Cafeteria Christianity: Approval — Thursday
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 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. (NIV)
As a child born in the 80s and raised in the 90s, I was part of—as I learned later in life—the last generation to be raised outdoors. Born in 1987, I’m considered an “older” millennial. I was born at a great time, and I think I got the best of two worlds: the natural and the digital. Growing up with my brothers and sister, we would hop fences and run fields, climb trees and swim in creeks. Our toys were more likely to be imaginary or made from sticks than made of plastic. When I was young, the television would sign off at night with a patriotic montage and the national anthem, and wouldn’t come back on until 6am. The only person that had a cell phone was Zack Morris, and the Sunday paper played a pivotal role in the daily life of the American family.
As I grew older, I watched long, spiral phone cords get replaced with tiny handheld computers. You no longer had to wait for the Sunday paper to get the times for the movies playing at the local theater. Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter all made their way onto the scene around the time I graduated high school. Today, I couldn’t name most of the social media outlets. The influencers of my childhood, Fred Rogers and Michael Jordan, were replaced with the Kardashians and… well, frankly, I’m too old to know any other social media influencers.
Influencers have always existed. There has never been a time in history in which one person or group wasn’t trying to guide the behavior, thoughts, or opinions of another. The church today, just like the first-century church, is filled with false influencers. We read in 2 Peter 2:1, “...there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies.” Therefore, we must use wisdom and discern the truth from lies portrayed as truth.
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:6-10, ESV).
Thursday’s Reflection
The only way to combat lies is to know the truth. Reread and meditate on our verse of the day, Romans 12:1-2. Pray for the Holy Spirit to transform your mind and give you wisdom to discern truth from lies portrayed as truth.