Selfie Generation

It’s that time of year again!

The leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping, and the pumpkins are screaming, “Pick me, pick me!”

Others are taking pics with their faves while they tailgate watching football or find themselves sitting around a campfire re-telling stories from their glory days or the latest pin dropped on their Pinterest profile.

We find our favorite flannel shirt, sweater vest, jeans, and boots, and we head outside primed for a photo in front of the autumn foliage at our favorite spot.

I don’t have a problem with people taking pictures that represent the various seasons of the year; vacationing at the beach, camping in the mountains, floating the river, dining at their favorite restaurant, gathering with family at Thanksgiving, or sitting in Santa’s lap at Christmas.

I’m even fine with the random pic on Tuesday just because someone feels more beautiful and confident than normal. Or the frazzled TGIF photo heading in to a much needed weekend.

Here’s the hangup for me; the word ‘selfie.’

This word that’s used to describe the picture is a not-so-subtle reminder that what’s most important as I make just the right pose, choose the best lighting, create the best angle, find the right filter, and even blur the background is–me.

And these cameras makers continue to find ways to appeal to this sense of self we’ve been battling since the beginning of time.

I get it. And I hear it all the time. “I’m posting these pictures so they’ll be in my ‘Memories’ years from now.” And while that may be true, there’s a totally different reason we do it. We are captivated with ourselves. This selfie world in which we live feeds this frenzied fascination that we have with ‘Me, Myself & I.’

Here are five “I” words that often characterize a misplaced perspective of valuing ‘self’ more than truly valuing what’s most important in life.

Ignorant. We are simply unaware of the world around us. We wear blinders and look at mirrors instead of wearing glasses and looking through windows. We become proud and arrogant, lacking humility and empathy. We are unaware of God’s presence in our lives and fail to see the work of His Spirit drawing us near to Himself.

Idolatrous. We cling to cheap substitutes that over-promise and under-deliver. We refuse to bow to the sovereign King out of a busy preoccupation with building our own little castles that serve self-interests. We fail to realize that our little kingdoms will one day come crashing down.

Irreverent. We simply do not respect the natural order of life. We’ve become too casual and nonchalant with what we say and how we act. We’ve lost sight of common decency and a healthy fear of a higher power. We defame the name of Christ believing that there won’t be any subsequent consequence or judgment for those who choose to disregard His name and rule of law.

Immoral. When we seek pleasure instead of holiness, the compass of moral authority will continue to spin out of control. It was the author of Judges who wrote, ‘there was no king…but every man did what was right in his own eyes.’ When we abandon morality we fulfill our desires with immoral behavior void of the presence of God.

Impure. Akin to the immoral nature of our deeds, impurity is a reflection of the heart. When our hearts are impure we will mutilate ourselves with unrighteous living. But when we give God permission to purify our hearts, our lives will align with His voice in obedience. Matthew recounts Jesus’s words, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

So what am I saying? No more selfies? Absolutely not. Keep taking pictures. Still shots. Action shots. Selfies. Group pics. Slo-mo. Portrait mode. Use your filters. Post them to the web if you so choose.

Here’s what I ask. The next time you press the button and snap the pic consider who else is in the picture. Fight the urge of believing you’re the only one. Relinquish the thought that you’re all that matters.

John wrote one of the simplest yet one of the most profound statements in regards to his relationship with Christ. He said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

In a culture rightly labeled as the ‘selfie generation’ we must protect the highly valued principle of making much of Jesus. Certainly, this is easier said than done.

Instead of being ignorant, choose to be wise. Instead of idolatry, worship the true King. Instead of being irreverent, fear your Maker. Instead of immoral living, live a righteous life. Instead of impure thoughts, dwell on pure thoughts that bring hope and peace and life.

When we choose to follow Christ we will keep our “selfie” in check. As Andy Stanley often says, “Following Jesus will make your life better and will make you better at life.” So let’s begin to follow Jesus one ‘selfie-less’ day at a time!