Flat Screen Relationships

(one from the archives while I am on retreat)

I have nearly 1000 friends on Facebook. Scott Pelley of CBS TV visits my home most evenings at 6:30. President Obama drops by occasionally, too. Of course, I don't know Scott or Obama. I barely know half of the people who have 'friended' me on Facebook!  

These are so-called 'flat screen relationships' - made possible by technology.  They have none of the rich texture of a real friendship.

LOL (Laughing Out Loud) typed in a status line does not begin to compare to an actual fit of laughter shared around a dinner table.
"Praying for you" sent in an email or text message, while sweet and kind, is a sorry substitute for feeling the hands of a friend on your shoulders while listening to their voice lifting you to the Father in prayer.   

Healthy people know how to form and sustain real relationships. One of the foundation stones of a strong church is that it is a place of actual community, where people become 'brothers and sisters' in the truest sense of the word. While we were discussing the idea of church community, one person recently remarked: "I don't think I have ever seen it." She's right. It is rare. While we love being a part of a community, few of us are ready to radically connect to one another. Loving real people is a messy thing, costly to us in terms of our privacy, bringing not only comfort but also conflict. The closer we grow to another, the more our quirks and unique habits become an issue.

Flat screen relationships are much simpler than than real  relationships, aren't they? In that world, when you tire of another's company, you can just change channels or put away the computer. If you don't want to have an email conversation, you can simply ignore the request.  Caller ID on our phones allows us to let calls from 'that person' just go to voice mail!  Our individuality is enhanced and we are poorer in the long run for it.

Jesus Christ does not allow us to live in a flat screen relationship world. He demands that we learn to love another. This is the distinguishing characteristic of a Spirit-filled person. He said, "I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:34-35, NLT) It's not cheap, easy, or even sentimental! It's committed, sometimes gritty, always truthful, and leads to maturity.

Are you content to live in a world of flat screen relationships?

Here's a word from the Word. May it call us to community. "You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart." (1 Peter 1:22, NLT)  "Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8, NLT)  ________


We Will Stand

Sometimes it's hard for me to understand

Why we pull away from each other so easily

Even though we're all walking the same road

Yet we build dividing walls

Between our brothers and ourselves

But I I don't care what label you may wear

If you believe in Jesus you belong with me

The bond we share is all I care to see

And we'll change the world forever

If you will join with me

Join and sing

Sing

You're my brother you're my sister

So take me by the hand

Together we will work until He comes

There's no foe that can defeat us

When we're walking side by side

As long as there is love

We will stand

The day will come when we will be as one

And with a mighty voice

Together we will proclaim that Jesus

Jesus is King

It will echo through the earth

It will shake the nations

And the world will see

See that

You're my brother you're my sister

So take me by the hand

Together we will work until He comes

There's no foe that can defeat us

When we're walking side by side

As long as there is love

We will stand

Take me by the hand

Join with me

Join and see yeah

CCLI Song # 10642

James Hollihan | Russ Taff | Tori Taff

© 1983 Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)CCLI License # 810055