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RealChurch
Trending: When trending becomes truth.
8/20/17
Locations & Times
real church
10447 Refugee Rd SW, Pataskala, OH 43062, USA
Saturday 5:00 PM
Trending is nothing new! There have been things trending since the beginning of time, and the masses all throughout history have hastily, blindly and often times recklessly followed whatever the latest trend is. And the trend usually ends up being a trap!
Def: A Trend - Something that has emerged as a currently popular direction. A shift!
As of 2017, 81% of of the U.S. population had an active social media profile. Worldwide, at any given time, there are 2.4 Billion people posting, following and reacting to a constant barrage of trends popping up on social media. We watch heavily edited videos, read emotionally charged tweets, and consume endless headlines from unidentifiable sources with unverified facts. We get emotional. We become angry. We end divided!
The Social Media medium of communication is completely devoid of personal body language, omitted from factual accountability, and completely bankrupt of reconciliation!
When is the last time you watched opposing parties unite after a post on Twitter?
The online network that was created to bring people together, is tearing us apart.
What do trends often create?
- An over-investment in the present.
We completely sell out for things today, that in most cases won't even matter tomorrow!
Following what is trending creates: Urgency, overreaction, emotionalism, anger, violence, lack of understanding, inaccurate conclusions, division, polarization, regret.
Why? Because whatever is trending currently, becomes truth!
Mark Twain - “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
Anonymous - “Observe the masses and do the opposite.”
Rick Warren - “Those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it.”
Max Lucado - “The man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back to the crowd.”
Benjamin Franklin - “Make yourself a sheep and the wolves will eat you.”
People who don't follow the crowd have been given a distinct title - Leaders!
Q: What does the Bible say about following what is trending?
Exodus 23:2 (NIV)
“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd."
Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong “Enter through the narrow gate.
Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Story - In 1939, in the nation of Germany, countless young men and women wearing brown shirts packed Munich stadium, as they followed a trend started by a fanatical man standing behind a podium, named Adolf Hitler. He was the personification of evil. And in that stadium, those young people in brown shirts, formed with their bodies a sign that said, "Hitler, we are yours." What started as a small group of intentionally indoctrinated students, slowly gained momentum (1 follower at a time), until Hitler had amassed an unstoppable force in the millions. We all know that this movement, sparked by a generation taught to hate, ignited a bloody world war that cost the lives of 6 million Jews, and over 60 million people worldwide. Why? People blindly followed the trend!
We live in a world today where people read the trending headlines, believe whatever is posted as truth, and then emotionally react to it without ever investigating the real facts.The worst part is, I don't see Christians behaving much differently than the world.
Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)
“Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end."
1 Corinthians 14:1
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit.”
Judah Smith - “Despite our worlds fixation with love; despite the peace movement; despite thousands of poems, songs, movies, books, and speeches about love, we still find ourselves surrounded by an inordinate amount of hatred.”
Why? Because we all have our own definition of love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
Q:How should Christians respond, when what God says isn't what is trending?
1 Peter 4:17 (NIV)
“For it is time for judgement to begin with God's household..."
Those who have committed their lives to God are expected to live a different life!
Citizenship Matters - Nearly every single person, either by choice or by birth, have citizenship in some country on this globe. Every citizen is expected to abide by the rule of law in their particular country. The apostle Peter tells us that Christians are aliens and foreigners here on earth, and that their citizenship is firmly established in heaven. Therefore they are expected to abide by heavens rules. But what about the unsaved?
They don't have our citizenry yet. Heavens moral code is not yet personal to them at all.
The problem is, we have way too many Christians trying to change the behavior patterns of non-believers, without changing their citizenship.
Telling people, on Social Media, at Work, in the Market Place, whose hearts are not yet surrendered to Jesus, to just, “Stop It!”, isn't working!
1 Corinthians 1:18
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
Preaching morality to a heart without Christ, leads to ferocious self-preservation.
The apostle Paul said in:
1 Corinthians 2:2
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."
John 3:16 (NIV)
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Def: A Trend - Something that has emerged as a currently popular direction. A shift!
As of 2017, 81% of of the U.S. population had an active social media profile. Worldwide, at any given time, there are 2.4 Billion people posting, following and reacting to a constant barrage of trends popping up on social media. We watch heavily edited videos, read emotionally charged tweets, and consume endless headlines from unidentifiable sources with unverified facts. We get emotional. We become angry. We end divided!
The Social Media medium of communication is completely devoid of personal body language, omitted from factual accountability, and completely bankrupt of reconciliation!
When is the last time you watched opposing parties unite after a post on Twitter?
The online network that was created to bring people together, is tearing us apart.
What do trends often create?
- An over-investment in the present.
We completely sell out for things today, that in most cases won't even matter tomorrow!
Following what is trending creates: Urgency, overreaction, emotionalism, anger, violence, lack of understanding, inaccurate conclusions, division, polarization, regret.
Why? Because whatever is trending currently, becomes truth!
Mark Twain - “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
Anonymous - “Observe the masses and do the opposite.”
Rick Warren - “Those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it.”
Max Lucado - “The man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back to the crowd.”
Benjamin Franklin - “Make yourself a sheep and the wolves will eat you.”
People who don't follow the crowd have been given a distinct title - Leaders!
Q: What does the Bible say about following what is trending?
Exodus 23:2 (NIV)
“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd."
Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong “Enter through the narrow gate.
Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Story - In 1939, in the nation of Germany, countless young men and women wearing brown shirts packed Munich stadium, as they followed a trend started by a fanatical man standing behind a podium, named Adolf Hitler. He was the personification of evil. And in that stadium, those young people in brown shirts, formed with their bodies a sign that said, "Hitler, we are yours." What started as a small group of intentionally indoctrinated students, slowly gained momentum (1 follower at a time), until Hitler had amassed an unstoppable force in the millions. We all know that this movement, sparked by a generation taught to hate, ignited a bloody world war that cost the lives of 6 million Jews, and over 60 million people worldwide. Why? People blindly followed the trend!
We live in a world today where people read the trending headlines, believe whatever is posted as truth, and then emotionally react to it without ever investigating the real facts.The worst part is, I don't see Christians behaving much differently than the world.
Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)
“Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end."
1 Corinthians 14:1
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit.”
Judah Smith - “Despite our worlds fixation with love; despite the peace movement; despite thousands of poems, songs, movies, books, and speeches about love, we still find ourselves surrounded by an inordinate amount of hatred.”
Why? Because we all have our own definition of love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
Q:How should Christians respond, when what God says isn't what is trending?
1 Peter 4:17 (NIV)
“For it is time for judgement to begin with God's household..."
Those who have committed their lives to God are expected to live a different life!
Citizenship Matters - Nearly every single person, either by choice or by birth, have citizenship in some country on this globe. Every citizen is expected to abide by the rule of law in their particular country. The apostle Peter tells us that Christians are aliens and foreigners here on earth, and that their citizenship is firmly established in heaven. Therefore they are expected to abide by heavens rules. But what about the unsaved?
They don't have our citizenry yet. Heavens moral code is not yet personal to them at all.
The problem is, we have way too many Christians trying to change the behavior patterns of non-believers, without changing their citizenship.
Telling people, on Social Media, at Work, in the Market Place, whose hearts are not yet surrendered to Jesus, to just, “Stop It!”, isn't working!
1 Corinthians 1:18
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
Preaching morality to a heart without Christ, leads to ferocious self-preservation.
The apostle Paul said in:
1 Corinthians 2:2
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."
John 3:16 (NIV)
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."