I’ve noticed a growing trend among many of a todays’ online influencers and opinion intellectuals. Within the rubbish heap (also known as the internet) nothing sells quite like glorified indignation. In an effort to obtain fans, likes, and clicks, online personas rage and pound any drum as often and as long as they can to gain a crumb of momentary attention. It’s ridiculous on its face and childish to anyone with even an ounce of common sense, yet the trend keeps marching along and the drive for that insatiable dopamine high continues to intoxicate.
Consider, for a moment, the life and legacy of Jesus. He began His ministry at the age of thirty, and spent three years preaching, healing, and declaring the kingdom of heaven close at hand. He gained many followers, a few disciples, and no shortage of haters. This already sounds like a modern and fast-rising online celebrity. But then, as things tend to go, one close to Him betrayed Him to the real haters. They trumped up a series of false accusations, arrested Him, and sent Him to the higher courts. This court came complete with lying accusers, false witnesses, jury tampering, halfwitted prosecutors, and an incompetent, crooked judge. Jesus was tried, abused, convicted, and sentenced to death.
Of course, that’s not the complete story. Our Lord was executed for crimes He did not commit but on the third day rose from the dead and appeared to his despondent disciples. Now imagine, if you can, instead of forgiving, strengthening, and preparing His friends for the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus chose to spend His resurrection exposing the criminals who mistreated Him. Say he started a podcast, set up a YouTube channel, or exploited social media outlets to demand justice in an unjust world. Would He not have cause to do so? He could have cited all the corruption, malpractice, and unlawful methods used to harm Him. He easily had a case to expose the flaws and corruption in the judicial system of the day. He would have gained plenty of online followers and attracted “likes” from would-be zealot fans. Instead of forgiving and teaching His disciples the high cost of salvation, Jesus could have accused His friends, cut them out of his life, and blamed them for cowardice and betrayal. He could have demanded retribution and service in exchange for His friendship. In short, Jesus could have wasted His entire ministry proving He was right.
Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
Psalms 37:1-2 (ESV)
Every day we hear of some new online personality making headlines for exposing corruption. For example, we watch a tell-all interview with a retired official who uncovers new secrets and we’re enthralled. We indignantly shake our heads at the low level our leaders, celebrities, and lawmakers have fallen. We’re surprised and even feel betrayed by those we deemed above reproach. Why? Why are we so fascinated and appalled at the same time when we learn of the depravity in our world? From time immemorial bad people have done bad things. Evil breeds evil and evildoers fill the pages of history. Why then are we so surprised when our politicians, movie makers, and even pastors and Christian artists turn out to be evil? People we envied and aspired to imitate, are exposed as depraved, common criminals.
Had Jesus demanded a retrial and sought to expose the evils in the judicial system, He would have been wasting His time. Consider this: He came into the world for such evildoers. He purposefully and systematically set out to go to trial. With singleminded detirmination Christ journeyed toward Jerusalem to be wrongly convicted and executed so He might save this fallen and corrupt world.
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:12-13 (ESV)
Many claim promises and blessings in the name of Jesus but few Christians identify with this passage. Evildoers will continue to do evil and we should not be surprised when they do. It’s one thing to expose injustice in our criminal courts, point out corruption in our political system, and reveal hypocrisy in our religious organizations. But it’s another thing entirely to devote all our time and energy ranting and raving against a fallen world.
Those with the biggest chip on their shoulder and plank in their eye, are they whose pride has been wounded the most. Somewhere along the way they lost. When the time came for them to stand up for the truth, they cowered away. When Jesus demanded everything, they held back and now they have nothing but a flimsy soapbox to stand on. Dear friends, such childish whining and noise is a waste of time. The Kingdom of Heaven has nothing to do with our silly pride. The message Jesus came to declare has nothing to do with proving us right. Our Lord looks at our hearts and lives in the context of eternity. Jesus warned Simon that he would deny Him, not so He could rub it in his face later, but so he could purify Peters’ heart for eternity. Likewise, God allows evil men to do evil things so He might work His divine purpose. Let go of petty pride. Fix your eyes on the Perfecter of our Faith. Accept the lessons God is trying desperately to teach and discover what it truly means to be a Christian.