Dear Church,
I read an article in Relevant magazine revealing that in 2019, all but one of the most popular
20 Facebook pages for American Christians were actually created by overseas bot
farms in order to spread misinformation and steal personal data. The
groups had nostalgic and sentimental names like ‘smile and shine,’ ‘be happy
and enjoy life,’ ‘blessing,’ and ‘light a candle for lost loved ones.’
What this reveals to me is not a problem with an
internet platform, but a problem with the Church. When we believe we’re
called to build our life in Christ around privilege and pleasure, we make
ourselves ripe for exploitation and abuse. The folks building those fake
platforms know us better than we know ourselves–they knew just what to promise
to make us click ‘follow.’
I didn’t see any fake platforms named ‘Dying to
Self,’ ‘How to Serve with Humility and Grace,’ or ‘finding the strength to
bless & serve our enemies.’ But that’s what the gospel story is about–Jesus didn’t come to be
blessed and served–he came to seek and save and serve the lost and
wounded. That is the narrow way Jesus opens to us, and it is still the
only path to abundant life and salvation.
I hope you’ll join me for worship on Sunday as we
look at the beautiful
and astonishing story of those who served the Aramean general Naaman.
Here we find the rare story of sons and daughters of Israel who understood and
embodied God’s covenant with Abraham, especially one little girl whose name is
unknown to us who prefigures Christ himself. Come to be inspired, come to
be challenged, come to behold the awe-ful way we are called to serve one
another as Jesus serves us.
Peace,
Pastor Kate
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