Pastor’s Perspective – April 2025
Christian Lives are Transformed not Transmitted
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.” Matthew 25: 35
We live in an age of social media. An age in which lives are lived for public consumption. We send out memes, statements of agreement, or sometimes just post colors signifying our allegiances. And what do we get for such audacious courage? Likes. The approval of our peers.
While social media began as dating apps and ways to share pictures of our kids with old high school friends and family members, it has become atomized by politics and tribalism. Instead of seeing a picture of a child’s ball game or birthday party, it has become far more likely that you will encounter a statement of tribal fidelity, shown in flags, banners, or pre-packaged statements of political opinion. It is in the interests of parties and organizations to use their followers to push their agenda. My concern is that this way of communication has infiltrated the heart of the Church.
When we chase likes or seek approval for our preferences in the Church, we fall into the trap of performative activism (actions done to increase our public profile or image rather than to glorify God or help another person). It is the inverted principles of those who think that you should be praised for sharing a post, while simultaneously demeaning those who are doing the work of the community or the Church in hospitals, police precincts, school rooms, or fire stations.
Christians are not called to performative actions. We are called to live faithful and substantive lives. To hear and do the word of God. God doesn’t care what color you wear, or the tribe to whom you belong. God wants to hear your prayers and see your good works done in the name of Jesus Christ.
Your good deeds do not need public approval. Jesus tells us not to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing when we give. We have trouble with this, because we want to make sure people know that we are good. That is not our calling, however. We are called to be like Jesus, not to act like the religious folk.
Remember that the Son of God died for us, and no one knew what had happened. He rose and neither Pilate nor the priests were shown any evidence of this history transforming act of God. The most important action in human history took place and only a handful of Galilean women and men were invited to the event. We were not given certified letters to show the world or polaroids to prove that it had happened. Instead, we were told to tell the world the story with the only evidence being the way in which we lived our transformed lives, through love and unity in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our symbol is not a flag or a banner, but the cross. A sign despised by both Jews and Gentiles. Tell the story, lift high the cross, live faithful lives, love your brothers and sisters in Christ and show the world the face of Jesus in the work you do as sheep of God’s flock.
Happy Resurrection Day! Live Resurrection Lives!
Pastor Dan
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