Throwing cold water on people throwing cold water...

“Christianity not only saves you from sin, but from cynicism.”

   E. Stanley Jones

  The term viral is a relatively new term. Usually, it refers to a video that’s become colossally popular through Internet sharing via social media and e-mail. Recently, that happened with the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

  In case you missed it, the “challenge” involved dumping a bucket of ice water on someone’s head to promote awareness of the disease, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and encouraging donations for research. It went viral on social media this summer between July and August. The challenge dares nominated participants to be filmed having a bucket of ice water poured on their heads, and then nominating others to do the same. A common stipulation is that the nominated participants have 24 hours to comply, or forfeit by way of a financial donation for ALS research.

  One of the first individuals to promote it was former Boston College baseball player, Pete Frates. At 27, Frates was diagnosed with this horrible disease. Because of his sports connections, it caught on like wildfire. People around the country picked up a bucket from Aaron Rogers to Bill Gates to former President George W. Bush. Several million videos have been posted of those taking the challenge. Not only has it raised awareness for an often overlooked disease, it’s raised over $100 million for research.

  Personally, I think it’s been one of the more positive and encouraging things to happen in America in a long time. Because of our sin nature, we’re all selfish. Yet, over the last few decades, it seems to have become worse. For various reasons, we’ve moved from the values of the Greatest Generation who sacrificed and often made the ultimate sacrifice and devolved into a very self-absorbed and narcissistic society. How heartwarming to see selflessness, to see whole families, small children, teens, couples, groups of friends, entire teams and companies from every ethnic, economic and age group participate in doing something that’s fun, yet ultimately for someone else who’s suffering. I thought it was very exciting. As a culture, for a brief moment, we were part of something outside of ourselves, challenging families and friends to care about something beyond our own tiny spheres, to care about others and the terrible hardship some face because of this debilitating disease.

  To be sure, in an imperfect world, it wasn’t perfect. Is anything? Particularly for Christians, there were some ethical issues that needed to be considered. For some reason though, some seem to always feel they must dump cold water on anything and everything, even that which is for the most part very positive. They can’t seem to see the bigger picture, the greater good and overall direction. So they make it their mission to point out the small errors, making a big splash about the minor inconsistencies. That’s why I’ve always loved these insightful words of Jean Sibelius who on one occasion said, “Pay no attention to what the critics say. A statue has never been erected in honor of a critic.” 

  Some critics accused participants of grandstanding and being attention addicts. Yet, judging other’s motives is always a slippery slope. Comedian Steve-O criticized celebrities for not giving more when they had the ability to do so. Yet, a gift is a gift whether it’s big or small. Pamela Anderson refused to take part in the challenge because there’s animal experimentation in ALS research. Some criticized the wasting of water. One doctor felt that he had to warn of the potential adverse affects it might have on those with certain medical conditions. Snopes had to refute the claim that most of the funds went to administration, not research. Some Christians were critical that while Christians were excited about the Ice Bucket Challenge, they don’t get excited about Jesus or sharing the Gospel.

  One legitimate concern for believers was that some ALS research groups use embryonic cells. When I did it, I made a decision to donate to a group that used adult stem cells for research, not embryonic ones. Other Christians and evangelical organizations made sure to point out that while they were participating, they were donating to organizations doing research who were pro-life.

  But as I watched this unfold, while so many were excited about doing something good, selfless, a bit uncomfortable, out of concern for the less fortunate, there were so many critics. I find that very sad. Just once, couldn’t we let it go? Maybe choose not to participate yet not censure others who did? Let people do something that helps the less fortunate without having to cast some dour cloud over it? To choose to not be an armchair quarterback?

  Sadly, we’ve become a society of negaholics. While I understand a lost world that has no hope always having to fault find and nitpick, I don’t understand it when that’s the consistent approach to life by a believer. Sometimes Christians are so focused on all that’s wrong with the world, we forget that even a sin-contaminated world, is still God’s created world.

  Jesus wasn’t a negaholic. Read the Gospels. He was the most winsome person who’s ever lived…and we’re to be like Him.   

  What hope and optimism He shared! When Jesus saw impetuous Peter, He saw a rock. Meeting a woman from the wrong side of the tracks, Jesus saw a missionary of mercy to her world. He didn’t see a demon-possessed nutcase, He saw a healed sharer of peace.

  While Jesus said some harsh things, He was never negative for the sake of being negative. He was negative like a surgeon cutting away a cancer. Yet, too many of us are like the Mom, after her child spent hours cleaning her room and had everything seemingly in place, found the one or two things she’d missed like dust on the top shelf.

  We who have accepted God’s grace must be the most gracious of people. Even our words are to be seasoned with grace, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29).

  Are you gracious? What are you known for…building others up or tearing them down? Ask a godly friend who’ll be honest with you about your approach to life. Too many of us have a very limited ministry because we’re missionaries of misery and don’t even know it. Rather than being a light in the world, we continually throw cold water, and then we wonder why we get such a chilly response. God has called us to be messengers of hope. Are you a messenger of hope?