Christians,
Our appearance on social media profiles is important for many reasons. We know that future in-laws, employers, graduate schools, etc. will all use our Facebook and Instagram in order to get to know us before we actually meet them. We know that our fellow students, friends and co-workers are looking for examples of Christianity in us through our profiles. So, of course, we are beginning to completely obsess over how many likes we get on our pictures or how godly we seem in our latest tweet. We are quick to post about our straight As, our latest award or our new internship. The question is, why are we pretending like we never oversleep and miss our classes, eat two plates of macaroni for lunch or have a two-hour breakdown on the phone? Answer: Because we want people to be impressed by us. This is a problem. You were not created to be impressive by yourself.
As followers of Christ, we are called to share his power, grace and love in all that we do. Is he really being glorified just because you add, "I am so blessed to have received the opportunity to" at the beginning of your celebratory posts? In times of good news, of course, we should be giving God the credit. But when all we choose to share with others are our successes, we are indicating that we as Christians lead a perfect and successful life by hiding our trials and burdens from the world. Is this showing any real power? Any real grace? Tell me, which trials are you counting as joy when all of your trials are hidden?
Corinthians 12:9 says, "But He said to me 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." If that shook your world a little bit, you are not alone. Most everyone today has forgotten that boasting about our weakness should be done gladly, but this is the truth. Here we are, singing songs in worship about being in oceans deep, yet we're posting on our Facebook that we're on top of the world. We say that we are striving to know him and to make Him known, but what kind of Savior are we making known when we never share what He's saving us from?
We as the body of Christ need to start becoming raw, intentional and honest in this world if we want to see a generation rise up. A tweet that says, "When life gets hard, lean on God" is fine and all, but if nobody sees you living that out loud, how much worth do your words hold? It's time to jump into this water with both feet. It's time to start being honest when things aren't going the way we intended or we don't see the outcomes we hoped for. We serve a perfect God who is able to cover us in grace and guidance, and we are constantly in need of restoration from He who is sovereign. Who are we to hide our weakness when God tells us that his power is made perfect in it? If we are truly making known the grace of a king, we have to start being honest living proof of what he can do for his children.
Our insecurities and struggles are nothing to be ashamed of because of the one who has already won the victory and declared, "It is finished." Let's really become unashamed because of mercy.
