Spiritual Contemplations for those who serve the Lord |
Both popularity and proliferation are the sweet poison offered by Satan on the battleground of social media. 'Popularity' by definition is the state or condition of being liked, admired, or supported by many people. 'Proliferation' by definition is the fact of something increasing a lot and suddenly in number or amount. It is true that the various social media have offered plateaus for communication widening the scope of relation among people far and near; yet they have also become a sweet-sour nourishment for souls hungry for fame, acceptance, praise, and thus the subsequent false gratification existing therein from and by the biggest possible number of the so called 'followers'. Unfortunately, some servants have fallen into this trap of conforming to the present custom, fashion, and established mode to which St. Paul responded, “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). Outcomes of Popularity and Proliferation 1. Self-Glorification & False Joy This temptation of desiring to become well known and praised is not new. When St Paul saw that the Corinthians were leading the servants into that pit, he explained emphatically “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.'” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). Today's servants should strive not to aspire for joy derived from people's opinions on social media nor measure their success by the number of "likes" received. On the contrary, their benchmark that measures success should reside in the salvation of people and in the change brought in hearts because of their service; as the case was with the disciples. “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?'” (Acts 2:37). St. Paul said to the Romans, “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.' So then each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:8-12). Lord Jesus Christ described this self-centered input and warned against its subsequent dangerous output of pursuing personal glory in service “But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'” (Matthew 23:5-7). Unfortunately, social media has blocked "the lowest places" opening accounts only for people who are ready to compete for "the best places" not recommended by the Lord, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). 2. Growing Competition St. James has outlined the real causes of strife among people mainly because of competition, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, 'The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously'? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'” (James 4:1-6). Not only has the various social media provided ground for these spiritual ailments to grow; but they have also provided the ‘trumpets’ that our Lord has warned against, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” (Matthew 6:1-4). 3. Distorted Goals & Spiritual Emptiness Distorted or 'divided' goals lead to disastrous self-gratification and spiritual emptiness. As our Lord has described it, “'Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.' When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters” (Luke 11:17,21-23). In the Holy Book of Revelation, Lord Jesus Christ has warned against spiritual coldness, negligence and lukewarm hearts, “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: 'I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:1-6). Let Jesus Christ be our example in our service. He never sought praise or glory from the congregations. Based on what she had seen Him say and perform, one woman expressed her 'like' saying “…‘Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!’" (Luke 11:27). Our Lord immediately diverted her attention to the essence of the matter saying, “…More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28) St. Mary qualified for both blessings, the first for being the womb that carried the Son of God and the second for fulfilling every virtue and service in silence. Likewise, we as servants should make our primary goal to “…hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:28). Certainly, God's word does not wait to be glorified on social media nor is it intended to be human pleaser. 4. Resulting Disappointments “…your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” (Matthew 6:4). Sadly enough, the various social media have left no "secret" for the heavenly Father to see in secret and reward openly. They have become the sounding trumpets by which all achievements are advertised. To warn against exposing to the public charitable deeds and spiritual endeavors, Jesus Christ used the cautionary words, “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3). Such modern advertising instruments can breed disappointment and grievances among servants and churches that have not reached that so called level of success. Hence rivalry, strife, jealousy get seated in such hearts, service objectives lose definition and goals roam astray. When facing such circumstances, St. Paul made the best out of them focusing on the joy therein, “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice” (Philippians 1:15-18). Solution Now that the social media have become available in all means and by all means, there is a need to counteract their negative effects with great circumspection in order to avoid their spiritual, social, physical, mental and psychological harm remembering to serve God in fear because “'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you will bear it alone.'” (Proverbs 9:10-12). Conclusion Servants should rest assured that personal popularity is detrimental when sought in service and when thought of as a measuring stick for success. There are people who have devoted their life completely and faithfully to serve God “in the secret” For example, Simon the Canaanite of whom we know little but who is fully known to God and who has certainly been ushered into the kingdom with the assurance, “…‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’” (Matthew 25:23). *Adapted from HGBY monthly clergical letters - February 2021
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