Selfies

I am channeling Jude today.  The epistler famously wrote of feeling “the necessity” to write how his readers should “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 3).  His plan had been to write regarding their “common salvation.”  Similarly, though not by inspiration, I was feeling the urge to write regarding the strange compulsion toward selfies in our culture (a less noble topic, granted).  But amidst my angst, I think I may have found some sympathy.  And I find myself writing something quite different from what I had planned.

Being someone of the “fewer pictures of me is better” variety (hold the comments, please), I am disposed to think of rampant picture-posting as begging for compliments, or at least for attention.  That’s the only reason I would spread myself all over social media.  But that’s me.  Maybe other people are different.  Hmm.

My girls use social media to conduct regular conversations.  Like a combination of texting and Skype.  Me, I would hate that.  But is it so different from catching up via phone or mail?  If I was close enough to a person to cause me to write them a letter, I would not think it presumptuous to assume they wanted to know what was going on in my life.  I might even send a snapshot if I had one.

All this is to say, I think I learned a lesson in tolerance.  Am I still concerned about rampant narcissism and self-congratulation on social media?  Absolutely.  Am I content with pointing out a possible area for growth and then letting individuals make their own application?  Absolutely.

So that’s what I’m doing today.  Selfie mavens, remember your modesty — in the true 1 Timothy 2:9-10 sense.  Selfie haters, remember to let God judge “the motives of men’s hearts” (1 Corinthians 4:5).  And please, no more videos of baby goats.  I’m having trouble getting my work done.