14-15}

It’s so easy to fall into the lie that being a Christian means giving up your freedom. On the contrary, when you become a Christian, you realize that you had never been free in the first place.

Paul makes the point painfully clear – it’s as if you’ve been sold to sin. As long as you are in the flesh, you are owned by it.  So who is really free then?

I See the Light

When I had the realization about the Disney Princesses, I was listening to a particular song from Tangled called “I see the Light”.  In the movie, there is one particularly breathtaking scene where Rapunzel has an epiphany about her life, and what she’s been missing.

Now maybe I’m a bit of a sap, but this scene always chokes me up a bit.  And, I couldn’t figure out why….until the other day, as I’m driving down the road and listening to the song. Really listening to it.

All those princesses experienced captivity, yes. None of them were free to be who they were meant to. But what inevitably happens at the end of the story? They are rescued! The handsome prince – remember him?

It was as I was making all this connection that this song touched me in a new, and real way. I love how God can use anything, even a song written by Disney, to minister to us.

I hope you will take a few minutes out and listen to it. (Please note that when Eugene sings, you’ll have to change “she” to “he” about 2-3 times. But you can handle that, right? I know you can.)

All those days watching from the windows

All those years, outside looking in

All that time, never even knowing just how blind I’ve been.

Now I’m here, blinking in the starlight

Now I’m here, suddenly I see

Standing here, it’s oh so clear

I’m where I’m meant to be

And at last I see the light!

And it’s like the fog has lifted

And at least I see the light!

And it’s like the sky is new

And it’s warm, and real, and bright

And the world has somehow shifted…

All at once, everything looks different

Now that I see You.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.  {Romans 8:1}

 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  {Galatians 5:1}

Praise the Lord, our Prince of Peace! He has come so that we might live happily ever after with him!

Angela Russell has seen the Disney princess movies one-too-many times. She lives with her husband and two children, Keefe and Piper in Tacoma, Washington. She runs a money-saving site, The Coupon Project, and is also a freelance writer.

Yesterday was the Superbowl, as dubbed by Madonna as The Greatest Show on Earth. I wouldn’t know if it actually lived up to that description since I didn’t even watch it. Perhaps you expected that I would have been watching for an 8 second pop parable in a commercial that cost a quadrillion dollars. I was not. Hubs and the boys were off at a friends watching the Giants steal the Superbowl right out from under the Patriots cleats at the last second. I stayed home and got a little crafty.

BUT! I do still have a pop parable for you that is totally Superbowl related. Take a gander at Parade magazine from Sunday:

You may be expecting the cop-out #Jesusjuke pop parable, whereby I say that if you know so much about football, you should know even more about Jesus. I’d quote religious analogies like this from the cover story: If football is the unofficial national religion, then Super Bowl Sunday is the High Holiday.  I’d talk about how your faith should be found in Jesus, not football. And, I’d ask why you don’t write John 3:16 on your face like Tim Tebow? What kinda Christian, are you, anyway?!

But, that’s just not how I roll.

::

Parade describes the Superfan as someone who embodies the chest-beating, face-painting loony id of the American sports world.

It left me pondering: should Christians have hobbies like football? Should Christians be participating in activities outside the church with such an intense amount of passion? Should a Christian expend time, money, energy, and other resources to pursuits that have nothing to do with God?

You really wanna know what I think?

Christians should absolutely, positively, most DEFIFREAKINITELY have hobbies.

An authentic life of faith encompasses a broad range of activities.

It’s not just reading the Bible, writing in your journal, and attending church {although those things are good}.

An authentic life of faith engages God, seeks Him and finds Him in all aspects of life.

::

This past Christmas, my sister in law came up with the idea that we should make gifts, rather than buy them all. I decided it was the perfect time for bringing crafty back. Inspired by Pinterest {follow me here!} and my own childhood dreams of having some kind of career in the creative arts, I re-discovered something deep in my soul that was buried under the monotony of life.

By reconnecting with my creative side I was able to reconnect with God in a new and exciting way that I had long forgotten and misplaced.

When He designed Keri, there was an intentionality and purpose to who I would become. I was intricately and meticulously crafted as the one who would accomplish all of the good works that He planned for me. That design included a passion for beautiful things, such as art, music, fashion, film, and an affection for creating things with my very own hands. Before you get the wrong idea, I’m not some amazing crafter. I don’t {and probably never will} have an Etsy shop.

But, when I sit down to create something from nothing, I am deeply connected to the Creator of all things. He speaks to me, so tenderly and softly in those moments. He shows me areas in my heart that need to be renewed. He initiates a cathartic release.

At the end of a crafting session, I’m left with an intense desire to respond to Him out of this connection.

I want to give what I have received.

I am filled up to go out and fill others.

I am loved to show love.

Not all of my hobbies are so spiritual. I’ve been watching a lot of Downton Abbey lately. I am reading The Hunger Games trilogy for my book club. I eat chocolate and drink lots of espresso. {Yes, I totally consider that a hobby.}

Which leads us to the next question: shouldn’t we draw the line somewhere when it comes to hobbies? {More on that next time}

::

What hobbies in your life initiate an unexpected connection with God?

Last week I shared about the church’s opportunity to fully integrate faith with media, social media, and technology. The post was intended as a discourse on the “good” uses of media. The flip side of that argument is that there remain negative, even evil, uses of technology.

