Self
My 11-year-old daughter just received her first phone for her birthday. It was a reluctant, yet inevitable present from my husband and I. Of course her delight at getting a phone was not because she actually wants to ring anyone – rather it is all about texting, games and, rather surprisingly to me, photos. We were bewildered when the first thing she did on receiving the phone was to take a pouting selfie.
This month Ruth Sanderson explores the world of ‘generation selfie’ and discovers that the selfie craze is now ingrained in the culture of our young people. She says, “To the under 25s, the world without social media, selfies and public sharing is simply incomprehensible.” Unfortunately the narcissism that often accompanies these selfies and social media in general poses big challenges for parents and, indeed, the church.
Blogging is now a key part of the online world and Lisa Skinner looks at why we should not ignore it. In her article she quotes Rick Hill, PCI Discipleship Officer, who identifies, “Current generations are often more influenced by popular blogs and celebrity pastors than they are by their own minister or through their local church.” Lisa encourages us as churches and individuals to engage with it in a positive way.
Being ‘in the world’ but not ‘of the world’ is always a difficult line to walk and nowhere is this more so than in the virtual world. As Christians we are not immune to the egotistic euphoria of a ‘like’ on Facebook and therefore we must always be careful to monitor our motives for the things we post online.
It is perhaps ironic that whilst our society is now so obsessed with ‘self’, this is the antithesis of what we as Christians should strive for. In Luke 9:23 Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Jesus’ whole life on this earth epitomised humility and love, especially His ultimate sacrificial act on the cross. Hollywood’s latest biblical movie, Risen, which dramatises the death and resurrection of Christ, is reviewed this month. Neil Sedgewick suggests that its unusual angle (through the eyes of an unbelieving Roman centurion) could help deepen our faith as we see familiar events in a fresh way. The centurion’s search of Jesus’ body after his resurrection mirrors our own purpose – to seek Him in all aspects of our lives.
Rather than indulging in self-publicity and focusing our attention evermore inward, may we instead look up and out, doggedly pursuing an attitude of: less of us and more of Him.
Sarah Harding, Editor
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