The Bear Necessities

 

“Anyone can smile for a photo,

but who is still smiling after the selfie?”  Ken Poirot 

Apparently, humans aren't the only species that take selfies. A wildlife camera in Boulder, Colorado, snapped hundreds of images of a curious black bear last November. The city’s Open Space and Mountain Parks Department set up nine cameras to learn about local wildlife. One of the cameras captured 580 images, about 400 of them were of the same bear. 

  A spokesperson for the Department stated, “These pictures made us laugh, and we thought others would too.” It seems that the bear discovered one of the cameras. Most animals don’t notice them, which are activated by an animal stepping in front of them. They capture animals like deer, beavers, and less curious black bears going about their business. But this bear was enthralled by the camera, posing for some 400 “selfies.”

  That obsessed focus might work out for a bear, but it’s probably not so great for human beings. Studies show that on average, people spend 60% of conversations talking about themselves. That figure jumps to 80% when communicating via social media platforms like Facebook or TikTok.

  God did not design us to be self-focused, even in our own thoughts. The first thing that God declared was not good was for human beings to be alone (Genesis 2:18). We were designed for relationships and community.

  If you’ve just emerged from a life isolated in Antarctica, selfies are those pictures individuals take of themselves with or without a duck face. For some odd reason, the “bathroom” selfie is one of the more popular forms.  And while selfie pictures can be fun and an opportunity to share life and events, selfie thinking can be disastrous. Why?

  Selfie thinking tends to make pain bigger. Ours is a sin-contaminated world and sin is painful. Each one of us is affected by this pain. It can be physical pain, the pain, and strain of relationships, or even mental and emotional pain. The list is endless. Just watch the evening news and the majority of the stories are about someone or some group’s pain.

  As a selfie increases the size and focuses on the individual, self-focus only increases pain. When we spend an inordinate amount of time and energy thinking about ourselves, how we’re suffering, what’s wrong in our life, the pain we’re experiencing, or things we feel we did wrong, it amplifies our pain. It can trap us in a vicious cycle of overthinking and blowing pain out of proportion. It’s a major contributor to depression and anxiety, drains our time and spirit, and leads to unhealthy coping strategies.

  Selfie thinking feeds our pride. Pride blinds us to our own sin. It’s difficult to accept that it’s us and our problem because we’re too proud to accept that we’ve sinned and have issues because we’re consumed with ourselves. Someone said, “pride is the only disease that makes everyone sick but the one who has it.” Pride feeds a sense of self-importance.

  Imagine visiting Niagara Falls with a friend. You’re both viewing one of the most awe-inspiring natural scenes in America, but then you realize your friend is only taking selfies. A hundred pictures later, and your friend is the picture in every single shot. Who wants to see Niagara Falls when your friend is only taking selfies without even the Falls in the background?

  Social media has given everyone a platform to post their opinions. Usually, the one posting assumes their opinion is a fact, after all, it’s their opinion. Yet, a fact is a statement proven to be true or false by data or evidence. Most opinions are based on emotions, personal history, and values—all of which can be completely unsupported by real evidence. It’s like being blind and not knowing it. Leonardo da Vinci wisely observed, “The greatest deception men suffer is their own opinions.”

  The Christian life is anti-selfie thinking. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Denying your self is not thinking harshly of your “self” or hating your “self.” It is just not thinking or focusing on yourself.

  It’s this simple, if you’re living for self, you’re not following Jesus. “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). The word “deny” is the same word used of Peter’s denials. It means to repudiate, renounce, or disown. Jesus wasn’t talking about denying yourself little pleasures, like giving up dessert. He’s talking about a complete way of life involving a renunciation of living for your own selfish interests and embracing living for the sake of Christ. Denying self and taking up one’s cross are foundational for a life of following of Jesus. It means surrendering the right to control your life and giving that right to the Lord Jesus.  

  To American ears, self-denial sounds so negative, but remember that it was Jesus who said this. In the short term, self-denial is difficult and not very pleasant. But there is joy and peace in the present from it and eternal blessings in the future when a Christian follows Jesus on the path of the cross. In Luke 9:24 Jesus said, “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.” When you die to self and follow Jesus, He graciously gives you the ultimate in fulfillment as the by-product—the joy of eternal life and of being affirmed by Jesus before the Father when He comes in glory (9:26)!

  In the movie Chariots of Fire, Scottish runner, Eric Liddell competed in the 1924 Olympics in Paris but Liddell refused to run on a Sunday. After his gold medal in the 400-meter race, he didn’t return to Scotland to have his picture on a box of Wheaties or to live off his endorsements. Eric accepted God’s call to serve as a missionary in China. During the Japanese invasion, Liddell was arrested with other Chinese Christians and placed in a prison camp. Even in the camp, Liddell led others to Christ and discipled them. Months before China was liberated, Eric Liddell died as a prisoner in that camp. At the young age of forty-three, he met his Master face to face. His last words were, “it’s complete surrender,” referring to how he’d given his life to serve the Lord. He’d run another kind of race, for another kind of prize and he received another kind of medal, more priceless than gold and that never perishes.

