Christian Living

TALKING FACE TO FACE, A LOST ART

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
07/19/16
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"Don't eavesdrop on the conversation of others. What if the gossip's about you and you'd rather not hear it? You've done that a few times, haven't you - said things Behind someone's back you wouldn't say to his face? I tested everything in my search for wisdom. I set out to be wise, but it was beyond me, far beyond me, and deep - oh so deep! Does anyone ever find it? " (A paraphrase form the Seventh Chapter of Ecclesiastes).

Has our face to face conversation succumbed to that of the high tech megaphones ? The phenomena of talking, by way of the iPhone, the iPad, the IPod, and the like, has taken the world by storm. If we aren't talking by Smartphone, we are giving our dexterity a work out by texting with our fingers. Yes, Smartphone's have taken over the world.

Since we are now in the middle of this age of technological advance, with all its glory, conveniences, and consequences, how does this culture harm or hinder the spiritual life of the Christian ?

This new high tech age has taken away the celestial feeling of holding and reading the "Holy Bible" in church. Recently, I just happened to tune in to a TV church service, when the pastor made the following announcement, "please take your Bibles, your iPad ,or your other devices, and turn to", you get the picture. Where is this new electronic conversation age coming too ?

Our personal privacy, has just seemed to vanish. The other day, I was sitting in a local shopping mall, and just happened to overhear a young ladies one way conversation, with what appeared to be a discussed boy friend. And I dare not repeat this X rated argument, for reason of sanity.

By nature of this digital communication, we have become more easily distracted from the more important concerns of the Christian faith. Issues such as our daily witnesses to the unbelieving world.

We have developed a false image, as we tend to perform on the stage of the social media. Everybody seems to be happy on Facebook. Everybody gets along on Twitter. Of course, this is just not so in real life. The world is not a stage, its real.

Most importantly, we should realize that we are always living in the presence of God, as we live in the presence of our online friends. We must remember that what we type on our phones with our thumbs is an extension of our obedience to God and our testimony to the world.

So, does the Bible address such electronic advancements in our human conversation ? I know, you're probably asking yourself, how can this be ? How can a book, as old as the Bible , predict such inventions. Moving on, it's simply called prophecy. For scripture has never been out dated (2 Timothy 3:16).

The Book of Job, one of the oldest books of the Bible, which was written almost 4000 years ago gave us this very interesting verse in (Job 38:35). This ancient scripture seems to suggest the use of electricity in sending messages. Please remember this was written about 4000 years ago.

In (Revelation 11:9-10) the scripture implies that the news of God's two witnesses dying during the tribulation period will be spread quickly to the entire world. This is a rather bold prophecy. Right now, our news travels at the speed of light, but it was not so when this scripture was penned.

In (Matthew 24:15-18), we see a future event to take place in a small chamber of the temple, visited only by the priest, that will be broadcast in other countries. This would not be possible, if it were not for the global news media coverage.

We see in (Malachi 1:11), that only mass media could make such a claim, of God's name being known throughout all the world. Yes, in (Matthew 24:14) Jesus himself supports the invention of such technology.
The internet is also addressed. The internet has certainly increased our knowledge, as never before, as knowledge is now just a finger click away (Daniel 12:4)

The scripture of (2 Timothy 3:1-5) gives us a clear picture of mankind's obsession with these electronic material possessions. Have you clicked on Face Book lately. Not to mention the conceit of our cell phone selfies.

And don't forget the pornographic TV internet. This communication alone has probably caused more young people to stray, not to forget the grownups, as nothing else (Psalm 101:3) (Psalm 119:36-37).

So, I ask you again, has our personal conversation gone the way of technology ? Have we stopped talking to one another ? You be the judge, the next time you receive that cell phone beep, under the most unlikely circumstances.

Believe it or not, there's nothing new under the sun ( Ecclesiastes 1:9-10). This includes our iPhones, our iPads, our i Pods, and the like. These can be a wonderful tool for the spread of the gospel in the right hands. So, let's not let the devil, take charge of theses marvelous inventions of communications (Ephesians 6:11-12). Just click and "Praise the Lord".

Author's Post Script
The Apostle John closes one of his ancient handwritten letters with a line of enduring relevance for those of us who now write with our thumbs. (2 John 12). You may call me a "dinosaur" , if you may. But there's just something about the joy of face-to-face communication. It's personal, it's the body language, it's the instant response, it's the mode or feelings of the other party, and it's just downright excepted in all social circles. Our Lord felt the same way, although He failed to have the modern day tech advantages. You see, He was a one-on-one kind of person (Psalm 27:8).