by Brian Hobbs | Aug 8, 2019
There’s a story shared about the famous Roman
historian Edward Gibbon who, though he was a Member of Parliament in Britain
for a number of years, he never once gave an address or speech. When asked why,
he said the examples of the good speeches and bad speeches deterred him from
doing so.
As I see social media posts and discussion
these days, I do see a number of really good posts. Meanwhile, I see a much
greater number of terrible posts, ranging from rancorous political discussions
to vicious back-and-forth personal attacks. Like Gibbon, the examples of the
good and bad comments and posts have deterred me from saying much.
About 10 years ago, popular author
and pastor John Piper wrote a piece called “Why and How I am Tweeting,” which has both
informed and haunted me ever since I first read it. Piper said this:
“I see two kinds of response to social
Internet media like blogging, Facebook, Twitter, and others. One says: These
media tend to shorten attention spans, weaken discursive reasoning, lure people
away from Scripture and prayer, disembody relationships, feed the fires of
narcissism, cater to the craving for attention, fill the world with drivel,
shrink the soul’s capacity for greatness, and make us second-handers who
comment on life when we ought to be living it. So boycott them and write books
(not blogs) about the problem.”
Piper continues, “The other response says:
Yes, there is truth in all of that, but instead of boycotting, try to fill
these media with as much provocative, reasonable, Bible-saturated, prayerful,
relational, Christ-exalting, truth-driven, serious, creative pointers to true
greatness as you can.”
I agree with Piper’s diagnoses. In fact, all
of the negative consequences he predicted 10 years ago have come true—and even
worse consequences than Piper or any of us could have imagined today. Meanwhile,
I tried to operate by his prescription to try to redeem social media, but it is
getting increasingly difficult to do so.
That is why I know many people who once were
enthusiastic participants on social media but now have walked away altogether.
I applaud them for taking this bold step, and part of me envies the more
peaceful life they must enjoy as a result.
While I don’t (often) tweet or post nowadays,
I do give the issues at hand much thought. And while I long for a day in which
social media becomes a more civilized and uplifting platform for discussion, I
am afraid that I don’t see that happening any time soon. If we ever do turn a
corner, though, and social media becomes a more grace-filled place, maybe I can
tweet about that.
by Brian Hobbs | Aug 5, 2019
On any given day, when you look at social media, it can be
discouraging. You see people arguing over politics on Facebook. We read vicious
back and forth comments on Twitter. You see mocking videos on YouTube.
You can kind of see it all on social media. The one thing
that is hard to find on social media, though—the one missing ingredient—seems
to be grace. It is easy to tell a gracious person from an ungracious person,
and unfortunately, social media is showing the worst side of many of us.
I once attended a wedding at which the minister said to the
bride and groom, “You may not remember much I say today. In fact, you may
forget just about everything that is said today. But please just remember this
one word from today for the sake of your marriage: grace.”
The Bible says Jesus came “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). It is easy to find so-called
truth tellers on social media nowadays. It is much harder to find people full
of truth and grace. As Christians, we can do better than this. We should do
better than this.
If people are going to hear over-the-top rhetoric or
infighting, let it not come from followers of Jesus Christ. Because a lack of
grace suggests a lack of walking with Jesus Christ in our life.
Now that I think of it, the one truly missing ingredient on
social media most days may be the One we call Savior and Lord. The missing
ingredient may be Jesus Himself. And that, brothers and sisters, is a recipe
for disaster.
Today, let’s do better. Today, let’s each be more like
Jesus; let’s show one another grace.
by Brian Hobbs | Jul 17, 2019
This summer, from church camp to sports camps, kids across
Oklahoma are taking part in a wide array of activities. While most people still
think highly of camps and activities for kids, some so-called “Helicopter Parents”
have a tough time sending their kids off to camp for a week, or even a day.
Yet I want to offer three reasons why camps continue to be popular and are helpful:
1. A break from the ordinary
Wake up. Eat Breakfast. Watch YouTube. Eat Lunch. Play video games. Eat dinner. Play more video games or watch a movie. Go to bed. The summertime routine can quickly become same-old, same-old. When kids take part in the camp, they learn to get outside their routine and try new activities. It could be a zip line or fishing; it could be learning a new sports technique or even memorizing Bible verses. The camp experience, like no other, puts a young person outside their normal routine and allows them to break into new areas of interest that could fuel new positive hobbies and habits.