  Jesus doesn’t call most of us to be missionaries in a faraway land, yet He calls all of us to deny ourselves and follow Him. Selfie thinking is miserable. True fulfillment comes from following Christ. So please feel free to take fun pictures, even selfies, yet make the Lord Jesus the primary picture in your heart and seek to live for Him!

Can we help you spiritually? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

 

 

Some things are worth dying for

 “If you don't stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”   

Steve Bartkowski

  There’s just something thrilling about athletic competition, particularly international athletic competition, that can bring out the best in us. I’ve been watching the tally for our medals compared to other countries that are participating. Don’t you feel a sense of pride when we win? I often find myself getting choked up when I hear, “USA, USA, USA,” see our the stars and stripes raised and hear our national anthem when one of our athletes or teams wins the coveted gold medal.

  As I was reflecting on this year’s Winter Olympics, I remembered a blockbuster movie from some years back about the 1924 Olympics, Chariots of Fire. If you’ve never seen it, please rent it. It’s the true story of Christian athlete and hero, Scottish runner, Eric Liddell. It would be a great movie to watch and then discuss with your children.

  The 1924 Summer Olympics were hosted by the city of Paris. A devout Christian and a man of deep conviction, Eric Liddell refused to run in a heat held on Sunday (what to him was “the Christian Sabbath”), thus he was forced to withdraw from the 100-meters race, his best event. The schedule had been published several months earlier, and his decision was made well before the Games. He wouldn’t run even if he were his country's only hope of winning an Olympic gold medal. Sunday was a day of worship and rest for Eric. Even back then, many political leaders and his own countrymen were very angry with him. The press wrote horrible things about him. Some even called him a traitor. In spite of the tremendous pressure, Eric held to his convictions. He’d never run on Sunday and never would, not even for a gold medal. He then spent the intervening months training for the 400 meters, though his best pre-Olympics time for that event was modest by international standards, and he knew his chance of winning that race were very slim. Two of other the runners in this race had set world record times. In addition, on the day of the race, Eric was assigned the worst lane. But a note in his pocket encouraged him. The team trainer gave it to him before he left his hotel room. It was a quotation from 1 Samuel 2:30: "Those who honor me I will honor.” Eric knew his decision not to run on Sunday honored God. Inspired by this fellow Christian’s encouragement, he ran as he’d never run before. He broke the existing Olympic and world records with a time of 47.6 seconds, winning the gold medal.

  Eric had been born in China to missionary parents. After the Olympics, though it was very dangerous, he returned to China as a missionary. The Japanese had invaded China and ultimately he was taken prisoner and incarcerated in a horribly overcrowded prison camp. Even there, he was faithful to God, setting up worship services, schooling for children, sporting activities, and taking care of the sick. He became the most respected person in the camp because of his joyful attitude. Yet, after being imprisoned for nearly two years, he became very ill and at just 43 years of age, he died.

  Christian heroes are always men and women of conviction. Convictions are not determined the heat of the moment, convictions are cultivated and nurtured long before they’re ever tested. It was conviction that enabled Joseph to run when Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce him. It was conviction that led Moses’ mother to hide him when Pharaoh had ordered the execution of all male infants. It was conviction that helped Joshua and Caleb stand up to the entire nation, believing God would give them the Promised Land. It was conviction that enabled Daniel to open his windows and pray as he always had, even though he was an old man and knew he’d be thrown into the lions den. The phrase “your goose is cooked” was first coined from the martyrdom of the Christian reformer John Hus, who’s  German name sounded like “goose.” He chose to be burned at the stake rather than deny his Lord. It was because of her conviction that 17 year-old, Cassie Bernall was executed at Columbine. When one of the gunmen, Dylan Klebold, asked her whether she believed in God, she said “Yes” and was immediately shot and killed.

  Yet, God does not ask Christians of conviction to just die for Him. What our world most needs, what our Lord most desires, is Christians of conviction who will live for Him. Those convictions are first forged by spending time in the Word and in prayer. Those convictions are forged in a local family of believers in worship and discipleship. Those convictions are forged by faithful service to the Lord before the heat is not on.

  Conviction is seen when a believer is committed to purity and holiness in an anything goes world. Conviction is seen when a believer is committed to joy, gratitude and peacefulness in an unhappy, ungrateful, cantankerous culture. Conviction is seen when a believer is committed to being an encourager rather than a gossip and talebearer. Conviction is seen when a believer is committed to doing what is right and ethical, even when it costs position, a potential promotion, popularity and financial compensation.  Conviction is seen when a believer stands up to his or her own friends or family rather than going along to get along. But sadly, you won’t meet many individuals of conviction, even among Christians. Conviction isn’t popular and it’s costly, it can even cost you your very life. But in the courts of heaven where it ultimately matters, conviction counts for all eternity.

  Are you a Christian with convictions? Are you modeling that and teaching convictions to your children? Are you a person who knows and clings to biblical values? Are you willing to suffer for doing what is right?  

  When the new of Eric Liddell’s tragic death reached Scotland, the whole country mourned but Heaven rejoiced. I often find that when a Christian of conviction dies, even lost people mourn. They know that they have witnessed something unusual. Are you unusual? Are you a person of biblical convictions?