Insta-condemn

There's a recent image that's been trending around the internet lately and I'm sure you all know what it is, but for the purpose of this blog the exact topic doesn't even matter. I am sad and angry at reactions to controversial news in general, on both sides of the spectrum. It doesn't matter what the news is. Whether it's a true scandal or someone's honest human mistake, the world finds out about it almost immediately and they react just as quickly.

The Vanity Fair cover of Caitlyn (formerly Bruce) Jenner's new exterior surfaced less than 24 hours ago, and already there are three different trending news stories about it on Facebook. Countless articles and blogs have been written; some heavily positive, some heavily negative, very few bridging the gap between these two. The same happened when the controversy about the Duggars arose, or that thing with Miley Cyrus at the VMAs a few years ago.  And, just like all the times before, once people expel how outraged they are (or express their support, as is happening in this case), they'll calm down, make a few tasteless memes about it, and then forget it.

However, before that happens people will put their opinions over any feelings of others in a supremely narcissistic urge to be heard and we therefore attempt to shout louder than anyone else, creating nothing more than a cacophony of voices in which none can clearly be heard. It's incredibly sad. We exploit the lives of celebrities because they are visible and seemingly untouchable and that makes them extremely easy targets for criticism. It makes it effortless to look around the log in our own eyes long enough to point and laugh at the speck in theirs.

I understand that by writing this post I am only perpetuating the exact thing I am protesting. I, too, have an opinion on the topic, and the world has taught me that I must speak it.  Our opinions have become our religion. We work harder at explaining why things are wrong than working to right them. Even less do we realize that it is not our place to right others' wrongs. Another thing to point out is how little anyone can do to change anything in a situation on this large of a scale. A few thousand voices shouting a few thousand different things at once are not going to change the mind of a single person who does not know or respect any of us. The only thing it can possibly do is hurt them.

I am not going to tell you my opinion on Caitlyn Jenner today. That is not my purpose here. My purpose is to get us to think about the kind of image we are portraying, especially as Christians who are ambassadors of Christ on earth. Would we rather be known for our faith or for our opinions? Which one of those things is going to better represent Christ?

-Lisa



"We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother." - 1 John 4:19-21

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."  - 1 Corinthians 13:1