Last Wednesday, seven teenagers were arrested after their YouTube video went viral. And, by viral, I don’t mean the kind of viral you and I aspire to, like Rebecca Black’s “Friday”. {I know you sing that song into your hairbrush every Friday morning!}

The three minute video depicts the attackers yelling at the visibly terrified victim, punching and kicking him in the face with apparent glee as he curled up on the snow-covered ground. After robbing the victim, the teens {one of whom is the son of a sheriff’s deputy} posted it on YouTube. Shortly thereafter, their names and identities were provided in the comments of the video, which aided in their arrest.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

Call me cynical, jaded, or heartless, but this article didn’t cause my eyes to widen. I didn’t scratch my head in bewilderment. It didn’t strike me as anything I hadn’t heard before.

As the author of Ecclesiates {1:9} reveals:

9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

According to some experts, this disturbing trend is a modern twist on the age-old human penchant for boasting about one’s exploits to impress the community at large and to warn perceived rivals that their group is more powerful than others.

Pam Rutledge, head psychologist at the Media Psychology Research Center reminds us that the trend is similar to Medieval warriors putting the heads of their enemies on sticks, scalping and even school yard brawls in the ‘50s — they’re all ways of displaying that dominance in public. These new tools — the Internet, YouTube — just let you spread the word much farther.

::

Perhaps you’re reading this with disgust, asking yourself, “What kind of person does that sort of thing? How could anyone be so cruel?”

The Bible reveals that you and I are no different than these teenagers. Mankind is not good.

In doctrinal and theological terms, this is known as depravity.

All are capable of doing wrong.

All are capable of evil.

Very early in the history of man, God determined that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. {Genesis 6:5}

Wondering how He figured that out?

I don’t have to look any farther than my own offspring to know it’s true. My boys are naturally inclined to selfishness, lying, and hurting one another. I didn’t have to teach them any of that. They hide toys from eachother. They push one another off of chairs. They scream at one another over a single Matchbox car, even though there are 10 others within a one foot radius.

They don’t naturally understand how to be kind, sharing, gentle, and loving. They are like all of mankind.

Every part of every person is corrupted by the state of depravity.

Perhaps this comes across as fire and brimstone. It didn’t make my list of My 1o Favorite Things I Learned from Oprah. Our culture has deceived us into thinking that people are mostly good, and there are few people capable of evil.

If you’ve never heard of depravity, the term may come across as condemning, harsh, and pessimistic. But, it is a plain and basic truth of Christianity.

The Good News?

Our depravity reveals our need for God.

God’s sacrifice of His Son, rescues me and you from this depraved state.

He desires to restore us to His original purpose and design.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. {Ephesians 2:10}

He created us for good, not evil.

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Have you ever been surprised by your own depravity?

After the birth of Little Bubba {my 3rd born son}, I knew I had to find a way to stimulate my otherwise mushy brain. The mind which I had once worked so hard to challenge was now falling apart at the seams due to limited sleep, constant convos with a 2 year old, and general lack of motivation for thought beyond whether or not it was a makeup day.

I considered starting a blog because I longed for a place where I could dig deep into matters of my faith. I wanted a place that wasn’t dependent on real time, but allowed me to interact between diaper changes and midnight feedings. Through social media, I discovered that I enjoy writing and talking about my faith. I’ve grown deeper in my walk with God. I’ve had convos with people about my faith in the most random of places. I’ve found a new community of believers who are spread across the country.

All this because Al Gore invented the internet! WOW!

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Over the holidays, I was a little surprised to see the new ad campaign for the Catholic church. Have you seen the commercials? Here is one of them:

When I first saw the commercial, I was taken aback. An ad campaign for church? Sandwiched between the Snuggie and the sale at Macy’s, it seems like a shot in the dark. But, even though I’m not Catholic, I appreciate the mission of Catholics Come Home, which they describe as to inspire, educate and evangelize inactive Catholics and others, and invite them to live a deeper faith in Jesus Christ.

Their impetus was based upon the exhortation of Pope John Paul 11 to make use of a new evangelism through modern media. He stated that Using the media correctly and competently can lead to a genuine enculturation of the Gospel. He believed that This vital field of action for the Church requires a radical change of mentality, an authentic new awakening of conscience in everyone. New methods are needed, as are new expressions and new courage.

If Jesus lived in 21st century America, I’m sure that you could get his sermons on podcast. Or, you could at least view shaky YouTube videos from people’s phones. There would likely be live video streams of his sermons, too. Although that might be kinda lame because rather than enjoying a meal with 5,000 of your new best friends, you’re just lying in bed wondering what miracle fish tastes like.

My generation and those younger than me {and even those older than me!} are seeking new ways to express and learn about faith that are fully integrated with technology and social media. Maybe that just sounds like another excuse to use your iPhone. But, it’s also an amazing venue by which we can spread the Good News.

The use of media, social media, and technology are ways in which the Body of Christ can meet people right where they are, in their homes, schools, on the way to work, or at Starbucks. Jesus Himself did not wait for people to meet Him in the temple. He went out into the towns and called the disciples, at their places of employment, in their homes and meeting places.

I certainly believe an active, face to face, in the flesh presence should be our first priority when it comes to sharing the love of Christ. But, it’s also important for the Gospel to be shared where people spend a majority of their time. And, these days a lot of time is spent encountering the world through technology.

Most churches have a website, Facebook page, and sermons on podcast. If yours is a particularly progressive congregation, you may even have a blog and a meaningful social media presence. Some larger churches have quite impressive sites that allow users to really delve into Christianity and find answers in a non-threatening environment.

The challenge is finding a balance between allowing the revolutionary message of the Gospel to speak for itself and not allowing our delivery to become the focus.

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What ways do you engage faith through media and technology?

What ideas have you seen in practice that work? What ideas don’t work?

Do you think the church is already doing enough to make good use of media and technology?