‘Do not be afraid – I am with you! I am your God – let nothing terrify you! I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you.’ (Isaiah 41:10)
Introduction
Life is a journey. Let us pause for a moment and consider the purpose of our life. What are we living for? What are our ambitions – to change the world for better or for worse? Are we living to pursue our own interest or to fulfill God’s will? Jesus of Nazareth, a remarkably wonderful historical figure born in a stable to a teenage mother with no wealth and influence teaches us that the only goal of lasting value and fulfillment is serving God and doing His will. He spent the majority of His time with the poor, outcast and downtrodden and was crucified by His fellow citizens at the age of 33. Yet 2011 years later, He has two billion followers, and His message remain ever relevant and impactful. Kings and presidents quote Him; brave men and women have died for Him; and many adherents of other faiths – Jews, Muslims, and Hindus among them revere Him as a prophet and a teacher. As Christians, we need to remember that when we are going through hard times, the Lord is with us even when our circumstances seem to shout that He has deserted and neglected us. So let us look up to Him expectantly and with silent trust this Advent.
In an age before cars, trains and airplanes – in a time when radio, television, satellite, telephone, and internet did not exist – Jesus charged His disciples with a seemingly impossible task: ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit’ (Matthew 28:19). It has become even more challenging for us Christians in this modern world of amazing electronic media with its new technologies powerfully shaping modern minds, values, attitude, mentality, behavior and lifestyle to take the mandate of Jesus serious.
Understanding the New Media Technologies
These new technologies – computers, lasers, global system of mobile communications (GSM), cell phones, cable and satellite telecommunication, internet, face book, email, chat, texting, twitter, World Wide Web (www) and U-tube which are evolutionary process, are creating greater acceleration, opportunities, possibilities, problems and challenges. So, Christian parents must become conscious of the new language, techniques, cultures and perceptions of the modern media world, because if we are not informed, we will become deformed. We must strive to acquire skills and good understanding of the usages and application of these new technologies and implore new methodologies for effective Christian witnessing.
In this world of amazing electronic media and a million ways to communicate, social networking is a big business. Things like face book, twitters, emails, chat and texting reveal our hunger to connect with another, yet many people still feel lonely and don’t get it right. Kids don’t talk to parents, parents don’t talk to kids, and husbands don’t talk to wife. Surprisingly, many homes, workplaces, and even Churches and our parish communities are becoming gatherings of strangers. We live and worship together without truly knowing each other. In fact, the age is becoming unreasonably demanding with too many confusing choices and too much information. However, in all these, the church encourages the right use of these modern inventions and technologies for the sake of human development, justice, peace and for the up - building of the global human society at all levels.
Negative applications of these technologies and effects on Christian homes
Sexually charged videos and programs makes the youth more accepting to premarital sex. Some channels and pornographic sites today show immoral films under the guise of blue films. It is alarmingly shocking to see pornographic videos cassettes, tapes and CDs being sold in open markets and shops in Nigeria, at cheap and affordable rates to all especially in some major cities in Nigeria. Studies have shown that children/youth that watch lots of sexual/cigarette/alcohol/violent content on television or the net are likely to pick up these habits, because the product placement makes such behavior normal and acceptable. The internet has hate sites to defaming and attacking religious, ethnic and societal groups. It is sometimes indifferent and even hostile to the Christian faith and morality. Television is full of programs that depict risky and dangerous behavior such as illicit sex and substance abuse as cool, fun and exciting. Positively, there should rather be television discussion and program about the consequences of drinking alcohol, taking drugs, smoking cigarettes and having pre-marital and extra marital sex.
The trap of fear and self - deception
The headlines on our dailies seem to offer little or no encouragement these days. The nation’s faltering economy and violent ethnic tensions and killings have even worsen matters. How easy it would be to give in to cynicism and despair at these tough times. The global drastic economic changes resulting in the sudden loss of jobs and financial insecurity are causing many people to think they have failed. The feeling of insecurity frequently leads to indecisiveness, fear and self- deception. We become so consumed with self doubt that we cannot make any decision at all. However, God wants to set us free from anything hindering our spiritual growth and development this advent. The world does not offer hope for those in despair and fear, but God does. He understands the pressure of our situation. We are not alone. He knows our frustrations and plans to use each one to strengthen and prepare us for His future blessings. Let us assume a Christian businesswoman is involved in some shady practice. If her conscience is drugged by self deception, she would brush the matter aside and say to herself: ‘There are many areas where I am honest. I do not cheat on my husband. I read my Bible daily. I give a tenth of my income to God’s work. But she has a blind spot. Most of us have fallen into the state of self – deception where the clear distinction between good and evil has become blurred by specious arguments that have as their end self-interest. Let us take those specific areas of fears and insecurity to the Lord and allow Him to show us the truth in each area.
Some Questions to help us identify areas of fears and insecurity
The following statements that insecure people often make about themselves taken from the InTouch Magazine of August edition, 2009 can help us identify areas of fear and insecurity in our lives:
§ Why border trying? I will never get it right.
§ Everyone is looking at me, just waiting for me to make a fool of myself.
§ I am a failure.
§ I am ugly and awful to look at.
§ I can never win. I am just a loser.
§ No matter how hard I work, I never get any recognition.
§ I am incompetent at everything.
§ Nobody could ever speak well about me.
§ I have failed before; once a failure, always a failure.
§ I don’t see how anyone could ever like, respect, or accept me.
§ I don’t deserve to be treated well.
§ I don’t fit here or anywhere else.
§ I am an incompetent person, and nothing can change that.
§ Why would anyone care to hear what I have to say.
§ No one cares about what I think or feel.
§ People are nice to me only when they want something from me.
Conclusion
As we prepare for Christmas we must remember that regular communion with God through prayer and spiritual reading of Scripture about the prophecies and promises of God for His children would help us avoid the trap of self-deception, over-indulgence, materialism, idolatry, or apathy. We must struggle as Christian families to grow in Christlikeness and be molded into the Lord’s image by making positive use of all technologies God places within our powers to bless humanity to His glory. So, do not be afraid but trust God!
Rev. Fr. Michael Adefemi Adegbola, Director, Media Service Centre, Kaduna Nigeria, 2011
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