2. A break from digital distraction
A study showed that people check their cell phones 150 times per day on average. In the summer time, for kids with devices like iPads, that could be even more. I don’t have to quote the latest experts for us to recognize that our technology-crazed society has gone overboard with digital entertainment. With camps, especially those which don’t allow personal devices to be brought, the kids get a mental break from all those text, pings and GIFFs.
3. A connection to the outdoors
If you look in the Bible, you see that Jesus
spent a great deal of time outdoors. He often withdrew to pray and draw
strength. We can do the same with camps, where we experience the awe of God’s
Creation (Psalm 19). Whether it be a rustic-setting family camp or on a soccer
field, getting some fresh air and exercise does these youngsters well.
I am the first to admit that not all camps or camp
experiences are positive. But this summer and beyond, hopefully your family and
friends have found an opportunity to take a break from the ordinary and
technology, as well as connect with other people and God’s Creation.
by Brian Hobbs | Jun 18, 2019
I
recently bumped into someone whom I encounter more often online than in person.
On
social media platforms like Facebook, this person tends toward outrage.
Whatever the political controversy of the day is, you can be sure this person
is commenting or stirring the pot.
In
person, though, he is kind and gentle. In fact, if I knew nothing of his online
personality, I would consider him one of the nicest guys I know.
Sometimes,
each of us can fall into this pattern of behavior. Why? Part of the reason is
it’s easy to be bold, audacious and obnoxious behind a keyboard. When you tee
off on a person, place or thing online, you don’t have to see the look in their
eye. You don’t have to look them in the eye and experience their real reaction.
This
reminds me of a popular story from America’s War of Independence. According to
sources, during the key Battle of Bunker Hill, American officer William
Prescott said, “Don’t fire on the enemy until you see the whites of their
eyes.” Prescott’s point was that firing upon the enemy in close range would be
much more effective, and he was right.
I
have tried in my own life to develop a rule. I won’t comment or say something
to a person online that I would not say in person, that I would not say if I
could see the whites of their eyes.
This
commitment came forth after multiple failings of mine. Times I had too much
brashness and bravado over the Internet, and too little courage in person.
Christian
brother and sister, as Independence Day draws near, I would encourage you to
declare your independence from unnecessary and harsh comments and attitudes
online. Or as the Bible puts it, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to becomeangry” (James 1:19).
This one simple change
might transform your own life and others. In fact, if more of us living in
America would change in this way, we could continue to be the home of the
brave, not the bravado.
by Brian Hobbs | May 16, 2019
For
some people, it’s a protracted illness. For others, it’s a wayward child. For
still others, it’s a persistent problem that never seems to change or improve.
I am
talking about the mountains of life. I once heard a minister say that mountains
are the perfect biblical illustration for the issues of life.
Mountains
are big. They seem immovable. Yet we find out in God’s Word, that by faith and
prayer, God does move mountains.
Jesus
said to His disciples, “For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain
of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and
it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matt. 17:20).
Now,
I am in no way a name-it-and-claim-it Christian. In fact, few things bother me
more than that destructive ideology. I cannot stand the prosperity gospel, which
often portrays suffering as a sign of spiritual weakness.
Each
of us have mountains in our lives. Whether we are weak or strong in our faith,
we will have mountains. What I do know is that only God can move a mountain.
The
famous Christian writer, Corrie Ten Boom, whose family suffered imprisonment
and persecution from the Nazi’s, had many mountains in her life. Yet through it
all, Corrie kept her eyes on Jesus. She went so far as to give thanks for the
mountains in her life, including how she was brutally treated in a
concentration camp.
In
her beloved classic, ‘The Hiding Place,’ she said this: “Perhaps only when
human effort has done its best and failed, (will) God’s power alone be free to
work.”
Many
times, I have used human effort to try to move a mountain; it has never worked.
More than once, I begged the Lord to move a mountain in my life, and He did.
Today,
as you stare down those mountains in your life—or when those mountains stare
down at you—take it to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him for help, knowing that
ultimately His divine will—not our human will or desires—will be done on earth
as it is in Heaven. Knowing that He cares for you, knowing that our God moves
mountains.