As the news broke yesterday of another tragedy on American soil, Americans of every stripe and color responded. Fifty unsuspecting victims killed. More than fifty others injured, some critically. Chaos. Confusion. Bewilderment.

The shooter had a mission—to kill. For all that we don’t know about him, we know that he intended to kill as many people as he could. And we do know that he was under the illusion that the god of power is enough. The shooter (I’d rather not mention his name), whether he knew it or not, was an ideologue. Keller, in his book Counterfeit Gods, writes: “An ideology, like an idol, is a limited, partial account of reality that is raised to the level of the final word on things.” The shooter had apparently made radical Islam his ideal, and as such, raised it to the violent level of solving the world’s problems.

Then politicians respond revealing their own ideology: political power is the answer. Raise the banner high (not the American flag…colors of the rainbow), talk about political injustice and the need for government to solve this problem. Again Keller writes, “Dutch-Canadian philosopher Al Wolters taught that in the biblical view of things, the main problem in life is sin, and the only solution is God and his grace. The alternative to this view is to identify something besides sin as the main problem with the world and something besides God as the main remedy.” For the politician, anyone opposing his or her view is the problem, and the remedy is his or her political party. Like the shooter, the politician bows at the same altar of power.

The pressing question on the day after is “Is Christ enough?” Paul the Apostle said a resounding yes!

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:6-8 ESV)

With no desire to oversimplify, if the shooter’s main problem is sin, Christ is enough. If the politician’s main problem is sin, Christ is enough. If the shooting victims’ main problem is sin, Christ is enough. Christ is enough! He died for the ungodly. This includes those who wield guns and those who use political power to advance their ideology.

And this also includes those who embrace a lifestyle of homosexuality. Christ died for the ungodly. Again Paul, the Apostle:

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”  (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV)

Christ is enough. Don’t be seduced by power hungry shooters and power hungry politicians.

Christ is enough.

By Pike Davis, Jr.

This past sunday Pastor Jerry preached on Ephesians 5:15-21–emphasizing that technology can and should be used for good. We know that technology can be used for evil, but technology can also be a tool used for the good of “one another”. There are many “one another” commands throughout the New Testament, although I will only explain a few and help us apply those to the technology we use today.

Galatians 6:2 says “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The law of Christ is love. This leads us back to Galatians 5:13-14, “For you were called to freedom brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’.” The “one another” commands ultimately have an overarching purpose–the fulfillment of the law through love. Paul says not to use our freedom that we have through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection as a license to sin. Instead use that freedom to love and serve one another. James 5:16 says “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another,”. Out of this we get two “one another” commands, to pray for one another, and confess sins to one another. This confessing of sins leads us to Ephesians 4:25: “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another”. In praying for one another and confessing our  sins to one another, we must put away our own falsehood and speak truth to one another.

So how does this inform how we can use technology for the good of others?

1. Galatians 6:2 You can bear one another’s burdens by encouraging one another when facing the storms or pressures of life. This means that an encouraging text, call, direct message (for social media), tag/post, or maybe even a picture is appropriate. If it is a specific sin which is being a burden, on the Bible app which, can be downloaded on the app store or the google play store, a Bible study could be appropriate in order to bear a burden with someone else.
2. Galatians 5:13-14 Serve one another in love. This could be put in a blog, it could be on a Facebook post, it could be sent through a text message, or even a direct message. We can also build each other up. The Bible app is a great way to build each other up, sharing scripture verses and plans/devos. We can build one another up even through thanking and appreciating someone. This can be done through a quick call or text.
3. James 5:16  Pray and confess sins to one another: You can send prayer requests to someone you want to ask to pray for you. This can be done by text, direct message, calling, publicly through a post on any social media, an email, or any other way of communicating using technology. 
4. Ephesians 4:25  Speak truth to one another: confronting sin, in love and with grace by text, call, or direct messaging. We must be careful when doing this though, because sometimes the love and expression of grace can be lost with the text message. Also in speaking truth, we can share scripture and simply encourage someone with the truth.

So what are you waiting for?!? Do it now!

Carol Davis has graciously allowed us to repost her blog on enoughfortoday.org. You can hear Carol each weekday on 106.9 FM. You can read her blog at https://cantcookalick.blogspot.com.

“Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.” 1 Samuel 12:21 New International Version (NIV)

My pastor preached on idols Sunday. Our Bible fellowship group talked about it before service. We talked about the obvious ones…work, technology, kids….etc. But, none of those really struck me.

“When anything in life is an absolute requirement for your happiness and self-worth, it is essentially an idol.” – Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods

I prayed that God would use the message to highlight any idols in my heart. I thought long and hard about each one carefully. Methodically.

And God answered my prayer. I heard loud and clear.

My brokenness had become an idol.

Say What??? Brokenness??? You gotta be kidding me!!!

My brokenness. Not something you usually associate with idolatry. It’s not a pretty, popular idol like all of the others. It’s ugly and tarnished. Dark and dangerous. Nobody’s going to shine this one up and display it in a lighted curio cabinet.

I realized that being whole has become more important than being holy.

That may not make sense to anybody but me….but, even so, that’s ok. I know in my heart that I’ve been chasing after a healing that only God can give…but, I’ve been trying to find that healing all on my own. If I read the right books and talk to the right people and listen to the right podcasts….then….then I will be whole.

Nope. I’ve just been spinning my wheels which have led me farther away from the one thing that can heal.

Being whole is about that hard work I’ve done on me. Being holy is about the work God is doing in me. Me becoming whole in my own effort doesn’t make me holy. But, being holy will lead me to wholeness through Christ.

Semantics? Maybe for you. But a game changer for me.

Being whole…can’t rescue me. But, the God who makes me holy…He absolutely can.

I’m working on tearing that idol down and I could use some help. Grab a hammer and start smashing!

1) Thou shalt have a technology fast – choose a day or time of day to be together without technology; I promise you won’t fall behind what’s trending.

Idea: Set time of day restrictions on devices – kitchen counter, not in bedroom

 

2) Thou shalt have boundaries on where devices may be used:

Ideas: No phones in bedrooms; no devices at the dinner table; no phones at the restaurant; regulate use of devices on vacations

 

3) Thou shalt teach kids to use technology wisely:

Idea: Remind them that digital reputations last a lifetime; it’s impossible to express yourself in 140 characters or less

 

4) Thou shalt hold kids accountable, but with grace.

 

5) Thou shalt not replace conversation with connectivity – emotional connection is lost with text

Ideas: No devices over conversation; avoid using technology in place of convo or community; no texting or talking on phone over important personal issues; no texting when you’re all together at home or in the same room; don’t allow technology to babysit your kids

 

6) Thou shalt watch out for media isolation – it’s easy to become isolated from human interaction while being connected to everyone online

 

7) Thou shalt not discourage technology

Ideas: Kids will need skills for the future, so actively engage them in the use of technology

 

8) Thou shalt provide a safe environment for media consumption

Ideas: Set age restrictions for social media; set limits on TV or computer games (3 days a week; movie ratings, etc.); place filters on technology

 

9) Thou shalt teach and show your children that self-worth is not calculated by number of likes, shares or retweets.

 

10) Thou shalt model the behavior you want from your kids

 

 

*Much of this material was taken from Family Life Today & Focus on the Family.