Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Digital Detox (04/24/14)
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TITLE: Digital Dis-illusions | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jason Barnett
04/29/14 -
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It takes spending five minutes on a social media site to see that people are starving for real personal relationships. Whenever something great happens, people tell the world hoping that someone joins in their celebration. And if something bad happens or someone does them wrong, people are quick to post as much slander as possible to warn others.
In a world where people are more connected than ever, the person has never been lonelier. Even in our churches, people come to be entertained by a worship team and hear a sermon from the pastor that leaves them feeling warm and fuzzy inside. No cares one about getting to know the person sitting in the pew next to them every week, let alone learning a visitor’s name. For all the good that the digital age has brought us, it has robbed us of the thing most essential for our every day life, that is relationship.
Fear keeps us hidden behind the computer monitor and cell phone screen. We hide our true selves from the real world because we do not want to get hurt. Life has taught us that relationships bring pain. But we do not see that because of our failed and broken relationship that we are able to feel the joy, hope, and love in our successful ones.
In Matthew 22:35-40, we read about a teacher of law who tries to trap Jesus by asking Him which of the Ten Commandments was the most important. Jesus responds by narrowing the Law down to two simple statements. The first and most important commandment is that we love God, and in order to be in obedience with this law we have to embrace the second one. The second law is that we love people; because we cannot truly love God without loving the beings He created.
Jesus is the perfect demonstrations of the love that we are suppose to have for each other. God loved us so much that He sent His only son Jesus to die on a cross to save us from our sins. We could not go to God, so he came to us. Just as our hearts needed a Savior to come and redeem us, we as his followers must go out to the sinners because we are the hands and feet of Jesus.
The Internet in all of its vast wonders is an amazing tool in our efforts to spread the message of the Kingdom. However, the Internet is only a tool. It cannot replace the power of real life relationship. We have to overcome our fear of pain and open up our heart to others who need to know the love of Jesus.
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It could be expanded to show other needs of church going members: like encouraging others, learning of the needs of others. The local people could share their physical, emotional and spiritual needs and then helped by those that "shake" their hands.
Internet friends can usually only say, "I'll pray for you". We never know if the prayer is ever uttered.
Expand it and get it ready for a magazine article.