What Social Media Threw Out the Window After Paris
Eight people slayed 129 last week in the most devastating violence the city of love has seen since World War II.
That’s 129 dead, at least 350 injured and millions commenting on the Islamic State, the Syrian conflict and international politics.
In the wake of horrific violence and physical acts of war, I’ve been ashamed to watch many in my community shut down in fear, seemingly forgetting the battle of God and evil that rages on.
When evil appears to have its way, all too often it seems as though believers forget our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of darkness.
Let me repeat that in American terms: For the church, we are not fighting against Muslims, against men and women who need a Savior. Instead, our struggle is against demonic forces driving hopeless creations made in the in the image of God to hurt themselves and others to relieve their pain.
Since I was a child, I’ve succumbed to fear. Whether it was a creepy book about voodoo, an episode of Vampire Diaries, or my pet hermit crabs rummaging around in the middle of the night when no one else was home, I let debilitating emotion creep along my spine, paralyzing me.
No more.
And I’m not just saying no more because that’s the trendy thing to do right now. I’m speaking it out because I refuse to let darkness into my life, to let it rule my decisions.
I was created to advance the kingdom of God. He groomed me for such a time as this, such a time as when evil impacts the world and technology allows us to discuss it. He gave me gifts and passions and a chance to give it back to Him so He could be glorified.
Here’s what I know: God gave us Jesus, who went out of His way to show His disciples to be compassionate, even when stereotypes offended them. God gave us hearts so we could choose to open them up and show His goodness to others. God gave us brains so when nothing else in the world makes sense, we can wrap up our thoughts in prayer and make an impact on the world.
Sheila Walsh, a former 700 Club co-host and Women of Faith touring speaker, once told me there’s nothing so powerful as when God’s girls get together to pray.
In the last week, how often have we truly sought the Lord over the violence erupting across the globe? How many of us took even an hour to lay prostrate on the ground, sobbing for the state of the world and lifting up its inhabitants to the One who made them?
If my social media feed is an indication, not many. Instead, I see men and women write that “true Christians” would accept the refugees. Others post how “true Christians” would protect their families and remain set apart.
Friends, “true Christian” is not a political position, but a calling to honor the Lord with all of your heart, all of your mind, all of your soul and all of your understanding.
If you’re confused about a certain situation—in Christianese, if you have a “burden” for something—your first action should never be to issue blanket statements, but to take it to the Lord.
Prayer, discernment, obedience—these are the keys to fighting the darkness and oppression we’re experiencing now.
When we focus on things of this world, we will drown. When we let evil appear to be bigger than our God, fear will shatter us.
Let the Lord be your strength in this time of need, and remember the words of the psalmist who walked through the valley of the shadow of death, but feared no evil. {bio}
